DD wants to transfer out of top university but DH won't allow it

[Anonymous]

Is Michigan a lot less intense than Columbia? Genuinely interested to know. As such, does the comparison hold for non-engineering, non-math areas as well? Say, economics or political science?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Except ops kid is all over the map with bizarre school choices Florida state ? Come on really?

She is immature some other reason is making her choose those schools

+1. If the DD decided to, say, switch from math to environmental science and identified a set schools strong in that field. I could understand. But these choices make no sense. I am on Team Dad until and unless the DD is able to articulate why she chose those schools.

I would also suggest maybe letting your DD take some time off from school as a mental health break. Most schools have programs now so that you can re-enter without having to reapply.

Also, I am having a hard time believing that math at Columbia is filled with super-intense people. It’s not Caltech or MIT…

This is a dumb post. Are you trying to say only Caltech and MIT are intense? Why speak about things you know nothing about?

No, I am saying Columbia is not known for its mathematics and hard sciences so the super intense people in those majors would be elsewhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Michigan a lot less intense than Columbia? Genuinely interested to know. As such, does the comparison hold for non-engineering, non-math areas as well? Say, economics or political science?

My best guess--based on decades of experience--is yes.

U Michigan and Columbia U have very different settings; U Michigan is in a sizable college town, while Columbia U is located in less-than-bucolic New York City. Also, the schools tend to attract different types of students.

[Anonymous]

I have a hard time believing your DH would not pay for Yale. Try to transfer there especially if her grades are good, I think she would be much happier. There is much more of a cohesive college experience. Usually undergrads are competitive only with themselves and not each other, at least in my experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d push for Cornell. They have a lot of kids who transfer in as sophomores, so they’re set up for it in terms of welcoming them into the fold. Yes, it’s in a small town, but it’s a huge school with sports, Greek life and tons of clubs. And it has the academic intensity that she can do well in. I think it’s an option that can meet everyone’s needs.

If nothing else, I’d look into counseling for your daughter. Her mental health is key, and clearly she needs some support with whatever decision she decides to make. There’s no guarantee that all of her issues will be resolved with a change of scenery.

Most transfers have guaranteed transfer option that was granted contingent on completing first year courses at another school.

Not always. My kid at Cornell didn't get in off the wait list from high school. She was upset no transfer option given to her off the wait list. She applied fresh as a sophomore and got in (I might add to another school, not the original one she applied to). She got in to Arts and Sciences as a transfer which has a 5 percent acceptance rate out of high school. And pretty close to that as a sophomore. Only thing is Ithaca is pretty isolated compared to NYC. But she may want that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid Cornell. Lots of pressure & lots of SAD related depression.

Suggesting Cornell is very poor advice.

What are you basing it on? My kid is a sophomore there and doing well. She has many friends who seem well-adjusted.

Yeah I have a senior there and likes it. 4.0 GPA with surprisingly minimal pressure. Dumb they didn't take her out of high school. Clearly she can handle the workload.

[Anonymous]

Also, good idea someone gave is to hang out with Barnard kids. Makes sense. Less pressure. Find a club. My daughter graduated from there.

[Anonymous]

Columbia definitely has its issues. Would not recommend it to most kids. Univ administration is horribly apathetic re most issues. So are the faculty. Expect your DC to get no responses whatsoever to emails etc from univ admin and to be taught by adjuncts/lecturers for most of their time there. The top names that make Columbia famous will simply not touch undergrad teaching (with rare exceptions). Social life can be hit or miss. The city makes it complicated. The student body does not have any type of cohesion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Except ops kid is all over the map with bizarre school choices Florida state ? Come on really?

She is immature some other reason is making her choose those schools

+1. If the DD decided to, say, switch from math to environmental science and identified a set schools strong in that field. I could understand. But these choices make no sense. I am on Team Dad until and unless the DD is able to articulate why she chose those schools.

I would also suggest maybe letting your DD take some time off from school as a mental health break. Most schools have programs now so that you can re-enter without having to reapply.

Also, I am having a hard time believing that math at Columbia is filled with super-intense people. It’s not Caltech or MIT…

This is a dumb post. Are you trying to say only Caltech and MIT are intense? Why speak about things you know nothing about?

No, I am saying Columbia is not known for its mathematics and hard sciences so the super intense people in those majors would be elsewhere

It has excellent hard sciences actually. Many top research scientists are at Columbia. Premed at Columbia is brutal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that easy to transfer sophomore year

Have her come home community college then reapply

Her list is garbage honestly penn state Florida state to Colgate WTH? Who made that list ?

I agree with DH she stays or community college then she pays school of her choice

It’s not because her current school is an ivy that I agree with him it’s because she’s immature clearly from her list and should not be a four year school

She’s immature not college ready

This is not true (the transferring sophomore year part). Obviously, we don't know the student. She can either apply to schools this semester to transfer in the fall or apply for a spring transfer.

As the parent of someone who did the former, knowing there were other options was enough to get her through. Having an open dialogue with everyone about future options, including staying where she is and finding a path forward where she could be happy is essential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Columbia definitely has its issues. Would not recommend it to most kids. Univ administration is horribly apathetic re most issues. So are the faculty. Expect your DC to get no responses whatsoever to emails etc from univ admin and to be taught by adjuncts/lecturers for most of their time there. The top names that make Columbia famous will simply not touch undergrad teaching (with rare exceptions).

This is pretty much any big school though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Except ops kid is all over the map with bizarre school choices Florida state ? Come on really?

She is immature some other reason is making her choose those schools

+1. If the DD decided to, say, switch from math to environmental science and identified a set schools strong in that field. I could understand. But these choices make no sense. I am on Team Dad until and unless the DD is able to articulate why she chose those schools.

I would also suggest maybe letting your DD take some time off from school as a mental health break. Most schools have programs now so that you can re-enter without having to reapply.

Also, I am having a hard time believing that math at Columbia is filled with super-intense people. It’s not Caltech or MIT…

This is a dumb post. Are you trying to say only Caltech and MIT are intense? Why speak about things you know nothing about?

No, I am saying Columbia is not known for its mathematics and hard sciences so the super intense people in those majors would be elsewhere

It has excellent hard sciences actually. Many top research scientists are at Columbia. Premed at Columbia is brutal

I think that is true for post grad, but not undergrad.

[Anonymous]

UMD happens to be an outstanding university, and it is only getting more and more recognition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is a dumb post. Are you trying to say only Caltech and MIT are intense? Why speak about things you know nothing about?

No, I am saying Columbia is not known for its mathematics and hard sciences so the super intense people in those majors would be elsewhere

If you think Columbia is not known for excellence in math or the hard sciences, you lack the basic knowledge needed to weigh in on this topic.

Columbia ranks 15th in the world in math: https://www.topuniversities.com/university-subject-rankings/mathematics/2022?page=1&tab=indicators

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Columbia definitely has its issues. Would not recommend it to most kids. Univ administration is horribly apathetic re most issues. So are the faculty. Expect your DC to get no responses whatsoever to emails etc from univ admin and to be taught by adjuncts/lecturers for most of their time there. The top names that make Columbia famous will simply not touch undergrad teaching (with rare exceptions).

This is pretty much any big school though.

Wash. U. was not like this at all.