<p>I’m currently an student at Johns Hopkins but here I am my second year and I just am not sure this is the right place for me anymore. I tried to get involved, I finished pledging at a fraternity, do some engineering work outside of class and that’s all great but as a southerner I kind of feel out of place here among the heavily northern JHU students and beating my head against the wall in the library almost every day of the week with the coursework I have here is wearing me out (there isn’t a good balance of work/play). A while back my senior year of high school JHU seemed like the better choice at the time due to their academic reputation but you have to enjoy college and UVA seems like a more fun, well-connected (and for that matter Southern) place compared to the cut-throat environment at Hopkins. </p>
<p>I’m not asking my chances of admissions but what have you all heard from other students who have transferred to Virginia? I imagine I would transfer and start as a sophomore again next fall if I get in correct me if I am wrong (if I would be classified as a junior I don’t think I will do it). Do people say it was a really good decision to transfer? Do people who transfer ever have difficulty acclimating and/or meeting people without the benefit of having spent freshman year at UVA? Do fraternities give bids to sophomores and/or transfers? </p>
<p>What year (first, second, third, fourth) you transfer into depends on how many credits you transfer in. If it is 60+ then you will be considered a third year (junior). I transferred with 46 (I took the spring semester off) and I was considered a second year.</p>
<p>I don’t think it is a big deal as a transfer, you do kind of get labeled initially as a “transfer” but there are plenty of clubs/groups/social activities out there and if you put yourself out there then things will be fine. At orientation you’ll be with other transfer students who all have a similar goal to get involved, so you can definitely lean on each other then too.</p>
<p>Personally, it was great for me to transfer. I came from a non-competative state-university in PA that felt more like an extension of high school and while UVA was a tough transition (adjusting to the area/new academic demands), it was definitely worth it.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I did not participate in rush/Greek Life so I can’t comment on that, but I do remember receiving Facebook invites to Sorority events…so I don’t think it’s an unheard of practice.</p>
<p>I’m not a transfer student here, I started here as a First Year student out of HS, but I am very happy. I’m from NC and moved up north to CVL and I do understand what you mean about finding a Southern University.
I think you should transfer. You don’t sound happy, but you sound like you want to be, and could be>> in the right environment. Do it!!! Life is too short, and particularly college life, to be unhappy.
UVA will challenge you academically, but seeing how you are at JHU, you will probably be able to handle that challenge in a similar fashion to JHU. UVA though, is so much fun. Everyone, for the most part, studies very diligently; but, when it is time to party, this is one happy place!
Thumbs up! PM me if I can answer any more specific questions
~powder</p>
<p>What does transferring to UVA require? Do they look at your high school resume, college grades, and college extracurriculars? I really want to go to UVA (I’m a HS junior) but I’m not sure if I’ll get in as a freshman (Out of state is pretty much the reason why my chances would be slimmer). Are there any tips to transfer?</p>
<p>They look at HS and College transcript/extracurriculars. Essays are also important because they give you a chance to explain why UVA is going to be the better school for you than your current school. Recommendations are not required (at least they haven’t been a requirement). I felt the same way as you…my SAT scores were not UVA caliber as an OOS’er…so I went to a local school, did great and then transferred. Something that may help is fulfilling as many core course requirements as you can. If you are serious about going to UVA, check out the undergrad record and look through the general ed. requirements, and try to refrain from taking too many courses in your major program because usually only 6-9 credits will transfer anyway.</p>
<p>Don’t transfer to UVA expecting it to be Southern Methodist or Ole Miss, it is not as Southern as it used to be. UVA might be in Charlottesville, but most people are from Northern VA, NYC/Jersey, etc.</p>
<p>I have a friend who used to be on the swim team at JHU. He ended up transferring to UVA to join the biomed engineering program and was in a fraternity as well. So transition wise, it was fine. He felt that JHU wasn’t social enough and he thought UVA offered a good balance between academics, athletics and social life.</p>
<p>Really? That’s not the impression I got when I visited there a year ago it seemed southern. I mean yes its no UGA, Alabama, etc but a know a bunch of people who already go there and they seem to think its mainly Virginians and people south of the Mason Dixon line.</p>
<p>You’re right, UVA is mainly Virginians~, mainly Northern Virginians who live in Arlington, Alexandria and the likes, we might be below the Mason Dixon line, but most of us don’t have Southern heritage~ or are at all Southern.</p>
<p>I don’t go to UVA, but I’m looking to transfer if my grades are up to par as well as my EC’s, and I’m still not happy here in Jan, and Feb. If your fraternity is at UVA, I’m 99% positive that you can affiliate and they have to take you. Now whether or not you have to go through pledgeship again is another thing. If JHU doesn’t have a “real” pledgeship (e.g. Kappa Sigma was founded at UVA and I can guarantee it isn’t a walk in the park), and that fraternity is one of the bigger ones on campus, then they may make you go through it agian. But if you don’t like the guys at UVA then you’ll most likely be able to go through rush and get a bid as a 2nd or 3rd year.</p>
<p>PM me if you have questions. i transferred to uva after a year at villanova. they don’t baby you with the transition (like they would first years) but if you take some initiative, the transition is easy.</p>
<p>UVA is not southern like SMU, Ole Miss, etc. Students here don’t have an accent unless they come from like Alabama or something. The accent is probably more apparent outside the campus. I would think twice about joining a frat because it’s going to take up a lot of time outside your schoolwork, which will be extremely rigorous.</p>
<p>Hmmmmm…not sure if I agree with the above comment. I’m into the Greek life, but I’m able to juggle it with academic demands, and I know of many others who are able to do the same. I’m doing well academically and so are the “others” that I refer to.</p>
<p>I agree that schoolwork at UVA can be rigorous, but I’d guess it is on par with JHU so the OP probably is up for the challenge.</p>
<p>I transferred after my first year, and have never looked back. I was academically unhappy myself, and the move was the best thing that I could do for myself. The academics here will be about on-par with JHU, but it is a transition. Honestly, I believe that if you’re thinking about this, then you’re already wanting to make the move. I would definitely apply and see where it takes you. If you’re currently a second year, you can apply for spring admission. As far as applying next year, I think they’d take you as a third year, but I’m pretty sure you’d be able to apply to petition to be accepted as an incoming second year, but I’m not sure. </p>
<p>Do people say it was a really good decision to transfer? - some do, some don’t. I know people who have hated it, but it’s mostly due to not trying to mold into UVa.
Do people who transfer ever have difficulty acclimating and/or meeting people without the benefit of having spent freshman year at UVA? - I came in as a second year and lived on grounds with five other girls second year, and so I met people pretty quickly. It’s just about getting about and breaking out of your bubble. Rushing helps too
Do fraternities give bids to sophomores and/or transfers? - all the time</p>
<p>Hey Shoebox! Haven’t heard you “stompin’” over me in my apt. at the Grand Marc yet, as you once threatened to do…hah! Isn’t it Grand, though!
I’m having a great year so far, hope you are too Shoebox. See 'ya on the Corner some day.
~powder</p>
and I do understand what you mean about finding a Southern University.