<p>I’m considering transfer to the University of Chicago. However, I’m worried that transfer students might not be very integrated into the student body because they arrive later, when everyone’s settled a bit. To what extent does being a transfer student isolate you? For example, do they have to live in separate housing?</p>
<p>Transfer students don’t have to live in separate housing—as far as the university is concerned, they’re functionally identical to every other student on campus. I know a transfer student in my dorm and he’s pretty well integrated; there’s no sense of isolation because people frequently move between dorms, go abroad, and move out of housing, so the arrival of a transfer student isn’t particularly unusual. You may have to take extra classes in the core and graduate slightly later than you would have normally, but it’s also possible to get around this with transfer credit in your major and judicious scheduling.</p>
<p>Hi - I’m a senior who was also a transfer student. When I entered UChicago, all transfers were automatically placed in Stony Island. Now transfers are automatically placed in the International House. Transfers are also placed with the same adviser. After eventually moving from Stony into another dorm and switched advisers, I was much happier. </p>
<p>A warning: transfer students do get screwed by the administration. I don’t get any financial aid (even though if I entered as a first year I would have been eligible for a merit scholarship in addition to FAFSA-type aid). You will lose a lot of credits, and it’s hard to complete the more structured majors here. You will also get screwed when it comes to housing – transfers have lower lottery numbers.</p>
<p>Personally, I think transferring here was a good move, but there are many days where I wished that I had gone to another university. Really look into it. UChicago’s great, but you will have work a little harder as a transfer student to get the most out of the “life of the mind.”</p>
<p>My S was automatically placed in Stony and he had a great time there. More than 50 transfer students arrived at the same time and they were all eager to find new friends. It made the transition so much easier for him. </p>
<p>Freshmen do not always get along with their advisor. I do not think that it makes a difference whether you are starting as a freshman or as a transfer student. It clicks or it doesn’t click. My S has never ever complained about his advisor (something he is usually rather good at).</p>
<p>I do agree that it is nonsense to treat transfer students differently when it concerns financial aid. If I remember well, all the colleges my son was applying to were following this same practice.</p>
<p>My S was accepted by several other colleges. UChicago did not offer him less credit. Actually I think that UChicago was rather generous compared to the others.</p>