Maximizing My Transfer for Top Grad Schools: Consider These Factors

[truthfinder]

Hi,

I'm going into my sophomore year at Duquesne University, majoring in physics and math. I am thinking of transferring to another university, however.

The reason is that I really want to be able to get into a top grad school to earn my PhD, because I want to go into research. Duquesne's physics program just isn't that big, nor does it have many resources for research, at all. I think there are 2 credits for research in the senior year, but that's about it.

I really think I can do better, but I'm not sure where to start. I would like to choose about 5 universities, try to apply to them, and see how I do. I'd like to choose universities from various rankings, from those that it is not likely I'd be accepted, to those that I think I could definitely get into.

Here are some of my stats:

• I have a 4.0 GPA so far in college.
• I got a 1970 on the new SAT's, and 1290 on the old. This includes 640 in reading, 650 in math, and 680 in writing. I kind of blame the math score on some technical difficulties with the braille copy of the SAT's in the math section, but I don't know.
• I graduated with a little over a 3.7 in high school. This is the one point I'm not very happy about, which is why I've tried to work so hard in college.

Here are some of the important things to me about the university:

• Research: It should have sufficient research opportunities, hopefully enough to leave an impression for grad school
• Cost: I'm currently paying between $35,000-40,000 per year. This is pushing it, though I could probably make it up to $45,000-50,000 or so. Obviously, the more financial aid, the higher the cost could be.
• Accessibility: It should have plenty of resources for those with disabilities (I'm totally blind).
• Greek life (optional): I'm in Delta Chi, and it'd be so great if I could find a chapter at the university I transfer to.

Besides that, obviously it should have a good physics program. I'm really interested in quantum physics, so it'd be great if they had some courses on that.

So, yeah, I didn't do the best in high school, but I've been working really hard to turn that around in college. I'm trying to get into a good university, so it can be a sort of stepping stone to an even better graduate school. Location is no matter for me, but unfortunately cost is.

So, any suggestions would be much appreciated. I'm looking at Carnegie Mellon right now, because it isn't too much more expensive, and is just right down the road from Duquesne.

Also, Purdue. A friend goes there and says it is pretty good.

Besides that, I don't know. I have a few that I dream of but doubt I'd have much of a chance (e.g., Cornell, Stanford, etc).

 

[WarPhalange]

Hoe Lee shhhh... that's a lot of money per year.

Really, it doesn't matter where you go from here with those prices. Carnegie from what I hear is pretty good.

Apply to those dream schools, too, because you never know. It would be worth it.

 

[truthfinder]

Hoe Lee shhhh... that's a lot of money per year.

Really? I didn't think it was all that much for a private university. Everything I looked at seems to be in the $40,000 range.

Really, it doesn't matter where you go from here with those prices. Carnegie from what I hear is pretty good.

Why do you say it doesn't matter?

Yeah, CMU seems pretty good. I think I'd have a good chance at getting in there, especially since they said that they give more weight to one's grades from college instead of high school, when transferring. The only thing I'm nervous about is that their 25th-percentile for the math score in the SAT's is 680, and I only got 650.

Apply to those dream schools, too, because you never know. It would be worth it.

Very true; I definitely will.

Is Purdue well-known at all for physics? I've definitely heard of it before, and usually associate it with engineering and computer science, but I never see it mentioned here as one of the better ones for physics.

Anyway, any other suggestions for universities I could have a chance at getting accepted into would be much appreciated. I'm not really familiar with that many, except for the obvious big-name schools.

 

[truthfinder]

Sorry to double post, but I have some updates and clarifications.

I looked at the costs for various universities today, as well as their selectiveness.

I'm really liking Cornell. Their selectiveness seems to be comparable to CMU, and they are even a little cheaper. I was mistaken about CMU's cost; it actually is about $52,000. Cornell is about $45,000.

I don't hold much hope for Stanford, but I may as well try.

University of Pennsylvania looks decent, but I don't know too much about it.

CMU is very nice, though a little expensive, unless they are generous with financial aid.

Purdue is much less selective than I expected. What is their program like? Is it respected? They are only $32,000.

