Looking for general transfer advice - PoliSci Maj [3.4-3.6 college GPA in summer + first year]

Transfer Students
1

I’m a rising sophomore and I’m considering transferring. I just recently switched my major from CS to Political Science, so that’s why I’m still only considering it. If I don’t like the program, that will be the final decision if I do leave or not. I’ll still be applying for fall.

The major reason I’m considering transferring in the first place is due to social culture, as I’m at a small school and a very untrue rumor spread around the school about me. As you that messed up a lot of how I feel about my school. My academics in the first semester took the blow due to severe depression and undiagnosed/unmedicated ADHD. It’s been a rough journey, but I’m in a better place for myself now and I’m currently feeling better about my life trajectory as a whole. I think I could possibly write an addendum on that and excuse my gpa.

I have colleges on my list to apply to currently (UCSB, USC, ColoState, University of Denver, UofO, and UofA), so I’d like to know if these are possible or if I’m just delusional. I’d also like any other suggestions if anyone has any. I’d like to ideally transfer in my junior year, but I know that can be difficult.

Here are my general stats:
HS gpa: 4.2
Community college (studied math and cs) for summer 2024 gpa: 4.0
Current school gpa: 3.4
Current ecs: top alto in jazz combo, youth jazz orchestra, composition program, teaching elementary school students flute/sax, women’s weightlifting club, chinese club, working part time, shadowing in my hometown court systems on the bench (also assisting with menial tasks), rugby club, involvement with hometown bar association for women and for aapi

other info: I have my state school included and I assume I’m going to get in.

My gpa showed an upward trend from fall to spring, going from a 3.0 to a 3.4 cumulative in a
major that is different from my current one.

Please tell me if I’m delusional about literally anything because I feel like I’m not doing enough as compared to other transfers. I would love good recs for places to consider and look into as well.

2

I’m glad you are in a better place - that’s first and foremost.

So it sounds like a big school will be a better fit for you ? That’s great - there are many large schools - just make sure you can afford them. Transfer merit might be none to small.

Poli Sci can be studied most anywhere.

With another year of classes, you want to make them count. So you want to make sure the classes you take this year will transfer - so see if the syllabi/description match. You may already be behind - maybe not at your school but at others - you’d find that out when your transcript is evaluated. In other words, it might take more than four years (at your current school too but moreso at the new schools).

As for can you get in, it depends - for example, U of Oregon says this so I’d assume you’d have a good chance. Check each school’s transfer requirements - so that you know what you need to do.

  1. Completed one college-level composition course with a grade of C- or better, P (pass), or S (satisfactory).
  2. Completed one college-level mathematics course with a grade of C- or better, P, or S.
  3. Have the minimum cumulative GPA:
  • 2.25 if you are an Oregon resident
  • 2.50 if you are a nonresident

Colorado State says this:

Strong candidates for admission present a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better and have completed college-level composition and mathematics or statistics. If you don’t meet these recommendations, we encourage you to strengthen your application by filling out the academic explanation portion in the application.

You can check the rest on your own.

I hope you have a great upcoming year - get involved, sit in front, go to office hours and get to know your professors. Look at study abroad opportunities for Junior year.

But if you feel the need to transfer, it sounds like assuming you have the coursework above, you’ll have opportunities.

Keep yourself involved and hopefully happy - and I wish you the best of luck in your journey.

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Are the schools on your transfer list affordable to you and your parents?

If you will be applying for transfer as a junior (i.e. applying during your sophomore year), then your college courses and grades will be the main factor; high school record may be of lesser or no importance (but college courses taken while in high school will count, and AP scores will be re-evaluated by the applied-to college’s equivalencies).

USC, UofO, and UofA could refer to multiple universities each, so you should spell out what each one is.

4

Seems like USC (Southern Cal) rather than U of SC; U of O is probably Oregon; U of A is most likely Arizona.

All of OP’s schools are in the West.

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5

Yup, the person in the other comment is right.

Money isn’t the biggest issue for me, but I can’t be paying 90k a year for undergrad.

6

You need a budget- and in fact, money IS the biggest issue for you going forward. You need to get aligned- quickly- on costs and financial resources. Have you looked at the costs of USC?

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If USC refers to the University of Southern California, then this statement is self-contradictory. USC costs nearly $100,000 per year, so if you can’t pay over $90,000 (with or without reasonably sized loans) then budget clearly is the biggest issue that will affect your ability to transfer there even if you’re accepted.

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