Worth trying to transfer to a higher level college or not

Transfer Students
1

Hi everyone,

I am currently a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. If I decide to transfer it would be for the fall 2019 semester. The problem is I’m completely split on whether or not Id be better off transferring. At UML, I am on the executive board for student government, and also a member of chem E honor society, engineering for sustainable world club, photography club, honors ambassador council, and drone club. In addition to these clubs, I work in a spider research lab on campus, work in a pharmaceutical lab outside of school, and am a member of the honors college. The one problem is that I have a 3.2 gpa. My gpa is the one thing I feel is holding me back so I would like to know if it is worth applying to a better school like an ivy (Cornell prob) or comparable high level school.

Thanks you all very much for the support
David

2

What would be your purpose in transferring? It looks like you have a lot of good opportunities where you are, and that you are taking advantage of them. If you are happy, then stay where you are, and start putting a bit more effort into raising your GPA.

3

So my purpose of transferring was because I don’t really like the campus at my current school. Also, I want to go to a school that has a more merit and value for it’s degree. Does that make sense? The problem im having is, say for instance I get into Cornell, is it worth spending more money to get a degree that is better or am I better off staying where I am and with where it’s cheap and I have more extracurriculars.

4

Thanks for the input

5

You might be better off dropping some clubs and boosting your GPA instead. You have such fabulous opportunities, I would not give them up.

6

For most majors, there isn’t any real need to go prestige-shopping. If you take full advantage of your honors program and all the other opportunities at your university, you can be fine. Especially as you have concerns about affordability.

7

Do you think I would have any chance tho?

8

Engineering GPAs do tend to run lower, but a 3.2 doesn’t say ‘I am not being adequately challenged’. Besides the fancier name, why do you think you should be at Cornell?

Also, given that you are in an ABET school, your qualification will get you anywhere you want to be- and your lab experience will be at least as important as the name on your diploma. You are a star where you are. That counts for a lot.

9

Focus on doing well sophomore year and then re-evaluate if you still wish to transfer then. Irrespective of your decision, I think it likely you would have compiled a strong profile for admissions to top engineering schools like UMichigan, UMD College Park, Purdue, UIUC. I’d say Cornell is a very long-shot – particularly if you don’t have a stellar HS GPA/test scores to make up your college GPA atm.