I looked at University of Illinois, too, and without knowing very much about them besides what I read today, they look pretty good.

Would you cut out any of the above? Would you suggest adding any?

If I got into Stanford, I'd go there in a heartbeat. next would be Cornell. Everything else is as I've ordered them above.

I would probably try to visit a few of these over winter break if I possibly could. I've already visited CMU because I almost went there originally, but that's it.

Finally, how much weight will they give to my high school grades? I mean, will they see I've drastically improved in college, and so perhaps give me more of a chance?

 

[eri]

Keep in mind that most people don't get all their research experience from their own university. I went to a small liberal arts college that graduated about 10 physics majors a year, and did 4 research projects while in college - none of them at my own school. REU projects and connections from those and professors at my college gave me lots of experience. Have you tried applying for REUs before thinking of transferring?

 

[truthfinder]

Keep in mind that most people don't get all their research experience from their own university. I went to a small liberal arts college that graduated about 10 physics majors a year, and did 4 research projects while in college - none of them at my own school. REU projects and connections from those and professors at my college gave me lots of experience. Have you tried applying for REUs before thinking of transferring?

Yeah, I understand that, but I want to go to a university that is known for having a good physics program, so that it stands for something when I go to apply to grad school.

 

[WarPhalange]

It won't matter, because they care more about what you've done, not what your school is known for.

Someone who does independent research from a podunk school is still more desirable than someone who went to a more well-known school but didn't do any research.

 

[truthfinder]

It won't matter, because they care more about what you've done, not what your school is known for.

Someone who does independent research from a podunk school is still more desirable than someone who went to a more well-known school but didn't do any research.

True, but surely one who has both gone to a good university and done a lot of research is better than both of these?

I just feel like I'd have more and better opportunities at a better university.

 

[WarPhalange]

Sure, just don't think that simply getting in will be enough. It's still a lot of hard work.

 

[truthfinder]

Sure, just don't think that simply getting in will be enough. It's still a lot of hard work.

I'm well aware. I've worked hard to keep the grades I have in college right now. I know it won't be easy.

My main concern right now though is geting in somewhere.

So, any suggestions?

 

[JasonJo]

I say transferring IS his best option. Think about it. He's paying 40k a year, and not in a great physics program? He can transfer to a school like Rutgers or Penn State and immediately have a good chance at a great grad school if he works hard, and he might have a good chance of getting into these schools. Why not transfer and still pay the same price?

That being said, you don't have to go to a Harvard or a Cornell to get into a good PhD program for physics. It helps, but it is not necessarily. Stony Brook, Rutgers, Penn State are quite good and you probably have a decent shot of getting in as a transfer student (however contact the schools to see what your chances are).

There are plenty of good UG schools for physics, and most of them might actually be a bit cheaper than what you are paying right now.

 

[truthfinder]

I say transferring IS his best option. Think about it. He's paying 40k a year, and not in a great physics program? He can transfer to a school like Rutgers or Penn State and immediately have a good chance at a great grad school if he works hard, and he might have a good chance of getting into these schools. Why not transfer and still pay the same price?

Yes, that's exactly what I am thinking.

That being said, you don't have to go to a Harvard or a Cornell to get into a good PhD program for physics. It helps, but it is not necessarily. Stony Brook, Rutgers, Penn State are quite good and you probably have a decent shot of getting in as a transfer student (however contact the schools to see what your chances are).

There are plenty of good UG schools for physics, and most of them might actually be a bit cheaper than what you are paying right now.

Interesting. What specifically would you recommend? I have never heard of Rutgers or Stony Brook.

I'm not sure about Penn State. When I looked into it before, it seemed not to be that selective. I mean that I want something challenging; not something I could easily get into. I only say that because it looked like their average SAT acceptance was about 1100 if I remember correctly.

So basically, I know that I may not be able to get into some of the top universities yet, but I at least want something at around my level.

ugh, I can't say that without sounding arrogant, but it's true. Duquesne was a last resort for me, but I really feel like it's below my level, and you can see that from their acceptance rate and what they accept. I don't want to make the same mistake again. Also, I get bored if things aren't challenging enough, which I'm also running into at Duquesne.

