From Public to Ivy: The Nitty-Gritty about Transferring

It was a chilly afternoon on November the 19th, 2019 when I opened the letter that would change my life. I arrived at my dorm, exhausted from 200m repeats, with just enough time cut out in the day to prepare for a huge Arabic presentation in two days. I decided to check my Cornell portal to see if there were any updates and there it was.

The infamous, the dreaded…

*Instant heart palpitations*

I can’t handle a rejection right now, I told myself. I had assignments due the next day, a massive Arabic presentation to prepare for, and papers for other classes stacking on left and right. A rejection would destroy the work ethic I needed to successfully survive the remaining days ��

After taking a deep breath and agreeing to allow myself only one afternoon to wallow in misery, I gathered the courage to click the evil link. Without reading anything, I noticed the letter was short so I just closed my eyes and dropped my head in shame. When I lifted my head and read the first word, my world exploded.

Congratulations!

Transferring institutions has been one of the most defining moments of my college career thus far. Despite the achievement that comes in a successful transfer, it’s a difficult process that many college students dread the thought of. Restarting at a new university is a pretty arduous process, let alone writing a strong transfer application in the middle of juggling college courses and extracurriculars to stand out in a painfully competitive admissions process.

Simply put, It’s stressful!

For my particular situation, transferring was a must in many ways. While many people argue that your bachelor’s degree doesn’t really matter in comparison to a glowing graduate degree, anyone interested in pursuing a career in government should heed this advice with caution. A bachelor’s degree is four years of your life, which if spent wisely, could radically reshape your career trajectory in ways a graduate degree can’t. These four years are a chance to learn consequence free as deeply and applicably as possible, to get involved in research and extracurricular opportunities, and most importantly yet frequently overlooked, a time in which you are inadvertently being shaped by the minds around you.

So why is transferring an important decision to consider?

Firstly, the field of government & foreign policy is competitive, period. It’s a field where the leading thinkers on a plethora of nuanced issues enter to influence change in a rigid and deafeningly bureaucratic system. Given the complex nature of this field, you’re going to want to be prepared in every way possible to get your foot in the door. From building a strong network through necessary internship experiences to having a sharp understanding of complex political issues, the way you spend your four measly undergraduate years matters.

With that being said, you’re going to want to make sure that your institution provides the necessary opportunities to enable your ambitions and passions. Staying at one that will force you to negotiate your vision due to a lack of academic or institutional support will have its consequences. I cannot stress this enough. This goes for every type of college/university; state school, private school, ivy league, “top” 20 or “bottom” 200. The name isn’t what matters, but the opportunities they provide that will nurture your passions.

At my first institution, there was a massive lack of academic support for my precise interests in national security, human rights, and IR. In addition to that, there weren’t any extracurricular opportunities that allowed me to challenge and grow my understanding of foreign policy. It didn’t take long for me to accept that I wouldn’t grow as much in this school as I would in another.

So, transfer it was.

To all those fearful of not being in the right environment to cultivate their passions/career goals, take the risk. To all those not privileged enough in high school to understand the college game and prepare for their future, take the risk. In my experience, being in the right environment has enabled me to pursue my intellectual & professional curiosities in ways my first school simply didn’t have the resources/people/programs to provide. While it is stressful to see elite institutions like Harvard and Stanford having a roughly 1-2% acceptance rate, don’t forget that absolutely incredible schools like U-Mich and Northeastern have transfer acceptance rates higher than their high school admissions statistics. Having a strong college GPA and a reason to transfer are the two most important factors in your decision, so let this be your primary concern.

For the ambitious ones who aim for a coveted Ivy League or similar elite transfer acceptance but dread the low acceptance rate, forget the statistics. If the program matches your interests PERFECTLY, that is…

All. that. matters.

APPLY.

You have to be pragmatic and effective in strategizing how you’ll enter your desired field, and how your four years as an undergraduate can get you where you need to be. Time is the most important tool a college student has. Don’t let fear or complacency turn your vision into a dream you’ll regret not chasing with everything you had when it mattered the most.