Transferring between four-year Universities as an undergrad, does it look bad?

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MichaelZ

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I am currently a sophomore at Arizona State University but I'm considering a switch to the University of Arizona just for a change in scenery. I have a 3.82 GPA overall so hopefully medical schools won't think I'm doing it for easier coursework. UA and ASU are also virtually the same when it comes to academic rankings. Since my GPA is not an issue would it look bad if I transferred for the beginning of my junior year? Please let me know any advice you might have!
 
This is one of the most answered questions on this forum. You could have used the search function and got an answer in literally 3 seconds rather than waiting for someone to reply. Now your face is one of disappointment as you reach the end of my post and realize I'm not answering your question.
 
This is one of the most answered questions on this forum. You could have used the search function and got an answer in literally 3 seconds rather than waiting for someone to reply. Now your face is one of disappointment as you reach the end of my post and realize I'm not answering your question.

Wow- probably could have just written "Please search this already answered question."

You probably wouldn't have had the self-gratification though.
 
This is one of the most answered questions on this forum. You could have used the search function and got an answer in literally 3 seconds rather than waiting for someone to reply. Now your face is one of disappointment as you reach the end of my post and realize I'm not answering your question.

You feel better about yourself now?
 
This is one of the most answered questions on this forum. You could have used the search function and got an answer in literally 3 seconds rather than waiting for someone to reply. Now your face is one of disappointment as you reach the end of my post and realize I'm not answering your question.

I already have searched it, but thanks for the pointless advice. Unfortunately most of the people who have asked this question are either: transferring from community college, doing poorly in school, etc. I'm doing neither, but based on what you're saying, since everyone must have such a vast knowledge on this subject it should be answered swiftly,
 
If you'll be happier at U of A, then do it. It's obviously good to consider the impact that a decision like this will have on your med school application, but sometimes you need to let your happiness take priority over your application. For what it's worth, I transferred from a large state school after my sophomore year and it was the best decision I have ever made. Just make sure you can talk about your reasons for transferring.
 
And in terms of how it will be viewed by med schools, I think it shows maturity to be able to realize that you'll have better opportunities in a different situation and to take action to pursue those opportunities. Especially when it involves a decision as big as transferring colleges.
 
I don't think med schools really care, unless the way you transfer makes it obvious you're doing it for GPA reasons (ex: a guy I knew in college transferred from a top 20 to a much lower ranked school and then transferred back to the top 20 the year after; coincidentally the one year he was at that other school was also the year he had to take orgo). Transferring more than once or twice may also raise a red flag since it suggests you don't think through major decisions. or are otherwise a flaky individual.

I don't see anything about your planned transfer that makes it suspicious. Your GPA is fine and the two schools aren't any different in terms of rigor. I think anyone who sees that will just assume there was something you liked more at the new school.
 
I already have searched it, but thanks for the pointless advice. Unfortunately most of the people who have asked this question are either: transferring from community college, doing poorly in school, etc. I'm doing neither, but based on what you're saying, since everyone must have such a vast knowledge on this subject it should be answered swiftly,

Think about it. If people are doing badly in school and then transfer and everyone says that it does not matter, then someone doing WELL in school then transferring would not matter either. Same with community college to 4-year undergrad or any other scenario. I mean seriously, what the heck would adcoms think other than that?

And I am literally calling you out for being a liar. You did not search at all, or if you did you put in a minimum amount of effort. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/search.php?searchid=23903953

Nearly everyone there are in scenarios equivalent or worse off than you, and practically every reply says the same exact thing: it doesn't matter at all going from one university to another. I can't fathom doing the most basic search (I literally only searched for the term "transferring" in titles) and not coming to the same conclusion.
 
Think about it. If people are doing badly in school and then transfer and everyone says that it does not matter, then someone doing WELL in school then transferring would not matter either. Same with community college to 4-year undergrad or any other scenario. I mean seriously, what the heck would adcoms think other than that?