But I am willing to work as hard as I need to in order to keep up at a better university.

 

[Leinad]

Okay I've read maybe the four first posts and skipped down here. I hear you on the 3.7 GPA, that's what I have and I'm a Sr. in High school. I'm not totally happy about it you know being older as I am now and realizing I need to spend much more time studying and striving for that 4.0 which I didn't do when I was younger. Don't sweat it man, college means much more than HS, and a 4.0 college will shadow over that 3.7.

 

[hubris]

You really need to rethink your current financial situation. That is a huge amount to pay.
Maybe go to the scholarship department with your 4.0 and apply to a state school.
The amount of burden you are putting on your future self is *huge*.
Frankly, you could not afford to do research with such a debt load.

That said, you seem caught in the brand name.

 

[truthfinder]

You really need to rethink your current financial situation. That is a huge amount to pay.
Maybe go to the scholarship department with your 4.0 and apply to a state school.
The amount of burden you are putting on your future self is *huge*.
Frankly, you could not afford to do research with such a debt load.

I don't understand. I'm already paying that much, so will be paying that if I transfer or not. I just want to be in a better physics program. The only way I can pay much less is if I go to Penn State, and I don't really like it there.

How couldn't I afford to do research?

That said, you seem caught in the brand name.

Yes, it'd be nice. I just want somewhere that's known for physics. I figure it can't hurt. Mostly I just want somewhere that has a very good physics program, is challenging, and will look good when I go to apply to grad school.

I don't understand what the problem is with this?

I appreciate the advice, but I just want to know what schools you would recommend. I'm definitely transferring. It's pointless to stay where I am.

 

[JasonJo]

Let me make some points here:

Penn State physics has one of the best cosmology/general relativity departments. Rutgers and Stony Brook are well regarded physics institutions, top 30 departments.

Let me also say you never hearing of Rutgers or Stony Brook really just shows you only know the brand name schools for physics, which is a handful of schools. Now it's not fair to hold that against you, you are still young, you're going to be a sophomore.

Just because you never heard of them means almost nothing. You aren't a researcher. Any researchers knows that Rutgers, Penn State, Stony Brook, UIUC are great schools for physics.

Stony Brook and Penn State are similar in terms of competition to get into UG. In the math department, Stony Brook has sent kids to Harvard, Berkeley, Texas, Cornell for math phds. I know in the physics department a few people got into top programs (UCSB, which let me guess, you never heard of?). Just because the UG is not super competitive does not mean they have a crap department.

I suggest you really start listening to people here. Fact of the matter is, you are going to be a long shot for an Ivy League, plain and simple. But that is ok, there are a lot of schools that are great physics programs and get their kids into great phd programs.

And you don't think assuming almost $200k in debt is crippling? Especially when physicists make around 70-100k a year on average? Pile on top of that how difficult it is to get a position in academia?

Start being realistic about physics. Do you care about physics or do you care about getting into a big name school?

 

[truthfinder]

Let me make some points here:

Penn State physics has one of the best cosmology/general relativity departments. Rutgers and Stony Brook are well regarded physics institutions, top 30 departments.

Let me also say you never hearing of Rutgers or Stony Brook really just shows you only know the brand name schools for physics, which is a handful of schools. Now it's not fair to hold that against you, you are still young, you're going to be a sophomore.

Actually, I hardly knew of any good universities for physics, except for MIT. What I found was through looking up rankings for various universities for physics. That was my only resource. I also asked here, in order to add to that list.

Just because you never heard of them means almost nothing. You aren't a researcher. Any researchers knows that Rutgers, Penn State, Stony Brook, UIUC are great schools for physics.

Did I say it meant anything? I just said I hadn't heard of them. I also said I wasn't very fond of Penn State. That has nothing to do with their program. I have no idea how their program is. I just said I didn't care for the university.

Stony Brook and Penn State are similar in terms of competition to get into UG. In the math department, Stony Brook has sent kids to Harvard, Berkeley, Texas, Cornell for math phds. I know in the physics department a bunch of a few people got into top programs (UCSB, which let me guess, you never heard of?). Just because the UG is not super competitive does not mean they have a crap department.

