<p>I am at the University of Chicago right now as a freshmen biology major. I am thinking about transferring because: a) the major/common core requirements are ridiculous (why do I have to take a computer programming class to be a bio major?); and b) I am not doing so great.
I was accepted to BU and Rochester before deciding on UChicago and was thinking about transferring to one or the other. The only problem are my grades. I graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA and top 10% in my class with various accolades. However my first trimester at UChicago, I saw a record-low 1.6 GPA (failed a class) and my second trimester was a 2.0 GPA. So a little improvement, but not nearly good enough for med school (or law school as my backup).<br>
Since UChicago is a top 5 school and BU and Rochester are not as highly ranked, will they give me a break since I was accepted to both already and I am at a rigorous university; or have I dug myself into a hole I cannot get out of and should stick it out? I would be a legacy at BU (4 generations) and I was recruited at Rochester for track and field (I am on the UChicago team), if that info aids at all. In addition, I joined a fraternity and various academic groups.</p>
<p>Although not an expert, I would say you have a good chance (given transfer admissions isn’t too competitive at both schools).</p>
<p>I respectfully disagree with Radiance. Admissions Officers are no fools, and will surely see that you are leaving the University of Chicago because you are not performing well academically. Boston University and University of Rochester, believe it or not, are both competitive schools. US News rankings aside, they will want to see that you can handle the workload at an upper echelon school. I strongly doubt either school will pardon your grades because they a.) offered you admittance out of high school and b.) because you’re failing at a “top 5 school,” which, if I understand your logic, means that you would be a good student in a top 60 university. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Unless you manage to put a magical spin on your transfer essay, I would recommend putting in the extra effort–perhaps another year of diligent studying–before giving up on U of Chicago. </p>
<p>Also, one of your chief complaints with the biology program at U of Chicago is the Computer Programming class. Well, if you want to attend medical school it is a small price to pay. Moreover, other schools–like U of Rochester of BU–will have equally as “ridiculous” supplementary courses to their biology programs. </p>
<p>Give Chicago a puncher’s chance before calling it quits. At the end of the day, your grades are not going to make or break who you are and what you want to do. If anything, you can turn this into a positive.</p>
<p>I rescind my post :). Not an expert on transfer admissions for Rochester or BU.</p>
<p>BU has intense grade deflation, so pre-med there wouldn’t be any better. </p>
<p>Maybe you should stick around at UChicago and change your study habits? If not, apply broadly to a bunch of schools.</p>