Transferring from a target to a semi-target/non-target after recruiting?

Hey all, I am currently a rising sophomore at an Ivy League target. While my experience has been so far okay, I don't think it's the right fit for me (for a lot of reasons, but mainly due to the vibe / location), and for how much I'll be taking out in student loans for it, I don't feel obligated to stay longer than I have to if I am not enjoying it, so I'm planning to transfer after my sophomore year which is also after most recruiting for junior year IB internships.

I would ideally like to transfer to another Ivy, but I know how that's next to impossible, so I'm also looking at other schools. Some of the schools I would like to transfer to, like Duke and Georgetown, would still be considered targets or at least semi-targets. But say (god-willing) I land a solid IB internship at GS/MS/JPM or an EB, would they rescind my offer if I transferred to a smaller liberal arts colleges like Amherst, Williams, or Pomona? What about like a T50 state flagship? Just trying to figure out my options.

12 Comments
 

I would seriously reconsider this move.

The “vibe” at the ivies will be similar to most other top tier schools. If you transfer to a significantly worse school, you’re foregoing a lifetime of opportunity opened up by your current school’s brand and network.

Plus, speaking to friends who have done it, transferring can be very difficult socially, so your first semester or two (25-50% of the time at your new school) will probably be pretty bad.

 

Agree with the above, but if you transfer to Duke you’ll be fine, it’s a top target (better than some ivies for recruiting) and Georgetown is great too. I wouldn’t transfer from an ivy to LAC unless there’s a huge reason.

 

Is this dartmouth? incoming 26 and im shitting myself thinking about the isolation

 

have seen ppl (1 white, 3 Asians fwiw) transfer from USC / UVA /UIUC / UNC to my HYPS back in the day. You are coming from another Ivy - all colleges in America should be doable

 

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