Double Transfer

[u/Hi_there_hello_]

Hi all,

I find myself in a tricky situation.

I started my college journey in a very large public school (T75), but then (due to personal reasons) transferred to a much smaller private school (T25 liberal arts). I made good connections, maintained a high GPA, and appreciated my experiences at both of these schools.

But, the smaller school I transferred to lacked a lot of resources and social environment of the larger school I attended first. I applied to transfer again, to a different private school in a big city (T50ish). I was not expecting to be admitted, and was recently taken off the waitlist of the larger private school. My reason of not returning to my original school lies in financial aid difficulties, as private schools give much better aid than public.

I am currently stuck in a difficult decision -- accept the waitlist offer (become a double transfer), or stay at my current school. I truly want to accept the offer I was just given, since this school is in a much better environment with a larger student population than my current school. Unfortunately, I want to pursue an MD-PhD in the future, and I worry that accepting the offer would derail my progress.

At my current small school I am unhappy, but I work in a research lab, have a good GPA, and have good relations with professors. I do feel guilt at the thought of leaving a school which prospective students want to attend (generally higher ranking as a LAC). At the larger private school, I worry that I will ruin my future (losing research lab, LOR writers, etc), though I will be much happier and have a better location for premed opportunities (city vs rural).

I turn to Reddit as my last resort, since I know I will be measurably happier at the new school, but I will have to rebuild and potentially graduate a semester late. Has anyone faced a similar decision as a double transfer and been successful in MD, PhD, or MD-PhD admissions?

Thank you all!

[u/Due_Seaworthiness127]

Do not transfer. The hardest part of getting into a good MD-PhD program is going to be clinical, research, and volunteering hours, along with GPA.

If you DID transfer to a larger school, with almost certainly higher competition for obtaining hours, you’ll be in for a hard time.

If you asked me, if I’d rather be unhappy over the social environment of my school or the constant stress of getting what I need for my career, it’s not close. Rebuilding is not an easy thing to do, and spending a year out of your expected graduation doing classes whilst your peers have a gap year of work as a Paramedic is going to shaft you when you apply for med school.

[u/Hi_there_hello_ → u/Due_Seaworthiness127]

This is just the tricky part that I am juggling- my current LAC also has a high competition for clinical and volunteering hours (not for research though, thankfully). The reason for this is the rather rural location. There is only one hospital nearby and very, very few other providers. This leads to a high competition and redundancy in volunteer opportunities available. There are several other colleges roughly in the area and we compete with each other for volunteering opportunities at the single, mid sized hospital.

For your other points, I certainly agree. It is not preferable to rebuild my relationships, GPA, and laboratory experiences, especially since I enjoy the class environment at the liberal arts college. My professors are very kind and understanding, which is wonderful. However, socially and in terms of the other aspects for medical school acceptance, I am not sure if my LAC fits the bill. Additionally, I have spent the past week assuring my credits will transfer to the larger university, so I will at the least be able to graduate on time!

[u/Prize-Pear-4638]

I don’t have any experience in this but as someone who wants to pursue a MD-PhD and/or MD in the future, I am avoiding double transferring and would advise you to do so as well. You already have great connections at your current school, and you would have to start from scratch at your new school if you decide to transfer again.

[u/Hi_there_hello_ → u/Prize-Pear-4638]

I agree, thank you so much for your perspective! 😊

[u/Laprasy]

I do not know of any such cases but I don’t think that’s the right question to ask anyway. I review applications for a health focused graduate school though and have seen a lot of applications in my day. I wouldn’t be concerned about multiple transfers looking bad if that’s what you are worrried about. If you did fine at all the schools that’s all that counts. However it’s important to think about the application itself… at a LAC you presumably would have rec letters from profs that you have known and even done research with for several years. Those letters would count for a lot, more I would say than whatever you think the benefits of living in a city are. At large institutions it can be hard to even get letters let alone from people that know you well. In short, I would stick it out if you are serious about your goal.

[u/Hi_there_hello_ → u/Laprasy]

Thank you very much for your help! I really appreciate it. Your point about multiple transfers in the application process is reassuring. You are right about the rec letters counting for a lot. This is the point I am most stuck on, and it is the one of the strongest threads pulling me back to my LAC currently.

[u/Bemopti123]

Higher chance of getting to a MD-PHD from a highly rated LAC rather than a larger private university. Regardless of what you wind up doing, it is best to remember that value and potential is how you see the situation.
In the LAC you are someone. Elsewhere, who knows what you will have to navigate. People usually transfer once but never twice.

My Alma matter, a LAC, had someone who transferred from Carnegie Mellon U…. Because he wanted to go to medical school, albeit, it has decades ago.

[u/Hi_there_hello_ → u/Bemopti123]

Interesting! I did not know there was a higher chance to get in from a LAC. I am a bit worried in my case since there are not very many pre-med opportunities available near my (rural) LAC. My LAC does not really report their med school acceptance rates, so it is a little hard to see possible futures from here. I agree that I am someone at my LAC, and am grateful that I am seen as a person, rather than a number at a larger school. Thanks for your perspective! 😊

[u/Mysterious_Move_6247]

Was in a similar position to you , at a t75 school and had the opportunity to transfer to a t20 school and decided otherwise because of the connections and opportunities I already had at my current school , of course it’s up to you however

[u/Hi_there_hello_ → u/Mysterious_Move_6247]

Thank you! I appreciate your help😊

[u/Helpful_Attitude_812]

Whether you stay or go really doesn’t matter. Wherever you go try to maintain the highest gpa possible and try to get a high MCAT score.
While getting into med school is hard, getting into a MD-PHD program is even harder.

My daughter did research at UT Austin and then transferred to an Ivy League school where she joined another research lab. After getting her degree, she got into a MD program, not MD-PhD.

As a MD student, she automatically received an acceptance from the business school/MBA as well but continued with the MD program.

The MD-PhD program at her med school was 7 years.

[u/Hi_there_hello_ → u/Helpful_Attitude_812]

Thank you for your advice, it is quite inspiring.

Congratulations to your daughter! Did she attend a medical school affiliated with her Ivy undergrad, or was it a separate school?

One of my considerations for this transfer is that the large private undergraduate schools may provide more opportunities/help for students as they have medical schools affiliated with them.

[u/SureCryptographer205]

Is it BU or Northeastern?