Cornell transfer question. (I need to get out of NYU!)

qaz2wsx · 10-07-2009, 10:41 AM

Hello.
So I'm currently a freshman at NYU in CAS, biochemistry major, pre-med. Just started this fall 2009.
I hate everything about NYU (living in the concrete, the price, the social life, etc) and want to transfer out ASAP. My goal is to transfer to Cornell, or Columbia possibly if I get in, but I can't do this until the beginning of next year.
I am wondering if transferring to another college for the second semester (spring 2010) of this year would hurt my chances of getting into either Cornell of Columbia for fall 2010. Would they look down upon transferring 3 times? I'm thinking of applying to Vassar and ESF and RIT and possibly some other good schools in NY for spring 2010. How much would this hurt my chances of getting into Cornell fall 2010?

So basically I just need to get out of here. I am extremely incompatible with this atmosphere. I just don't want to do anything that will hurt my chances too much of making it to Cornell eventually.

missamericanpie · 10-07-2009, 10:53 AM

i would just stay at NYU because if you make good connections with a professor (or TA), it will make your Cornell application THAT much stronger. i know it might be hard to do that as pre-med with huge classes, but maybe in your MAP classes?

good luck in transferring. the first three months of college suck for everyone, but i also know NYU is one of those "love it or hate it" schools. i would try to stick it out for the year because it'll make YOU look more competitive when it comes to apply to Cornell.

jc09jr · 10-07-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

living in the concrete, the price ... or Columbia

Ummmmm, Doesn't Columbia have this "problem"? It is in NYC after all not far from NYU. =)

missamericanpie · 10-08-2009, 01:32 PM

Columbia actually has an enclosed campus, which makes a huge difference in the atmosphere.

happymomof1 · 10-08-2009, 04:19 PM

qaz2wsx -

Which part of Cornell are you looking at? CAS, HumEc, and CALS all would offer decent biochem programs with pre-med tracks. Are you a NY state resident? If so, pick up the phone and call admissions in HumEc and CALS and see if you can get in there for the spring term.

Since you really truly hate NYU. Why not take a leave of absence for the spring semester, and do something else with your life while you are completing those transfer applications? Nowhere is it written that you MUST be in school next spring or that you MUST complete a full year of college before transferring.

ivyleaguetrnsfr · 10-08-2009, 04:23 PM

Cornell accepts spring transfers

college_ruled · 10-08-2009, 08:44 PM

1) The more schools you have attended, the more complicated transferring credits becomes. (You will always have to submit transcripts from all the schools you have attended, plus there are the issues of different required classes, and each school calculates transfer credits differently for each school).

2) You will need to have superb grades, and 2 professors to write your recommendations if you want to transfer. This is hard if you keep on uprooting yourself.

3) If you are 100% certain you want to leave, you need safeties.

4) Applying to colleges (again) is a pain. Is there any reason why you don't want to apply everywhere in the Fall?

5) It's not uncommon to take off a semester or a year.

6) Cornell's transfer acceptance rate is misleading because it includes guaranteed transfers.

hkkxp · 10-08-2009, 11:10 PM

i'm a freshman at nyu cas too.

I hate being at NYU for some reason.. and I'm also looking to trasnfer.

So far, my only option is George Washington.. whose admission office said I need to hand everything in by tomorrow.. since the deadline was 10/1 hm..

monydad · 10-09-2009, 10:57 AM

" Cornell's transfer acceptance rate is misleading because it includes guaranteed transfers. "

So far as I'm aware the Arts & Sciences college does not use guranteed transfers.

CAS admitted about 15% of transfer applicants Spring 2008, and a little over 9% of transfer applicants Fall 2009.

ihatemonash · 11-04-2009, 09:48 AM

I would stay at NYU for a whole year at least.
Also, most schools don't accept or are very reluctant to accept students with less than a year's worth of credits. Schools would want to see at least a year of solid work before they admit you in their schools. You may be eligible to apply with only a semester's work, but your chances will be lower. Even if you have a GPA of 4.0 for the first semester, it won't be a guarantee that you'll get in.
Also, like someone said above, you'd want to get close with a TA or a professor for a good recommendation letter.

Having been at two universities myself and I've applied to Cornell for 2010 spring transfer (As my 3rd university), it really did make the process a lot more complicated. I spent a significant part of my essay explaining why I moved from school A to school B and why now to Cornell again.

So.. I'd just try to stay at NYU and just make the most of your time there. Maybe join a few clubs. They also want to know that you've done well at NYU non-academic wise. If you haven't been involved in anything at NYU, they're going to think that you won't contribute to anything at Columbia/Cornell either.

I hope I've been helpful, and good luck with your application.