You are putting words in my mouth. I asked for recommendations, specifically because I don't know of many good universities for physics.

I suggest you really start listening to people here. Fact of the matter is, you are going to be a long shot for an Ivy League, plain and simple. But that is ok, there are a lot of schools that are great physics programs and get their kids into great phd programs.

All that anyone is saying is that I shouldn't transfer. No, I'm not going to listen to that because, I'm paying $37,000 a year for a physics program that isn't very good, at a university that isn't very well-known. That's ridiculous.

Long-shot? I don't know. I hoped they would look at my college grades. I've seen people here encouraging those with lower GPA's than I had in high school to apply anyway. I've heard stories of people with worse grades than I who got into Cornell as a transfer student. What is the harm in trying?

I know that I can do very well. I didn't do so well for two years in high school because of some personal circumstances that I'm not going to go into here. It was stupid, I know. I know I'm able to do much better than that. I've worked very hard to maintain a 4.0 in college so far. I hoped that it would bring me better opportunities.

And you don't think assuming almost $200k in debt is crippling? Especially when physicists make around 70-100k a year on average? Pile on top of that how difficult it is to get a position in academia?

And that is an argument for staying at duquesne, how? I'm paying that much already! Why not at least be going to a better university with a better program for that much? What is the sense in staying where I am? Please give me one logical reason why I should stay where I am.

Start being realistic about physics. Do you care about physics or do you care about getting into a big name school?

What do you know? Of course I care about physics. I also care about learning as much as I can about physics, which is why I want to find the best program possible that I can afford and that I can be accepted into, so that I have the best chance possible to do something significant with my life. Of course I'm looking at the big names, because they are big names for a reason. If you know of other good ones, please let me know. Why on Earth are you attacking me though, when I'm just questioning, trying to get more information?

No, I'm not staying where I am. I wanted suggestions for good universities to look at. I want something that is challenging. I want something that is going to open doors for me in the future, to be able to do the most I can possibly do.

Who are you to shoot down ambition? Who are you to attack me for asking a few simple questions? For trying to do better for myself?

If you have recommendations, let me hear them, and please excuse me for not being perfect, for not having gotten a 2400 on the SAT's, for making a few mistakes in the past that I am trying to recover from.

Edit: Yes, the above was very defensive, but really I feel like you're attacking me for wanting to do better, and for asking a few simple questions, trying to get recommendations for better universities with better physics programs. I originally went to Duquesne for music, because they seem to have one of the better music programs around this area. They are known for music, for a reason. But now I'm in physics, and they just don't do very well in that department.

 

[JasonJo]

One, I am for your transferring. Two, I am saying apply to range of schools.

 

[truthfinder]

One, I am for your transferring. Two, I am saying apply to range of schools.

All right. I need suggestions though. Honestly, I hadn't heard of Rutgers or Stony Brook before today. I know of Penn State, but they have the reputation of being a party school. That's why I don't care for them.

I'm open to suggestions, though.

Also, how do those compare to Purdue? It looks like a good school that isn't too hard to get into.

 

[JasonJo]

You already know which schools are hard to get into, it's the schools everyone knows about.

Here are some schools that have placed math/physics undergrads in great phd programs that are not as competitive to get into:
Washington, Stony Brook, Rutgers, UCSB (actually has a top 15 grad department, I highly recommend applying here), UCSD, Minnesota, UIUC (actually top 10 department, but it is a public school so admissions aren't super competitive), Ohio State, Purdue is very good as well for math and physics, Indiana, UC-Irvine. Some of these are party schools. I'm not quite sure which ones though. I would assume UCSD is one. But you'd have to ask regular students who go there. I think most of these schools have around a 30-40% acceptance rate, UCSB is higher than this, might even be 50%. Given your GPA and willingness to pursue physics, I think you have a good chance at these schools.

All of the above mentioned schools are considered top 30 grad departments. Now I know it's not a great idea to use grad rankings for undergrad, but it just tells you the quality of professors that are here and this also means if you are taking grad courses say in your senior year, it looks very impressive on your grad application. And, a lot of these schools have success in placing their kids in summer REU's, which are summer research programs sponsored by the NSF and are gret ways to get involved with research and possibly get publications. However, look into each school, ask kids who go to those schools how they are. I recommend you going to:
collegeconfidential.com and going to their message boards to see how the general atmosphere is there, i.e. for non-physics related questions about the school, including financial aid.

