I just got into the college of New Jersey - now my decision is essentially between that Binghamton and the college of New Jersey!
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Applying to college
- Thread starter xenu
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Binghamton's lit af
I wanted to ask everyone here for advice. Is it worth transferring out of an engineering school and into a liberal arts school? I personally found my engineering experience too one-sided and never really had a clear focus on the arts, too. Furthermore, I've developed a deeper interest in the field of Physics to the point where I find Engineering somewhat boring and one-dimensional.
congrats man, its always nice to have multiple options to choose from
i dont think its worth it as im in an engineering school majoring in physics and feel like im getting the full experience. i guess it depends on what youre majoring in and how flexible your school is with curriculums. i had a shit ton of ap credits from high school so im pretty much taking a bunch of electives in the humanities since im done with my science electives,.
Anyway, I'm almost done with my second semester of college (my first year) and just wanna tell you guys a little bit about my experience and some things I learned. College is fuckin hard bros. I honestly got through high school despite being a lazy piece of shit because I got lucky with easy teachers who didnt really check homework, got good test scores, and bullshitting every essay I ever had to write. It doesn't really cut it in college. You have to perform at a considerably higher level. I went from a straight A student in high school without trying to a B student in college which really made me feel like shit (im south asian so my family is kind of strict with school and stuff). I got pretty depressed for a couple months and then began to see an academic counselor who helped me with my procrastination and time management issues and I was able to end my first semester on a decent note. Anyway, I'm in my second semester now and things are a bit tougher but I feel like I have more control and feel less overwhelmed.
Point is, if you have issues with time management and procrastination (like most hs seniors cus senioritis), fix them NOW. The transition from hs to college, more specifically the change in workload and difficulty of course material is tough and what really gets a lot of people. For some time I was upset because I thought the reason I wasnt doing as well as Id hoped was because I wasnt smart enough but the real issue was my work ethic. Im glad I figured this out and am hoping to boost my GPA by the end of second semester.
Good luck to you guys in the fall
No, but a liberal arts school could still have a sound mathematics program (and usually an accompanying physics program) for one less interested in engineering and technical applications and one more interested in the abstract study of math/physics. The small department size can actually be pretty nice in those classes. I don't study physics though so I'm not qualified to give more advice, but imo a bit reductive, liberal arts colleges teach all kinds of conceptual stuff
obii is dead on, but the thing I wanted to add is in the first year of uni there will be tons and tons of support networks probably, like classes for academic writing and time management (go take those), tutoring and peer-assisted learning, your academic advisors and student support, etc.
Its very easy to ignore those because 'w/e I know how to write an essay/use the library/in theory I know I'm supposed to study x hours a week/etc.' but they make it easier for a lot of first-year students who overestimate how well high school prepares you for the jump in standards. And they tend to be handy support when you inevitably have a crisis over some poorly-timed major assignment and will help you get your shit together so you can submit on time and, worst comes to worst, get an extension even
Also they're not terrible places to meet people really, especially peer-assisted learning and tutoring workshops. I have found that doing uni solo is really a disadvantage, even as a very independent worker, and wish I had shown interest in group study/my faculty earlier so I'd have people in my discipline to study with and didn't have to summarise my lectures to people on Skype.
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I'm heavy on the physics/engineering side, but I know a few people who have double majored in some unconventional combinations. (Physics/religious studies and physics/english come to mind.) I think there's a lot of benefit to going to a larger school when studying physics, be it lab set ups, professors, research areas, etc. I'm not really familiar with how liberal arts schools teach (they aren't really taken seriously in Canada), but if you're looking for a diverse physics education, I'd suggest a large state school and look into some multidisciplinary options.
EDIT: That's not really what I'm saying at all Hektor.
EDIT: That's not really what I'm saying at all Hektor.
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I'd actually modify billymills's advice to say "Look for the program you want to be in," because I looked long and hard during my college search process for places that are not only strong in all the (very divergent) disciplines in which I'm interested, but also open to combining them to make new and exciting strides forward. Public and private schools were about equally represented on the list of my final choices, so it's not really dependent on how large or small the school is. In my experience, it's all about the university's strengths and attitudes.
Edit: For context's sake, I'm attending a smaller private university in the U.S.
Edit: For context's sake, I'm attending a smaller private university in the U.S.
The downside with coming in with so many AP credits is that you aren't eligible for as many manageable courses your freshman year. Not only are you dealing with material beyond what most freshman take, you are competing against students two and three years older on what can be a tough grading curve, especially in STEM subjects. "Strength of schedule" does not matter as much in college as it did in high school - job postings don't have a place where you can explain a low GPA because you took tough classes and actually learned something as a result. There are no trophy points for acing a schedule of OChem, Real Analysis, Advanced Econometrics, and Latin V your freshman year. I would be depressed with that schedule, too.