And I am literally calling you out for being a liar. You did not search at all, or if you did you put in a minimum amount of effort. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/search.php?searchid=23903953

Nearly everyone there are in scenarios equivalent or worse off than you, and practically every reply says the same exact thing: it doesn't matter at all going from one university to another. I can't fathom doing the most basic search (I literally only searched for the term "transferring" in titles) and not coming to the same conclusion.

Damn, the Internet is serious business.
 
Think about it. If people are doing badly in school and then transfer and everyone says that it does not matter, then someone doing WELL in school then transferring would not matter either. Same with community college to 4-year undergrad or any other scenario. I mean seriously, what the heck would adcoms think other than that?

And I am literally calling you out for being a liar. You did not search at all, or if you did you put in a minimum amount of effort. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/search.php?searchid=23903953

Nearly everyone there are in scenarios equivalent or worse off than you, and practically every reply says the same exact thing: it doesn't matter at all going from one university to another. I can't fathom doing the most basic search (I literally only searched for the term "transferring" in titles) and not coming to the same conclusion.


For your sake, I hope you learn how to be professional.

If you act like this and call someone a "liar" I can't imagine you will make it with very many people. Alternatively, if you just use the cloak of internet anonymity in order to trash people and you are not like this in person, you are disingenuous.

Put another way, you're either a jerk for real or are simply pretending to be one now. Whichever is the case, you look pretty bad.
 
I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. Seriously too. Well technically the floor with a crooked neck and a wicked hangover, damn Friday nights :laugh:

Can't handle your liquor? Maybe you should drink less. It'd make you look less arrogant.
 
For your sake, I hope you learn how to be professional.

If you act like this and call someone a "liar" I can't imagine you will make it with very many people. Alternatively, if you just use the cloak of internet anonymity in order to trash people and you are not like this in person, you are disingenuous.

Put another way, you're either a jerk for real or are simply pretending to be one now. Whichever is the case, you look pretty bad.

Then I guess I'm disingenuous 😉 I only trash people who blatantly lie to gain sympathy points as well as display utter laziness and a lack of analysis, especially on the internet when everything is literally a few clicks away; this applies to real-life as well. I mean, how much more lazy can you get?
 
Then I guess I'm disingenuous 😉 I only trash people who blatantly lie to gain sympathy points as well as display utter laziness and a lack of analysis, especially on the internet when everything is literally a few clicks away; this applies to real-life as well. I mean, how much more lazy can you get?

:smack: You'd make a ****ty doctor. If a patient came in without first looking up symptoms online, would you bash them as well for utter laziness and a lack of analysis, especially on the internet when everything is literally a few clicks away?
 
Can't handle your liquor? Maybe you should drink less. It'd make you look less arrogant.

... Or maybe drinking is a societal norm and is fun at parties and clubs, and hangovers are the occasional side-effect that nearly everybody experiences? I don't see how anybody with any experience drinking can possibly come to the conclusion that "hangover = can't handle liquor" except straight-edges. Throwing up and blacking out are signs of not being able to handle liquor; how in the world does a hangover indicate that?
 
... Or maybe drinking is a societal norm and is fun at parties and clubs, and hangovers are the occasional side-effect that nearly everybody experiences? I don't see how anybody with any experience drinking can possibly come to the conclusion that "hangover = can't handle liquor" except straight-edges. Throwing up and blacking out are signs of not being able to handle liquor; how in the world does a hangover indicate that?

For some reason, even when I had a hangover, I never woke up on the floor with a crooked neck and a need to bash on people looking for help.
 
:smack: You'd make a ****ty doctor. If a patient came in without first looking up symptoms online, would you bash them as well for utter laziness and a lack of analysis, especially on the internet when everything is literally a few clicks away?

... Do you not understand the differences? On this forum, OP is asking other premeds who have not completed the application process questions about adcoms. Where did we get the information in this thread that answers his question? From second-hand sources; this entire board is an echo chamber repeating what previous premeds have said. Did you ask an adcom personally about these questions? No, you trusted other anonymous premeds. Why not just search for it then? Do YOU have an expertise in the admissions process from being an adcom?