Going to these schools will immediately up the ante in terms of workload, difficult of courses, but also quality of instructors. Some of these schools have very famous physics alumni, others have Nobel prize winners and inventors of important theories in physics.

^ I think that is a healthy array of schools that aren't Ivy Leagues but have placed kids in great PhD programs. That is the name of the game. Where you did your grad is the main thing. Doing your grad studies at a school that is well regarded for your particular interests is key to having a successful career in physics (along with tons of hard work).

 

[hubris]

I do not think anyone is arguing that you should stay at your current school if you continue to pay full cost.

However, I do think you should look at state schools etc to bring your cost way down. As the above post mentions shine during your undergrad and let the big names pay your way.

 

[CJ2116]

I was just getting ready to start a topic like this! Thank you everyone for the information so far. Very helpful!

I'm considering transferring from Ball State (As with the original poster, my grades and SATs where not so great. It wasn't until my junior year that they started to improve dramatically from a 2.8 to over a 4.0. Although overall that didn't help very much.) Is it possible for me to transfer easily to Purdue (Or perhaps somewhere like Illinois Urbana) if my GPA remains above a 3.8? I'm also very interested in math/physics and am looking for the best education possible. I am kind of worried because my school seems to carry the stigma of being nothing more than a party school. Which doesn't reflect me at all.

One final question to anyone who has transferred between universities: Is it better to transfer schools in the spring after my first year or should I do two full years and then start as a junior transfer?

Thanks again!

By the way, Truthfinder, I have friend that goes to Duquesne. Of all places...

 

[truthfinder]

You already know which schools are hard to get into, it's the schools everyone knows about.

Here are some schools that have placed math/physics undergrads in great phd programs that are not as competitive to get into:
Washington, Stony Brook, Rutgers, UCSB (actually has a top 15 grad department, I highly recommend applying here), UCSD, Minnesota, UIUC (actually top 10 department, but it is a public school so admissions aren't super competitive), Ohio State, Purdue is very good as well for math and physics, Indiana, UC-Irvine. Some of these are party schools. I'm not quite sure which ones though. I would assume UCSD is one. But you'd have to ask regular students who go there. I think most of these schools have around a 30-40% acceptance rate, UCSB is higher than this, might even be 50%. Given your GPA and willingness to pursue physics, I think you have a good chance at these schools.

All of the above mentioned schools are considered top 30 grad departments. Now I know it's not a great idea to use grad rankings for undergrad, but it just tells you the quality of professors that are here and this also means if you are taking grad courses say in your senior year, it looks very impressive on your grad application. And, a lot of these schools have success in placing their kids in summer REU's, which are summer research programs sponsored by the NSF and are gret ways to get involved with research and possibly get publications. However, look into each school, ask kids who go to those schools how they are. I recommend you going to:
collegeconfidential.com and going to their message boards to see how the general atmosphere is there, i.e. for non-physics related questions about the school, including financial aid.

Going to these schools will immediately up the ante in terms of workload, difficult of courses, but also quality of instructors. Some of these schools have very famous physics alumni, others have Nobel prize winners and inventors of important theories in physics.

^ I think that is a healthy array of schools that aren't Ivy Leagues but have placed kids in great PhD programs. That is the name of the game. Where you did your grad is the main thing. Doing your grad studies at a school that is well regarded for your particular interests is key to having a successful career in physics (along with tons of hard work).

Thank you very much!

I really like UIUC, from what I've read about it so far. They seem to have a very good disability services, too. I also like Purdue. I will definitely check out UCSB.

Right now, UIUC and Purdue are at the top of my list for the schools I have a better chance at. Which of the two are better?

Thank you for the suggestions.

By the way, Truthfinder, I have friend that goes to Duquesne. Of all places...

Really? What is his/her major?

 

[JasonJo]

I would say UIUC is better. In general, UIUC is one of the best universities that isn't an Ivy League. Also given that UIUC has a top 10 grad physics department.

