Transfer?

[scflips14]

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Hey everyone I was just looking for a little advice. I'm thinking of transferring colleges next year but I don't know if it will be worth it. I also did dual enrollment classes my senior year and some people have expressed concern to me that it will look unstable to medical schools that I attended three schools, even if one of them was for high school. Anyway, the college I attend right now is a small private school that no one has ever heard of. They have an impressive percentage of premed students being accepted to medical schools, however. But none of the faculty really do research and there are very little opportunities and resources for premed students, which I find very frustrating. I have searched out faculty member after faculty member in the science department trying to find something or someone that would help me find opportunities, but I haven't had any luck. They simply aren't there. I love the school but I am afraid I chose it too hastily. The school I am considering transferring to is a large institution very well known for excellence in academics. They have shadowing programs, resources to help you find internships, many professors doing research, etc. I went there recently and spoke with the head of the department I want to major in, and he indicated that if I am accepted, I could research in the department over the summer and throughout the school year, which would be incredible. I have the GPA and the ACT score to get in to this school, I believe. However, it is obviously more expensive and I might have to go in debt around $9,000 a year to pay for it. My current school gives me a full tuition scholarship. So is it worth it to transfer even if it costs me more money? What do you guys think?

 

[carpediem22]

Hey everyone I was just looking for a little advice. I'm thinking of transferring colleges next year but I don't know if it will be worth it. I also did dual enrollment classes my senior year and some people have expressed concern to me that it will look unstable to medical schools that I attended three schools, even if one of them was for high school. Anyway, the college I attend right now is a small private school that no one has ever heard of. They have an impressive percentage of premed students being accepted to medical schools, however. But none of the faculty really do research and there are very little opportunities and resources for premed students, which I find very frustrating. I have searched out faculty member after faculty member in the science department trying to find something or someone that would help me find opportunities, but I haven't had any luck. They simply aren't there. I love the school but I am afraid I chose it too hastily. The school I am considering transferring to is a large institution very well known for excellence in academics. They have shadowing programs, resources to help you find internships, many professors doing research, etc. I went there recently and spoke with the head of the department I want to major in, and he indicated that if I am accepted, I could research in the department over the summer and throughout the school year, which would be incredible. I have the GPA and the ACT score to get in to this school, I believe. However, it is obviously more expensive and I might have to go in debt around $9,000 a year to pay for it. My current school gives me a full tuition scholarship. So is it worth it to transfer even if it costs me more money? What do you guys think?

The financial bit is the only negative I see to you transferring, other than having to uproot your life and start over at a new school (easier said than done). I transferred colleges when I was a sophomore, and I have not regretted it one day. But I am also very outgoing and had no trouble acclimating to my new school. Others I know have a harder time securing leadership opportunities, friends, etc. as transfer students.

Another option you might want to consider is doing research at this larger institution in the summer. Many people I know who went to liberal arts colleges only did research in the summer, but what they did was intensive and they returned every year for 4 years. Unless you are trying to go MD/PhD, I see no problem with this (MD/PhD you might need more experience during the school year).

PM me if you have any specific questions about transferring.

 

[scflips14]

The financial bit is the only negative I see to you transferring, other than having to uproot your life and start over at a new school (easier said than done). I transferred colleges when I was a sophomore, and I have not regretted it one day. But I am also very outgoing and had no trouble acclimating to my new school. Others I know have a harder time securing leadership opportunities, friends, etc. as transfer students.

Another option you might want to consider is doing research at this larger institution in the summer. Many people I know who went to liberal arts colleges only did research in the summer, but what they did was intensive and they returned every year for 4 years. Unless you are trying to go MD/PhD, I see no problem with this (MD/PhD you might need more experience during the school year).

PM me if you have any specific questions about transferring.

Thanks. I am concerned about having to uproot my life. It took me most of a semester to make friends where I am now, mostly because I am not an extremely outgoing person, especially around new people. But I feel it may be worth it because I feel very caged in at my current school, like I have no opportunity to grow as a student. I have also been applying to many research programs for this summer. I asked the larger institution about researching there but they pretty much shut me down and told me it was too much trouble to have an outside student research with them. So unless I've committed to transfer, that won't work although I'm sure I could find other summer research opportunities.