Any questions for an incoming transfer?

Malapropism · 07-12-2011, 06:20 PM

Okay, so I may not be able to tell you my favorite professor yet, but I got in on transfer, so I must have done something right, right?

I'm not going to chance everybody (make your own threads, hmm?), but if anyone has any questions - on the process, on why I chose Columbia (as opposed to, say, Brown, my other acceptance), on my stats, or even how successfully transfers are integrated once September rolls around - I'd be happy to provide whatever (perhaps subjective) help I can.

Haitian · 07-12-2011, 06:37 PM

Hey malapropism, I am very indecisive right now. I know I definitely want to apply to Brown, Duke, and maybe Yale for history. I was considering Columbia for its economic/philosophy program, but then I felt it was not for me. Now I am slightly considering it for history. I am shocked by all the historians whose books I have read that graduated from Columbia. Why did you choose Columbia? Are you a sophomore or junior?

Haitian · 07-12-2011, 08:39 PM

Haha my bad, you meant incoming transfers.

Malapropism · 07-12-2011, 10:49 PM

Hey, you're totally allowed to ask questions, too.

I chose Columbia for a few reasons. First (and I'm sure you'll hear this lots), I fell in love with the Core. Part of what I felt was lacking at my prior institution was common grounds of discussion. Whereas you can find at any school people who are passionate about something, sometimes people wind up confined in what they're capable of discussing or the points of view from which they consider things. At Columbia you find people who are not only passionate about learning in general (why else would they put themselves through something as rigorous as the Core, or the school at all?), but are given a common grounds for discussion and understanding. The Core facilitates relationships between people who might not come into contact otherwise at a school where students are able to take only courses in their major. Also, that means that you get to hear people all provide to in-class conversations from their unique perspectives (similar to how I tended to argue from the perspective of psychology in my philosophy class this past year, or one girl in my English class related a concept in a novel we were reading to programming). The desire to learn alongside students who have received (and want) that broad educational foundation is part of why I chose Columbia over Brown.

Second, there's the campus: it's essentially a little oasis in the middle of the city. Not only does this mean that you get all the benefits of the city (and living in the city, not to mention for much cheaper than NYC generally costs, due to discounts and the like that Columbia offers you), but you have amazing opportunities for internships and jobs. Personally, I'm keeping my paid internship from this summer (in Times Square) part time to help deal with the expenses of the city, not to mention for the fantastic connections it offers. One of the pluses of Columbia is that they try to give you classes off on Friday so that you do have that opportunity. Oh, and the fact that the school actually has a campus in the middle of NYC automatically puts it above other schools in the city.

The faculty is another reason. The accomplishments and awards that these professors have received is fantastic. The diversity of the student population is also pretty sweet.

I'm a sophomore (it would be much harder coming in as a junior, considering the Core). In all honesty, I do like Yale better than Columbia, although that's probably biased since I spent a summer there in the dorms taking classes with Yale professors alongside Yale students and fell in love with the school, as well as the college system.

I'm pre-law, planning on doubling in Psychology and English, so unfortunately I can't help you out much with History, but there's my two cents. I can keep you posted as I start the semester

ballin@thebubble · 07-13-2011, 01:05 AM

im also open to all questions! (incoming transfer student)

Malapropism · 07-14-2011, 05:07 PM

Hey everybody!

Brief about me (I'll save you the stats, unless you want them):
I'm going into my Sophomore year, which I'm happy to say will be at Columbia. I transferred from Brandeis, which I absolutely loved but didn't provide me with the academic challenge I'd wanted (my primary reason for transferring).

If anyone has any questions on the process, my method of attack, the decisions I received, or anything, I am an open book.

Ask away

BurtonElitist · 07-14-2011, 09:10 PM

Lol stats please?

Malapropism · 07-14-2011, 09:32 PM

Haha I figured that was coming.
High school GPA 3.8 unweighted, 4.2 weighted
SAT Superscore (took it twice): 790 Reading, 800 Math, 760 Writing
SAT IIs: a number (Bio, Chem, Math 1, Lit, US History), all between 700 and 760 (not the greatest...)
APs: 11- 7 5's, 2 4's, and 2 I don't care to mention

Extra Curriculars: Mock trial (three years, co-captain junior year and captain senior); literary magazine (managing editor junior to senior year), French Honor Society (VP junior year), an anti-bias-related club (Prez junior year), and a flurry of other honor societies I didn't have positions in. Also, decent but constant volunteer work, a few in-school rewards and scholarships, Girl Scout Silver Award, Yale Summer Session (basically, Yale classes over the summer), and 8 hours a week of tutoring.
I'm white, female. Nothing special. No real "hooks," per se.

College:
GPA: 3.8-something first semester, 4.0 second semester, 3.9-something total
Classes: five each semester, two intro level, no "first year" classes
Clubs: Mock trial, a cappella (web manager), Christian fellowship, tutoring
Recommendations: pretty solid, I think...

Oh, and I got off the waitlist. Submitted a Columbia/ waitlist-related poem as a supplement.

Persuasion · 07-14-2011, 10:01 PM

Thanks so much for starting this thread! I wanted to transfer to Columbia this year too but my GPA was unfortunately too low..

Questions- When did you ask your professors for recs? And how did you approach them about it? Any tips on writing the essay? I'm afraid of sounding either too whiny about my current university or too glamorizing the other institution.