As a doctor, you are sought for your expertise in the subject of medicine. You will get much different information seeking stuff on your own because you'll be relying on other anonymous, just-as-uninformed people.

Basically, by asking a repeated question here, OP is asking for what many others have asked and he will get the same exact answer because everyone's anonymous and just as inexperienced. Then why not just search for the answer yourself because you're no different than anybody else? However, by asking a question of a doctor, you will get a personal, tailored expert opinion that will be different than researching online (or the same).
 
For some reason, even when I had a hangover, I never woke up on the floor with a crooked neck and a need to bash on people looking for help.

And for some reason, even when I get bad grades, I don't get depressed and a need to seek out sympathy. I get motivated to study more and look toward a brighter future. People react differently to different things; I just get really annoyed really fast when I have a hangover. But anyways, PM me if you want to continue this discussion, I don't want to clog up the frontpage with this useless convo.
 
... Do you not understand the differences? On this forum, OP is asking other premeds who have not completed the application process questions about adcoms. Where did we get the information in this thread that answers his question? From second-hand sources; this entire board is an echo chamber repeating what previous premeds have said. Did you ask an adcom personally about these questions? No, you trusted other anonymous premeds. Why not just search for it then? Do YOU have an expertise in the admissions process from being an adcom?

As a doctor, you are sought for your expertise in the subject of medicine. You will get much different information seeking stuff on your own because you'll be relying on other anonymous, just-as-uninformed people.

Basically, by asking a repeated question here, OP is asking for what many others have asked and he will get the same exact answer because everyone's anonymous and just as inexperienced. Then why not just search for the answer yourself because you're no different than anybody else? However, by asking a question of a doctor, you will get a personal, tailored expert opinion that will be different than researching online (or the same).

This thread was his first post. Maybe he's not familiar with how to use the search function, or the internet for that matter. Look, I'm all for using the search function, I just think that you came off a bit harsh with your unneeded comments.
 
Then I guess I'm disingenuous 😉 I only trash people who blatantly lie to gain sympathy points as well as display utter laziness and a lack of analysis, especially on the internet when everything is literally a few clicks away; this applies to real-life as well. I mean, how much more lazy can you get?

Indeed you are.

You should also know that admissions committee members frequent SDN- at least it's true of UPenn med and vet schools. They also answer some of these questions.

I would also point out that now you've called someone both a "liar" and "lazy" without any evidence to support it.

Further, you told them to search for "the answer" using this forum. This statement implies they could have found a correct solution to their question. However, you have just called SDN an echo-chamber without any input from an authority.

Did I already call you disingenuous?

Best of luck to you.
 
Axiom, there is NO reason to ever get angry at anyone, ever.

Remember, the internet is fun and lighthearted 😀
 
I am currently a sophomore at Arizona State University but I'm considering a switch to the University of Arizona just for a change in scenery. I have a 3.82 GPA overall so hopefully medical schools won't think I'm doing it for easier coursework. UA and ASU are also virtually the same when it comes to academic rankings. Since my GPA is not an issue would it look bad if I transferred for the beginning of my junior year? Please let me know any advice you might have!

OP, do it and with no regrets. Your grades are good and the similar rankings would dispel any (non-existent) worries. Enjoy your life and by doing so you will presumably create a better application and story than otherwise.
 
Will you be able to get LORs if you transfer? That can be a problem when you change schools.
 
I am currently a sophomore at Arizona State University but I'm considering a switch to the University of Arizona just for a change in scenery. I have a 3.82 GPA overall so hopefully medical schools won't think I'm doing it for easier coursework. UA and ASU are also virtually the same when it comes to academic rankings. Since my GPA is not an issue would it look bad if I transferred for the beginning of my junior year? Please let me know any advice you might have!

i transferred twice across the US man from universities...u'll be fine
 
No one will care.

As an aside, I'm not from AZ and don't know much about either school, but to me UA has the better reputation.
 
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