Transferring UChicago to UT Austin (Undergrad)

[aperture]

I'm just thinking about it, for next year (current First-year). Reasons for:

• 
  Much less expensive (~$25k/yr cheaper)
  Less grade deflation

Reasons against:

• 
  Hassle of transferring
  Not as prestigious
  Possibly fewer research opportunities
  Huge-ass school

In other words, it's not so much that I hate UChicago, but that if I really want med-school as an eventual goal I don't see how UChicago is much better than UT, for undergrad. I certainly don't see how it's $25k/yr better.

I think I'd try to transfer into Biomedical engineering. If it counts for anything, when I applied in HS last year, I got into Biomedical with a nice scholarship. If you're wondering why I ever picked UChicago, I thought about being a Physics, Math, CS, or Econ major. I'm not too jazzed about those things any more, but that's probably another post.

I know that I really need to give myself more time at this university before transferring; I'm just wondering.

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[Musclemass]

You will be most successful in attaining your goal, med school or grad school or anything else, by attending the school you are happier at. Your performance will skyrocket when you're happy and comfortable and will suffer when you're not. You've only been at Chicago for a few months, you can have a contingency plan but don't jump too fast.

The name on the diploma you ultimately get should not influence your decision if you are unhappy in Chicago. It's true that a lot of people find UChicago to be rather nerdy and odd. UT is a great school, immense, and you'll have to search out the kind of valuable personal experiences that come more easily at a smaller school.

If cost is an issue, discard the pro/con analysis and go to UT.

 

[wittyalias]

BME at UT is a great program and helps mitigate the fact that its such a large school. The BME program is relatively small so you end up knowing all your classmates and have much more interaction with professors than you do in the intro classes that you share with the rest of the university. A significant number of BMEs go the premed route with a high average MCAT and fare well with admissions.

 

[tako]

I can't really elaborate much on the BME program because I don't really know that much about it, but I do know that it's a relatively new (and smaller) program than most of what's offered here on campus -- therefore, you might not feel as overwhelmed with all the students here. As for the research issue -- there are TONS of research opportunities here! A quick search at Eureka! will probably lead to a project you might be interested in.

 

[LizzyM]

As bad as it is this year, the football is better in Austin. 😉

If you are borrowing for school, the lower your loan balance at graduation the better - it gives you more options with regard to specialty and the like.

And don't discount grade deflation. We know U of Chicago's ways and we try to take that into account but some newbies on the adcom see a low gpa and are somewhat stunned.

 

[Bugatti]

Hey Aperture, I know where you're coming from with the UofC thing. Honestly, I think you're making the right decision. If you dislike it that much you should transfer out regardless of "prestige" ... that prestige doesn't do you any good if you're GPA is weak. Also, UofC teaching methods are geared for students who want to go to graduate Phds not for medical students. The classes were not that useful when it comes down to preparing you about medicine. It was way too research oriented and not enough clinical. Gee... I can't recall of anything really good to say about that school.

 

[texahn]

BME at UT is among the top programs in the nation..

 

[aperture]

@MuscleMass, LizzyM: I'm not borrowing to pay for my education at UChicago. I'm lucky enough to have parents who can pay out-of-pocket. However, I don't see any reason for them to have to do that if UChicago isn't $25k better.

@wittyalias, tako: It's good to hear that BME is a smaller program. From what I've heard from current UT students, finding a group within the enormity of that university is important.

@Bugatti: Just to clear things up, I'm not miserable or anything. However, I don't think I would be worse in Austin - I think I could very well be happier (even if I don't consider finances). Are you a UofC alum? I'm wondering how you know about the school, since your contention (that the school is better for PhD than pre-professional) is a common one I've heard here.

@texahn: I hope you're not insinuating that it would be difficult to transfer in? As an aside, I'm hoping that they focus more on the HS work and take a look at undergrad GPA as well. Leadership in EC's seems pretty difficult here as a first-year. Would UChicago's prestige help?

 

[Bugatti]

Yes, I am a UofC alum and from experience I didn't think the school prepared me as well as I would like for the MCAT or for medical school. Yes, the basic classes like immuno and some of the early bio sequences were somewhat helpful but all the upper level bio classes are heavily research oriented ... not many classes that could be much use during 1st or 2nd year. That's my personal gripe.

 

[texahn]

well idk how hard it will be to transfer in but i think they want you to take 4 years to complete their program even if you have credits.

 

[LizzyM]

Swathmore is another that has a reputation for lower grades than similar schools.

 

[datongnoodles]

Hey Aperture, I know where you're coming from with the UofC thing. Honestly, I think you're making the right decision. If you dislike it that much you should transfer out regardless of "prestige" ... that prestige doesn't do you any good if you're GPA is weak. Also, UofC teaching methods are geared for students who want to go to graduate Phds not for medical students. The classes were not that useful when it comes down to preparing you about medicine. It was way too research oriented and not enough clinical. Gee... I can't recall of anything really good to say about that school.

Aww, I'm sad hearing that you didn't like U of C much. I went there and really liked it. I especially loved the academics. I took a ton of upper level bio courses and didn't feel that any of them were "too research oriented". Several bio classes (Neurobiology of Disease I & II, and the second and third quarter of the endocrinology sequence were even taught by MDs. Those two neuro classes in particular had a different MD from the neurology department come and lecture for every class. The endo courses helped a ton with the MCAT too. There's also now a new global health course.)

In recent years I've also noticed U of C try harder to provide resources and support for pre-professional oriented students. And interestingly, though they do churn out a lot of PhD bound students, one of my friends who was one of the top physics majors there (won the physics departmental award in her year, 3.9+ cGPA (!)) and a current fourth year PhD student actually said that she DIDN'T feel that U of C prepared students well enough for research. Might be just her opinion though.

Anyway, to the OP, if you think you won't enjoy U of C much more than UT Austin, then perhaps you should transfer, considering the extra tuition costs and your GPA concerns. I do think that with hard work and spacing out your science courses, it's not too hard to pull a 3.7, but perhaps that's not satisfactory enough for the med schools you're aiming for. Anyway good luck whatever you decide ultimately!

 

[deleted357625]

UT-Austin is a public ivy, and is a well-known university, well-worth it also.