Transfer advice

truegibberish · 11-29-2005, 01:15 PM

I'm a current freshman at a top-rated LAC, but I'm starting to think about transfering. To make a long story short, I didn't originally get into where I wanted, so I don't really feel like I meant to end up here, and I'm not sure its the best match socially. Also, I originally thought I wanted to go to a small school, stay away from city life, and was looking for strong humanities, esp. English, but now I'm veering more towards a Math major (but I still want to keep English in mind.) First semester hasn't ended yet but I've taken the normal load and done pretty well (definitely As and Bs, don't know the distribution). My old SAT was a 1500 and I had 5 APs with 4s or 5s. Right now I think Columbia would be amazing, or maybe even Yale, but I realize these are impossibly high hopes. Do you have any better suggestions along those lines? Thanks.

nspeds · 11-29-2005, 01:40 PM

Quote:

right now I think Columbia would be amazing, or maybe even Yale, but I realize these are impossibly high hopes.

With your stats, Columbia is a genuine possibility.

JRP123 · 11-29-2005, 01:45 PM

What top-rated LAC are you at?

truegibberish · 11-29-2005, 02:04 PM

nspeds, you've made my day. Wesleyan.

JRP123 · 11-29-2005, 02:55 PM

Oh cool I am looking to transfer also, I'm at Amherst.

JRP123 · 11-29-2005, 02:56 PM

Transferring to Columbia or Yale is definitely worth a shot for you.

nspeds · 11-29-2005, 02:58 PM

Well, since Yale accepts so few, no applicant really has a decent shot; however, truegibberish, you have as good a shot as anyone.

truegibberish · 11-29-2005, 03:10 PM

Heh, JRP, applied there for freshman year too. Best of luck. Where are you looking?

Thank you both for your help. Any suggestions for other schools to look into?

JRP123 · 11-29-2005, 04:28 PM

I am actually looking to transfer to a school on Long Island (where I live) for second semester (maybe Hofstra or Stony Brook?) and then try to transfer to Washington and Lee. I am so depressed here. =(

truegibberish · 11-29-2005, 05:36 PM

I'm from Long Island too, actually. You definitely have my vote for Stony Brook over Hofstra, if that's the debate. I know a few kids there that have really found a good niche, even if you're only there for a semester. Hofstra too, but Stony Brook's more intellectual, from what I hear, without the drama of somewhere like Amherst... If you're looking to end up somewhere with a smart-but-relaxed atmosphere, maybe you'd like Wes? It's not that I dislike it, I just am not its best fit. If only I hadn't gone and fallen for Columbia now...

JRP123 · 11-29-2005, 05:55 PM

Where are you from on LI?

truegibberish · 11-29-2005, 09:59 PM

north shore of nassau.

hm... what about stanford? impossible?

Boru234 · 11-29-2005, 11:03 PM

I think you would be a really competitive applicant for Yale and Columbia- did you apply to these schools before? Especially the better you do academically this year, the better

ecape · 11-30-2005, 12:32 AM

Have you ever lived in a city? If you are looking to transfer for something like change of major as a sophomore, make sure where you're transferring to is a good match for all your interests, in case you change again. Do you mind saying what you think of Wesleyan academically?

Also, JRP123, what don't you like about Amherst (another school I'm considering)

ecape · 11-30-2005, 12:34 AM

Stanford says they look for minimum of 3.7 GPA for transfer candidates. Columbia says 3.5. I don't know about Yale, but I'm guessing it's closer to Stanford's.