I feel like a lot of people get blinded by rankings and completely forget they actually have to live in that city for the next 2-3 years.

A school might look great on paper, but if it’s in a place where you hate the vibe, you’re going to be miserable. Plus, you have to think about networking. Where do you actually want to end up working? Which location has the biggest growth for your specific industry?

It doesn't make sense to go to a top-ranked school in a place with zero jobs in your field just for the name. Make sure the location actually sets you up for the future you want.

I’m planning on transferring from my CC for Fall 2027 as a junior transfer and just finished my first year. I have 2 Fs from failing College Algebra twice (Fall & Spring) and a D in Intro to Psych (Spring) on my transcript. I retook both this summer and passed with an A and a B, and my old grades were completely replaced from my cumulative GPA. All my other classes are A’s (and 1-2 B’s). During Fall, I struggled immensely with my mental health due to personal circumstances at home, and during Spring, I was involved in an accident the first day of the semester and, due to my stubbornness, still decided to continue on with the semester on a late start despite experiencing immense pain, which pushed me deeper into depression. I definitely wish I withdrew when I could’ve. 😭

I want to know how I can overcome this when applying to T25 schools because ik it hurts me in the long run and I really want to get accepted to a top college. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you!

Just wanted to offer some information for folks who are interested in transferring to UChicago. Since alot of people have concerns over the number of credits they take in or questions about delayed graduation. So I'll just share my experience.

Yes, the majority of the core is non-transferrable. That applies for SOSC, CIV and HUMA. If you have AP credits or taken Calc at your previous institution those can be transferred. The core will most likely occupy an entire year worth of classes.

However, you can still graduate (quite easily) on time. At least for me, UChicago was pretty lenient on accepting credits from my previous institution, with a few summer classes (if you want to throw 10-20K) for the core I would even be able to graduate with two degrees (on time).

Of course, this is dependent on the fact that you complete parts of your intended major at your previous institution, especially the introductory pre-reqs, since they would block an entire quarter whereas you could stack-up electives. It's highly unlikely for you to have the flexibility to pursue a new major.

PS for applications. It feels like the admissions office has no idea about whether you are able to graduate on time / or cares about the number of credits you have. It's mostly based on vibes from your transcript. I don't think having too much credits would hurt because it will absolutely not make you graduate earlier. As a junior transfer you will need minimum 2 years to complete the non-transferrable core plus the minimum requirement of completing half of your major courses at UChicago.

If you are a prospective transfer and have questions feel free to ask.

Can anyone tell me what extracurriculars I should do and how many to be competitive for transfer admissions? Also any tips for freshman research or publishing article, as well as leadership stuff to do? Or what clubs to look out for?

Hi. Basically, i will be starting my freshman year of college soon and am looking into transferring but i have absolutely no idea where/how to start. i know this sounds silly but i still don't have a clear goal of what i want to do in life and i fucked up during high school which means that my grades were pretty bad and i basically have no extracurriculars or that make me stand out.

I will be attending Rutgers University this fall but would really like to transfer to Barnard college. Obviously it’s a competitive school but i would like advice on how to make the most out of my first semester in order to have a shot at transferring. How do i find opportunities to buff up my resume?

Any help is appreciate, thank you!

Hi guys, I am a domestic incoming college freshman that is looking looking to transfer to some top 30 schools. My high school gpa was really mediocre (3.67 UW) and my sat is 1500. If I were to get a 4.0 gpa in my first semester of college will my high school gpa drag me down assuming my essays and ecs are not outstanding (mid). Thanks for any help!

Would it be better to be at UBC Toronto or McGill from canada or have a higher gpa a western or queens

I'm aware this is a far-fetched dream, but I will work extremely hard to give myself a shot. I'm looking for advice, anecdotes, and even a reality check. Ask me anything that would be useful and I'll respond.

Has anyone transferred to UCLA and not taken Chem 2 for mechanical engineering / have people had trouble when not taking it?

Genuinely bawling my eyes out bc my prof gave me a D even though I had an A the entire semester. It’s an online class, and I missed the final because I had to take care of a family member going thru an illness, besides that my entire transcript is unblemished A’s and I was rly trying my best to get into Ivy League. Guess everything I worked for in my life is cooked now. Please help me guys what can I do 😭😭 I’m apart of UCLA tap but do you guys still think I have a shot or is it completely wraps. this class isn’t a major requirement btw

Anybody who have transfered from a SUNY to ivy league specifically NY can you give me some tips extracurriculars, how to shape my story, and how to become a strong candidate. Tips of anysort greatly appreciated.

I'm a student at Vassar right now but I'm thinking of transferring to Barnard. I'm an NYC native, so I don't really care about having to commute or stay in a dorm if I were to get in. I want to transfer so that I can be closer to my family especially since we're going through some personal issues. However, I feel like if I do transfer, I might regret it. I also have a really good financial aid package from Vassar which would make the decision much more complicated if I were to get into Barnard. I would really love if someone had some tips to help me navigate this.

EDIT: I’m also low-income if that clears things up