itsJones610

I'm currently a returning undergrad studying Physics at Penn State but I'm thinking about transferring to a smaller state school (Kutztown or East Stroudsburg). My reason for transferring is to save money. Another side benefit of switching schools is I will start with a fresh gpa. My current gpa is a low 2.04 after 54 credits from 10 years ago when I first started at Penn State only to drop out because I didn't want to be there after switching majors multiple times.
So my question is will graduating from a smaller/less known school with a higher gpa give me similar chances at getting into grad school as graduating from Penn State with a lower gpa?

xdarthveganx

Well, transferring aside, most grad programs require you to send transcripts for ALL colleges attended and they calculate your cumulative GPA either based on all your grades or based on the last 2 years of study.

itsJones610

Good to know thanks. The gpa would have just been nice bonus but my reason for switching is still the same saving money. So gpa aside how much does it hurt my chances if I go to smaller school?

Apollo11

Not much, as long as there is some improvement in you GPA, you are not going to be hurt at all by transferring.

(Unless you want to go to Penn State for grad school)

juillet

Even if you want to go to Penn State for grad school, transferring will probably not hurt you.

MosheA

I transferred also, for money. It doesn't hurt.

itsJones610

Penn State is one of the schools I was looking at for grad school, but I thought going to the same school for masters/phd was frowned upon anyway. So in the chance that I do end up at Penn State for grad wouldn't it be better if finished my undergrad somewhere else?

Catria

But there are some situations where the subject you're most interested in as a thesis subject is only available at your undergrad school, in which case it's perhaps a little more acceptable to stay.

b@r!um

The one (and only) disadvantage I can think of is that you'll have less time at your new college to establish relationships with professors. Grad school admission hinges crucially on your letters of recommendation.

On the other hand, if you've been pretty anonymous at Penn State so far, you are not 'losing' anything by leaving at this point. Transferring to a smaller university might also give you more opportunities to interact with faculty one-on-one.

itsJones610

Yeah I really haven't even met any of the Penn State professors yet since I'm at one of the local campuses now and it's my first semester back after dropping out in 2002 (and I wasn't a science major back then). I was planning on going up to University Park (main campus) to finish my last 2 years of major classes, so I would be spending the same amount of time getting to know my professors at either school.