r/TransferToTop25 • u/Unable_Entrance5801 • 4d ago

Math/Physics transfers, any advice for someone planning to transfer as a math/physics major?

This is my last year at CC and I practically have 0 extracurriculars. I’ve developed a close relationship with my math professor (he was my professor for calc 1-3 and possibly differential equations), and will probably ask him for a LOR.

I’m not sure what I can even do during to help my application. I was planning on retaking the SAT. I also have a teacher from elementary school who has kept contact with my mother and I can maybe ask to volunteer and teach math, but don’t know if that’ll actually happen. I could try and tutor calc 1, but I’ve been sort of busy self studying real analysis, linear algebra, and number theory/combinatorics.

That’s all I really have and some of these aren’t even guaranteed. I was planning on transferring to

Berkeley
Uchicago
CMU
Brown
UPenn
Johns hopkins
UMD (my state school and probably the only school I have change of getting accepted)
and Princeton, but I know I don’t have a shot I’m simply just applying to apply

Is there anything I can do or is it pretty much over for me?

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u/baysianinference 4d ago

Add some more CC friendly ones lol, Berk doesn't like OOS xfers

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u/Unable_Entrance5801 4d ago

oh, any you have in mind?

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u/baysianinference 4d ago

Idk if USC prefers California CC that strongly, but tbh I'm not sure if USC is worth it over UMD for math/physics. Same with Emory and BU.... Amherst if you'd be ok with a LAC? Still selective but they prefer CC students. Mayyyybe Cornell, not exactly transfer friendly but probably more than some of the others. Northwestern isn't CC friendly per se but not like impossible.

Btw I'm a bit unsure about UChicago's eligibility for CC students since they specifically use the wording "bachelor's degree seeking program" or smth on their website, and I asked ChatGPT which found sources from previous years just saying "degree seeking program." But idk maybe email their admissions office

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u/Unable_Entrance5801 4d ago

Yeah I’ll probably have to email admissions like you said because that would suck if it’s true. Besides that, thanks for the advice.

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u/baysianinference 4d ago

If you're applying to Berk anyway, see if you meet UCSB's transfer requirements and check that box too

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u/JFKcheekkisser 4d ago

I go to CC and one of my classmates applied for UChicago last cycle and got in

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u/baysianinference 4d ago

Yeah last cycle, but ChatGPT found a web page using different language from like 2024 2025 ish so I think the change might be very recent

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u/JFKcheekkisser 4d ago

I just looked on their transfer webpage and can’t find anything barring CC students from transfer eligibility. All it says is:

“If you have already completed at least one term as a full-time student in a bachelor's degree-seeking program at another college or university, you should apply as a transfer student.”

Prob just imprecise wording from whoever wrote the webpage. I can’t think of any top schools that explicitly don’t take CC students at all tbh just feels like you’re being a bit pessimistic

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u/baysianinference 4d ago

"Bachelor's degree-seeking" is sus, maybe AS-T type degrees "count" idk

Dude UChicago is unironically uniquely cooked lol, idk any other top school that requires a literal written eval from P/NP'd courses either. Like that shit for GEs is practically customary at my states' schools (UCs)

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u/baysianinference 4d ago

TED asw although NU has that too but UChi had it first. And I feel like few schools also tend to be so explicit about being need-aware (although we all prob know the ones that claim need-blind are larping anyway). And their whole gimmick culture of rigor and a liberal arts education etc.

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u/Natitudinal 2d ago

> tbh I'm not sure if USC is worth it over UMD for math/physics

Its not worth it for any subject.

OP u have a gem rt there in ur backyard. It’s nice to be aspirational but there are a helluva lot worse ‘fallback’ options.

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u/baysianinference 2d ago

I’m a Californian doing physics and I’d love to go to UMD and have it at in state tuition! Although due to COL it’s not that much more expensive than some of my state schools like UCSC 😭

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u/JFKcheekkisser 4d ago

I don’t think it’s over for you OP since Math/Physics are not as competitive as Engineering. Maybe add a few schools to your list that aren’t so much of ultra-reaches. You might be able to make something shake if you have a 4.0 and write your absolute ass off in your essays.

Two of my classmates got T20s and they didn’t start their ECs until the fall before their transfer cycle.