Is it silly to apply a second time for transfer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Elwin.Martin
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Apply Time
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the considerations and implications of applying for a transfer to a competitive school, specifically whether applying for a Spring transfer might negatively impact a later Fall application. Participants share personal experiences and advice regarding the transfer process, application strategies, and the importance of recommendations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Personal experiences
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern that a rejection from a Spring transfer could harm their chances for a Fall application to a competitive school.
  • Another participant shares their experience of being rejected after the first year but successfully transferring after the second year to a different college.
  • Some participants suggest that applying early may not negatively impact future applications, as admissions committees likely focus on the most recent application rather than past rejections.
  • Concerns are raised about the perception of desperation versus persistence in the application process.
  • One participant discusses their unique situation regarding recommendations and suggests that applicants should not worry about how others perceive their actions.
  • Another participant mentions the importance of GPA and the competitiveness of specific departments when applying for transfers.
  • Several participants share their own transfer experiences, including schools applied to and outcomes, emphasizing the variability of results based on individual circumstances.
  • There is mention of the importance of recommendation letters and how to approach professors for them, especially after a previous rejection.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether applying for a Spring transfer could negatively affect a Fall application. There are multiple competing views on the impact of previous rejections and the importance of GPA and departmental competitiveness.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that specific schools may have different criteria for evaluating transfer applications, and there is uncertainty regarding how past applications are considered in future evaluations. The discussion also reflects a range of personal experiences that may not be universally applicable.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering transferring to competitive colleges, particularly those navigating the application process and seeking advice on recommendations and timing.

Elwin.Martin
Messages
202
Reaction score
0
I am considering applying for transfer to a school this Spring, but I know my application will be even stronger if I apply this fall. I really, really want to leave this Spring though. If I were to be rejected for Spring transfer, would this impact my Fall application badly? It is a competitive school and although I have a solid application, this is a reach school for me and I don't want to hurt myself if I don't have to. I figure it might be relevant that I'm in my second semester in school though I have a lot of credit hours; so it's not a time limit pushing me out, it's a problem with being unchallenged by my curriculum.

Thank you for any and all help/advice!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I got a rejection letter from a school after my first year of college. Applied again after the second year and was accepted. I went to a different college though :D
 
Angry Citizen said:
I got a rejection letter from a school after my first year of college. Applied again after the second year and was accepted. I went to a different college though :D

I suppose, I'm just really paranoid about hurting my chances for such a competitive program. It's not my *only* option, but it's my number one choice.
 
I totally understand, but I'll guarantee you that it won't hurt to apply early. The worst they'll do is say no. They're not going to look back at their earlier decision and say "s/he can't have improved at all, let's just bin it without looking at it". In fact, they probably won't even realize you're reapplying unless you mention it in your statement of purpose essay.
 
Angry Citizen said:
I totally understand, but I'll guarantee you that it won't hurt to apply early. The worst they'll do is say no. They're not going to look back at their earlier decision and say "s/he can't have improved at all, let's just bin it without looking at it". In fact, they probably won't even realize you're reapplying unless you mention it in your statement of purpose essay.

They look explicitly to see if you have applied in the past, it's like the third question on the application. I'm afraid of appearing desperate over appearing persistent. I think I will apply though, my only question is what you did about recommendations...? I don't want to get rejected and have to ask again for the same thing x.x'
 
What I did about recommendations? Well, I didn't ask for any the first time I applied, and the second time I applied I asked professors who I'd only met during the second year. But my situation was unique.

And my advice is to stop worrying about whether other people will think you're 'desperate' or a failure or something. You ARE desperate - and rightfully so. This is your education, and plenty of people get rejected. Just approach the professors and say, "Hi Dr. X, I didn't get into the school of my choice last time I applied, and I was wondering if you'd be willing to rewrite the letter of recommendation I asked you for last time. Thanks!" They'll be happy to do it.
 
Not silly at all! I planned on applying in the spring to schools, but due to California's budget cuts schools stopped accepting spring transfer students. I ended up applying early in fall, missing a couple transfer classes (physics 3, Linear algebra, diversity course). I applied to Caltech, Berkeley, and UCLA. Got denied to all!

