crixx

I am currently at my state school and will be a sophomore next year. I am accepted to WashU and Carleton and I am wondering if anyone has experienced a similar sort of change. I am slightly worried about the jump in the caliber of students and possible difficulty of course work (I'm pre-med) and am an not sure if it might hurt my chances at med school. How different is a state school (top 40) compared to aforementioned?

MMoralN10Tion

I'm sure it won't be dramatically different to the extent you're making it sound like. If you're at a top 40 state going onto your sophmore year and do get accepted to a more elitist institution than the only thing you should expect is differences in the student body, if that. Classes will get harder regardless once you begin focusing more on the harder sciences. I think you're implying state-educated pre-meds are somehow educated at a lower level, which is simply not true. Use your logic: Of course WashU will get harder when you transfer. Reason? Not so much caliber of prestige, rather than the upper-level work you're expected to complete.

That said, I wish thee the best of luck.

Andale

My S transferred from a top 40ish school to a top 15 known for intensely competitive academics (esp. among pre-meds, Engineering). Here were his thoughts and experiences, as I know them:

He commented that the kids were no smarter but willing to work much harder and - in the fields mentioned - very concerned with grades, focused on the curve and how they would fare. He wasn't wild about that atmosphere, but "it was what it was."

My son struggled in a couple of courses his first two terms at the transfer school, but only in a couple (by struggle I mean worried about getting an acceptable grade). He did end up with C+ grades in two different courses. But after that, not the same kind of struggle and his GPA has been fine (3.5ish range).

Now this is at a school KNOWN for competitive atmosphere. I don't know that such a reputation applies to WashU or Carleton. I honestly don't think the caliber of student at the two possible transfer schools will exceed the caliber of the stronger students at your current school.

Just a guess, of course. I think if the new schools appeal to you, you should go for it. I don't have any doubt that you can handle the work.

sanjenferrer

You might see a difference in confidence level, demeanor (top school students are classier but also much humbler in ways they don't even realize... probably because of upbringing?), maturity, leadership ability.