 

[sx70]

I graduated from UIUC - twenty five years ago (OMG!) so my first hand impressions are very dated, but it is still highly rated as a grad school (#1 for condensed matter, in the top ten overall). It is a very large department - no problems with advanced undergrad classes being canceled for low enrollment, excellent range of elective courses available both in and out of the department. I was very impressed by the revamping of the undergrad program that the previous head of the department carried out as described in the alumni newsletters I get. When I was there the undergrads were a bit of an afterthought - they seem to have seriously upgraded the senior thesis - research requirements and courses, lots of emphasis on writing and presenting results of REU, and much more focus and help on getting undergrads into a research experience. They're also doing much more outreach to HS students to try to get new undergraduates, and doing more in the first couple years to try to retain them. If you come in as a junior you won't be lost in the thousand student intro courses and you'll jump into the smaller advanced undergrad courses. I think that physics is physics and the courses at Illinois will cover basically the same topics as they would anywhere else, I think the difference will be your fellow students - there are more of them, and some of them WILL be smarter than you are. This can be a bit of an adjustment if you're used to being the brightest kid in school. When I was there this the time when you started to get to know your fellow physics students, but now they seem to start grouping the physics students together much earlier, in freshman year, so you may find a lot of study groups etc, already formed.

I think your college grades and any personal statement you have to write for your application will vastly outweigh anything from HS.

 

[JoeTrumpet]

@ OP: After two years of college, your SAT scores and especially high school transcript are going to have minimal impact on your application. Schools look at those two factors to guess how well you would do in college. You're now in college, so they'd much rather use the real numbers than the predictor numbers A 4.0 will look very strong, though it's of course just one aspect of the application. When you're getting to especially Stanford level, it's about much more than just the numbers.

Something else you might want to keep in mind when you look at universities is how the distribution requirements of your current school compare to those of the new school. You probably don't want to spend your junior and senior year taking a lot of general courses when you already have taken many at your current school. I don't suspect schools disagree much on this, but it's something to keep in mind.

@ CJ2116: I don't think you need to worry too much about the reputation of your current school. While I won't say transferring to Purdue will be easy (I'm not too familiar with their selectivity, especially for transfer students), with a GPA at 3.8+ you should definitely give it a shot.

Regarding transferring after 1.5 years or 2 years, I've always heard that the more time you've spent in college, the less they look at your high school transcript. I'm not sure how much this difference is pronounced for 1.5 to 2 years, if there even is a difference, but it's something to keep in mind. Hopefully someone else might know, or you can just ask the admissions office.

Best of luck to both of you!

 

[CJ2116]

Really? What is his/her major?

I'm pretty sure he is going off to med school when he graduates. I'm not exactly sure what major that would be, though.

 

[CJ2116]

@ CJ2116: I don't think you need to worry too much about the reputation of your current school. While I won't say transferring to Purdue will be easy (I'm not too familiar with their selectivity, especially for transfer students), with a GPA at 3.8+ you should definitely give it a shot.

Regarding transferring after 1.5 years or 2 years, I've always heard that the more time you've spent in college, the less they look at your high school transcript. I'm not sure how much this difference is pronounced for 1.5 to 2 years, if there even is a difference, but it's something to keep in mind. Hopefully someone else might know, or you can just ask the admissions office.

Best of luck to both of you!

Thanks for the reply! I have heard Purdue is not very difficult to gain acceptance to. However, I don't want to speak too soon! I may also give some bigger schools like Chicago and Illinois University a shot. Hopefully, something good will come of it.

 

[offtheleft]

Don't even bother applying to Rutgers. For the price you're going to paying as an out of state student (unless you live in NJ, do you?) it's not worth it. Even though it's probably less than what you're paying now but, unless you want to live in a very grimy and unsafe area, stay away. I'm not saying it's a bad school, it's not. I believe its on the top 60 of USA's best colleges list(2008). It's just an unpleasant place to live and, it's a big party school. Although that can be quite appealing haha.

 

[Übermensch]

Cost: I'm currently paying between $35,000-40,000 per year.

Um...wow.

The school I am at right now is $13,000 per year.