So I took those 3 courses, worked as a math tutor for that semester, then took the following semester off from school and did an internship. I then applied again for Fall 2011, got into Berkeley, UCSD on wait list, UC Santa Barbara for my second major choice, and Cal poly Pomona. (denied by UCLA ).

I chose to apply early and see what happened... I guess it could have put a negative mark on my sheet for a place like Cal Tech (cause I probably failed the application test..) But for most schools I don't think they care they just look at the current facts.
 
If you're talking about GT, I wouldn't sweat it. Most people who I've read about being rejected didn't have a good enough GPA, or were applying to very competitive departments. I think it does matter what department you apply to, because the Mech. E's don't have any reason to accept transfer students, they have their hands full with GT students already trying to transfer into the dept. If your GPA is above a 3.5 and you're applying for something like math (I thought I saw you mention it in the other thread), I wouldn't sweat it.

PS: I also had a friend who just transferred to GT this summer after spending at year at Southern. He's on the boards here somewhere... maybe he'll chime in.
 
hadsed said:
If you're talking about GT, I wouldn't sweat it. Most people who I've read about being rejected didn't have a good enough GPA, or were applying to very competitive departments. I think it does matter what department you apply to, because the Mech. E's don't have any reason to accept transfer students, they have their hands full with GT students already trying to transfer into the dept. If your GPA is above a 3.5 and you're applying for something like math (I thought I saw you mention it in the other thread), I wouldn't sweat it.

PS: I also had a friend who just transferred to GT this summer after spending at year at Southern. He's on the boards here somewhere... maybe he'll chime in.

I have guaranteed transfer to Tech, so it's actually my fall back ^^;

I didn't want this to get about stats or anything, since those tend to get silly and unrealistic about predictions, but if it helps information-wise in people's responses about letters then I have a 4.0 college GPA and a really bad to mediocre 3.0 from High School (fortunately most colleges don't strongly consider that though).

I'm getting letters from: My Calc III professor (his adviser was Rudin), my Linear Algebra professor (and my adviser), and my Modern Physics professor. I'm sending supplement letters from two high school teachers, my AP Physics teacher and my Precalc teacher (the precalc teacher has known me for 3-4 years now and has really seen me change as an individual). Since I have, well, five letters in total this was part of my concern for asking twice.
 
  • #10
Dbrickner said:
Not silly at all! I planned on applying in the spring to schools, but due to California's budget cuts schools stopped accepting spring transfer students. I ended up applying early in fall, missing a couple transfer classes (physics 3, Linear algebra, diversity course). I applied to Caltech, Berkeley, and UCLA. Got denied to all!

So I took those 3 courses, worked as a math tutor for that semester, then took the following semester off from school and did an internship. I then applied again for Fall 2011, got into Berkeley, UCSD on wait list, UC Santa Barbara for my second major choice, and Cal poly Pomona. (denied by UCLA ).

I chose to apply early and see what happened... I guess it could have put a negative mark on my sheet for a place like Cal Tech (cause I probably failed the application test..) But for most schools I don't think they care they just look at the current facts.

Good to hear that you got in on your second round! Are you going with Berkeley? That's one of my favorite places and I'd love to go there myself, glad you got in.

Without asking specifically, what was the Caltech exam like O.o? I've been told that Apostol's Calculus matches the math difficulty, would you agree? (I'm applying for this coming fall, one of my letters comes from an Honors Caltech graduate and he thinks the exam won't kill me, but I want to be safe)
 

Similar threads

Admissions Graduating a year early anxieties + grad school
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Admissions Latebloomer with many past mistakes applying to graduate school
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Admissions What REU's to apply to with a mediocre GPA?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Admissions Can I get away with retaking E&M, even if I got a B?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Admissions Advice to enhance my profile for grad school
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Programs Physics degree to med school? please help
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Schools How to Navigate Applying to HEPTH PhD Programs in Europe vs. the US?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Admissions Advice on how best to spend my time for graduate school applications
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Admissions Applying for Physics PhD in the UK 10 years after leaving Uni
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Admissions What are my chances of getting into a competitive physics PhD program?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K