I don't see procrastination just as poor time management - more likely than not that comes with other issues there with depression, anxiety, loneliness, etc. It really doesn't matter how much you commit to studying if you're alone and depressed studying something you don't like - it's not gonna end well. I also think a lot of freshmen pick "practical" majors such as Engineering early on only to underestimate the competition for "practical" jobs. Networking and soft skills matter much more in getting jobs after college than where you went to college, what you majored in, or what classes you took. One caveat - before switching from engineering to liberal arts / physics, I would make sure that you are doing it because you like physics and liberal arts much more and not just because you are getting better grades in those classes. Engineering is hard. Physics is hard. Liberal arts if done right can be hard. There's no guarantee that switching majors or transferring will fix anything.
Usually picking majors / programs / schools is like choosing houses at Hogwarts - they pick you more than you pick them.
My personal reason why I want to attend a Liberal Arts school is that I like to engage with professors and learn more. I personally found that throughout my three semesters on an engineering track, I've always been taught what something (i.e. equation, theorems, etc.) and how to use it, but never why said equation or theorem is like that. I have a friend who currently goes to Pomona. When she and I were back at home during Thanksgiving break, I was looking at her Physics assignments. It wasn't your standard MasteringPhysics online homework. The assignment asked her to derive an equation for a specific orientation using Gauss' Law or have her write a short response on various situations. I personally feel that teaching in that format helps a student better understand the material taught.
Furthermore, I guess that through my more political-oriented extracurriculars (Asian American advocacy and whatnot), I developed a deeper interest in Public Policy and writing. I've been writing essays everyday on topics related to race in many prominent issues every week (food deserts, education, "Model Minority", etc.) I like an environment that also focuses on intellectual discussion and advocacy.
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Alright, who's in USC? (That's the SoCal one) Unless any crazy stuff curveballs my plans, I'm heading over to Viterbi - see you there!!
I didn't notice this snarky Stratos quote until now. A bit brash, if I say so myself.
I'm just here to wish all of you the best of luck on Ivy Decision day.
So I'm going to Binghamton!
Hi I haven't posted here throughout my college application process but I just made my decision yesterday, and I'll be attending RIT this upcoming fall (Rochester Institute of Technology), and I was curious if anyone else here goes there or knows anyone who is currently studying there :o
My applications went really well, I got accepted into 6 out of the 8 schools I applied to, I ended up deciding between University of Hartford and RIT (I got a scholarship and got accepted into the honors program at U of H which made the decision harder).
My applications went really well, I got accepted into 6 out of the 8 schools I applied to, I ended up deciding between University of Hartford and RIT (I got a scholarship and got accepted into the honors program at U of H which made the decision harder).
If anyone is concerned, I'm currently finishing my first year at university so I guess I can give some advice to those finishing highschool who are concerned about succeeding in University. Here are some MLG tips.
1. Stay on top of your shit:
It's very easy to think that because you have less in-class time compared to highschool, you have more free time. This isn't true; in fact, the quality of work and level of understanding needed is much higher than highschool. This means that you can't slack off because "omg all this free time," and you must be disciplined enough to do your work and not fall behind. Falling behind=academic suicide.
2. If you have a roommate/living in a dorm:
Communication is key. Don't be passive if your roommate/floormates are doing something that's bothering you. If you do, you'll likely be taken advantage of, and failing to confront issues initially just creates an awkward, passive environment where no real communication can be had. Likewise, don't be an asshole about it (or get fussy over small, non-issues), as you won't make any friends that way. Try to find a balance between assertion and tolerance.
3. Get a good sleep:
I learned this the hard way in first semester. I would constantly get 3-4 hours of sleep per night, and consequently had trouble paying attention in class and studying effectively. I also felt like shit. It's not worth staying up an extra 3 hours to watch that movie, stay longer at that party, or study that subject -- the loss of sleep will fuck you over in the long run. Try to get at least 6 hours of sleep per night
4. If you're writing admission essays...
Don't be pretentious, and more seriously, don't over exaggerate your achievements.The people who read these things aren't stupid -- they'll know that if you put "1st class service provider" for a Mc. Donald's job, it just means that you're an average employee at MC. Donald's. Finally, try and differentiate yourself from your competition; think "what types of things would another student write when applying," and try to make yourself stand out.
Hope this is helpful.
