Cornell Transfer Worth It?

So, I'm currently at a top 10 public university trying to transfer to a target school with better OCR. Here are some of the places to which I'm applying:

Reaches: 1. Yale University 2. Columbia University 3. University of Pennsylvania 4. Duke University 5. Dartmouth College

More Likely: 1. Vanderbilt University 2. Georgetown University

My stats are solid (HS GPA of 4.82, college freshman GPA of 3.82, SAT "superscore" of 2320, good recommendations), and I would absolutely love to get in to Wharton or Duke. But I'm also thinking about applying to Cornell AEM. Since mostly GT's are admitted as transfers, is it worth it? I've gotten all the prerequisites except Biology II done, but since the biology curriculum at my school is fairly challenging (most people doing it are premed), should I just apply to CAS (or maybe not even apply at all)? I've gotten this far, but I'm trying to avoid getting anything below an A second semester, since I don't want to risk my chances with the other schools on my list.

In short, since Wharton and Duke are my dream schools, should I spend the time I would have spent doing Biology II making sure my essays are top-notch, or should I keep trying for AEM now that I've gotten this far? Or should I just apply CAS?

Any Cornell people here? Does doing CAS over AEM place one at a disadvantage when applying for IB?

I get that this question might be better suited for CC, but let's face it: that place is needlessly stressful.

18 Comments
 

I would think a top 10 public would be considered a target? Guess it depends. Berkeley and West Point would serve anyone well. (albeit west point doesn't get you straight to IB).

 

I see. If I were you I would also consider targets on the west coast and south. Claremont, UCB, USC, UCLA, Texas, etc. Be sure to get a internship for summer '16 and keep your gpa above 3.6-3.8 and you should be fine. From what I've read you are a sophomore right now? Now is the time to push hard for experience on your resume.

 

Were you a guaranteed transfer by any chance? I've heard that completing all of the prerequisites is imperative if a non-GT external transfer wants to get in (CALS admissions are inflated due to articulation agreements between Cornell and NY community colleges).

At this point, I don't plan on take Biology II, though.

 

Transfer. Ivy league brand name opens doors for everything (when you can't land interviews or jobs you're going to regret it) - better network, recruiting, etc. Rather have a 3.8 at Cornell than a 3.99 at PSU. GPA matters for grad school, but as long as you are above the 3.7 range mark, don't worry about it.

 

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