I’m an undergraduate freshman thinking of transferring. I’m currently at a small liberal arts school with no graduate schools and I’m already nearly done with the math curriculum. I’m getting subpar grades (I think, I’ll find out in the next few days), but I have a good reason to transfer and I’ve heard that can make a transfer application. I think I would do well on the math GRE if I took it now. Could this help with my transfer application?
I don’t think I would want to do this, but out of curiosity, do you think it’s possible for me to be admitted to a graduate school this year or next?
Two months ago you were a freshman at college. I assume that you are still a freshman.
Did you attend a school that does not have a strong program in your major? What is your major and where are you a student?
“Subpar grades” is ambiguous, but likely will not help your effort to transfer at all. You need to get the best grades you can where you are now, regardless of whether you intend to stay or you intend to transfer out.
The GRE test is generally taken either by seniors in college or people who have graduated with a bachelor’s degree. The GRE is not used for freshmen who want to transfer. My recollection when I took it is that it was not easy even for a university senior who was a math major.
No, I do not think that it is possible for you to be admitted to graduate school. One single semester of “subpar grades” at a college will not get you into a graduate school.
It is probably possible to transfer, but where you will be able to transfer to will depend upon your budget, your high school grades, your high school test scores, and your college grades.
Why would you think that you could use the GRE to get admitted to graduate school? A grad school admits on the basis of GRE’s, professors’ letters of recommendation, college transcripts, and major related internships.
The Graduate Record Exam is difficult and it’s not just about math.
The writing section is presented in such a way that experience in university level coursework is required.
If you are getting subpar grades, it will be extremely difficult to transfer to any university, let alone to try to get into a graduate school with low grades. The GRE is not the SAT: you will bomb miserably on the GRE without university experience.
The rare instances of students being admitted to grad school without finishing an undergrad degree first, are situations were the student has blown through the undergrad curriculum with top grades and absolutely stellar recommendations. True geniuses rather than mere super-smart people.
If you chose the wrong college for your undergrad degree, and are way ahead in your major, then yes it makes sense to apply for transfer to a place that has more extensive offerings and that would allow you to take graduate level classes while finishing your undergrad degree.
What do you mean by “subpar”? One or two B grades, or a whole bunch of C, D, and F grades?
Alright, that last part was a stupid question. I’ve just never thought about grad admissions before.
I’m expecting probably one or two B’s and the rest A or A-, but I don’t really know yet and I could get a C, but let’s hope not. Also I have an A in every math class I’ve ever taken, except senior slump I thought my grade wouldn’t matter and I got a D. Do you think a gre could bolster this application?