1. Stay on top of your shit:
It's very easy to think that because you have less in-class time compared to highschool, you have more free time. This isn't true; in fact, the quality of work and level of understanding needed is much higher than highschool. This means that you can't slack off because "omg all this free time," and you must be disciplined enough to do your work and not fall behind. Falling behind=academic suicide.
2. If you have a roommate/living in a dorm:
Communication is key. Don't be passive if your roommate/floormates are doing something that's bothering you. If you do, you'll likely be taken advantage of, and failing to confront issues initially just creates an awkward, passive environment where no real communication can be had. Likewise, don't be an asshole about it (or get fussy over small, non-issues), as you won't make any friends that way. Try to find a balance between assertion and tolerance.
3. Get a good sleep:
I learned this the hard way in first semester. I would constantly get 3-4 hours of sleep per night, and consequently had trouble paying attention in class and studying effectively. I also felt like shit. It's not worth staying up an extra 3 hours to watch that movie, stay longer at that party, or study that subject -- the loss of sleep will fuck you over in the long run. Try to get at least 6 hours of sleep per night
4. If you're writing admission essays...
Don't be pretentious, and more seriously, don't over exaggerate your achievements.The people who read these things aren't stupid -- they'll know that if you put "1st class service provider" for a Mc. Donald's job, it just means that you're an average employee at MC. Donald's. Finally, try and differentiate yourself from your competition; think "what types of things would another student write when applying," and try to make yourself stand out.
Hope this is helpful.
Vassar College Class of 2020 – I'm super psyched! :D
Congrats to everyone else who's made a decision, and good luck to everyone who still has to decide!
Congrats to everyone else who's made a decision, and good luck to everyone who still has to decide!
Hopefully this hasn't already been addressed in the thread, I just don't wanna fish through pages. I'm a junior in high school who just finished taking the ACT in March and I'm taking my SAT in two weeks. I got a score of 31 on the ACT, so I'm gonna try my best to get a high score on my SAT. I know colleges look at many aspects of your life, from athletics to community service. I just wanna know how much weight my two test scores will hold when it comes to getting into a good college (my dream school is UNC-Chapel Hill). My GPA (3.69) falls just a bit behind those they accepted this past year (4.0) as well as my class rank (Top 25% compared to their Top 10%). Those two parts are what worry me. Thanks in advance for any help/advice I get, I honestly don't know enough about these sort of things, when I should. I'm kind of just going through the motions when it comes to life.
Is the 3.69 weighted or unweighted? An unweighted 3.69 is somewhat decent for an average UNC-CH applicant. To increase your profile as an applicant, I would try raising the 31 ACT score to a minimum of 35 (or 34). It roughly equates to a range between 1500-1560 on the new SAT exam (2250-2340 on old).
Another important aspect they will look at is the extracurriculars they will look at. If you didn't do much in terms of extracurriculars (i.e. sports, volunteering, school clubs), then you'll have a significantly hard time trying to get into UNC-Chapel Hill given your GPA and current ACT score.
That's unweighted, my weighted is 4.4. I do have community service hours, since it's a requirement at my school. I also run track and participate in Science Olympiad. I'm gonna do a few more things next year to bulk up my resume. My mom wants me to retake the ACT, so I may just do that. I know for a fact that with my scores I can get into East Carolina, who has a good nursing program too so I'll look into things and see if I'll just be content with that. Thank you for replying.
Also, your Commonapp (or whatever UNC uses) essays are very, very important. Make sure to start working on it as soon as possible.
Are you only interested in in-state schools? I know a bunch of other schools with strong pre-health programs outside of North Carolina.
They take the best of either test. Your essays are going to matter more at this point than adding another extracurricular at the last minute (adcoms are not dumb and do notice that).
Also more info on UNC: http://oira.unc.edu/files/2015/05/cds_2014_2015.pdf. Take a breather when they say class rank is "important" and not "very important".
Also, if you can, have your parents donate a minimum of $800,000 to UNC to guarantee you a spot.
I just went through the college process, and I believe it would be best to retake your ACT at least once more (unless you do really well on the SAT). Your extracurriculars are pretty solid, so my main advice would be to keep your GPA up (4.4 is good, but 3.69 could be a little better) to give you the best possible chance. As for the essay, once they release it and you write your first draft, try to get 3-4 people to look over it and make suggestions. Sometimes it sounds good in your head, but it might not be as much of a cohesive thought to an outside person.
In all seriousness, are you looking to go into the STEM fields? Duke is a solid choice, especially if you're interested in engineering (which your extracurriculars seem to suggest).