Transferring to Whitman

Colleges and Universities Whitman College
#1

<p>Hello!
I am currently a first-year student at Bard College, and am looking at transferring to Whitman College for next semester (Spring of 2012). However, I am not particularly familiar with the process of transferring to a different college - how exactly will the process of transferring work out? Any tips on how to boost my application? Also, any additional information on Whitman would be greatly appreciated. </p>

<p>Also, does the school that I am transferring from affect my standing at all?</p>

#2

<p>Do you mean that you haven't yet started school at Bard? If you're a first year then how do you know you want to transfer?</p>

#3

<p>BrotherBugbear, I looked at Bard's academic calendar and see that you must be participating in the Language and Thinking Program, a three week intensive program for first years, and you must not like it very much. My best advice is to give it more time. I've been in situations where my initial reaction is negative but after a few days or even weeks of settling in, my feelings have changed. Give it a bit longer and try to keep an open mind. Remember that even though you may not like this part, it's not what the regular school courses will be like. And best of luck!</p>

#4

<p>Well, truthfully, I just want to apply for a transfer to Whitman in order to keep my options open, especially since I applied for Whitman for admission this fall but did not get accepted last year. Whitman was a school that I had applied to after much research, but Bard? I applied here on a whim, and did not expect to get in...</p>

<p>One question. If I were to apply for admission for the semester of Spring 2012, does that mean I must apply for EDI? Or is EDII an option also?</p>

#5

<p>BrotherBugbear, the school website says that transfer applications for Spring admission are due by November 15th. Truthfully, however, your application will be pretty much the same one you submitted last year because you won't have any grades yet from your first semester at Bard. The Whitman admissions office is extremely helpful, I would email them and ask any questions. </p>

<p>Whitman is a great school, but so is Bard. Even if you plan to transfer as soon as possible, do everything you can to shine where you are. There's a whole lot of life that's like that, you end up somewhere you didn't expect and it can turn out to be a wonderful place. Just try to keep an open mind while doing whatever you need to do.</p>

#6

<p>I was wondering... What exactly can I do in this time to boost my application? More activities, perhaps? Definitely get good grades... But what else?</p>

#7

<p>I'm just a parent whose son went through the process, so I don't have those answers. Unfortunately, Whitman students aren't terribly active on CC so you get their parents' perspective. I do know, however, that my son got to know the Whitman admissions representative for California and he was very supportive and helpful. Have you emailed yours? These are the questions you need to address directly to the source, and in the process make him/her your ally. This is the person who will most likely read your application first and can advocate for you. Nothing ventured nothing gained.</p>

#8

<p>Thank you so much!</p>

#9

<p>Good luck!</p>

#10

<p>Urgh... I just called and Whitman says Spring of 2012 is closed off to transfers because they accepted too many students last year.</p>

#11

<p>Well, at least you know. Settle in at Bard, do great work, make friends, have fun! Then you can reevaluate in the Spring. Have you ever heard that old Crosby, Stills and Nash song: "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with"? You may end up liking it more than you ever thought you would.</p>

#12

<p>What is it you're looking for at Whitman that you can't find at Bard? In your view - what is the difference between the two colleges? Since you've only been at Bard for 6 days - and for the freshman only L&T program - I'm not sure why you're so determined to transfer already, to a similar school, and to one which has already rejected you. Is it for personal reasons (girlfriend, closer to home, etc?) I could understand it better if you wanted to transfer to a large university in an urban center - but to another small intellectual isolated LAC?</p>

#13

<p>Two reasons: Girlfriend, and closer to home (and more outdoorsy stuff too)
If I want to, I could always rescind my admission to Bard and switch to University of Puget Sound before August 29th... Oh, well, and the fact that Whitman has the BBMB major (though UPS is also pretty strong in the sciences - definitely more so than Bard, I would say)</p>

#14

<p>First of all, I think any parent would tell you not to choose a college because of a girlfriend/boyfriend. Although some relationships survive a college separation, most do not. If you're busy trying to maintain a long distance relationship, then you're not paying attention to all the great things happening in front of you. And, if you're not at the same college with this girlfriend then it's a long distance relationship.</p>

<p>You might have a point about science at UPS vs Bard. UPS is also a terrific school. Certainly the east coast vs west coast is very different culturally. What do your parents think? Have you discussed this with them?</p>