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Ask HN: Should I transfer colleges?
Hi, I'm a undergrad who just finished my freshman year at a large state school (ranked in the 80s according to US News) with a solid CS department. My major is CS with minors in math and econ. I chose my school because it was the most affordable option. Academically, I am doing well (3.9/4.0 GPA). In my spare time I try to code as much; I'm learning R at the moment, but know Python (along with some Django), Java, Matlab, some C/C++, HTML5, and Javascript. I also started working in a Professor's lab doing scientific computing in R/Matlab (and some Python). I would like to work in a startup one day or start my own. I'm particularly interested in machine learning/AI and its applications for robotics (i.e. computer vision) and computational biosciences/bioinformatics. Luckily, money is not an issue as it used to be. I've had thoughts of transferring since earlier in the year. I don't mean to sound pretentious, but I personally feel that I can do 'better', and go to a more rigorous school. I'm interested in transferring to Rice, Brown, Cornell, Michigan, and the University of Virginia. Beyond the school's network and rigour, is there any other benefit a more well known school provides? Does going to a school with exceptional peers really make a difference? I figure the only way to get better is to play a smarter opponent? There isn't really a great startup scene at my school, but I know the schools I've listed have had more measures taken towards encouraging entrepreneurship, so perhaps there's a greater chance of finding other founders. Does the name really matter? I sometimes feel I have to compensate for the lack of brand name value my school provides, such as when applying for internships. There's not really a lot of on campus recruiting, so it's more hustle from my side. I notice that my friends who go to brand name schools have fantastic alumni networks.
- arebop 13y agoI attended a less prestigious school for undergrad, a more prestigious school for grad school, and now I work at a well-regarded software company. I think undergrads in a more prestigious and better-funded department likely have more scheduling choices for upper-division courses. They can follow their passions more easily and delve more deeply into rigorous material as a result. A prestigious institution will also tend to have more fellow students are able and motivated. I am not very entrepreneurial but I guess this would make startup launches more likely and more likely to be successful. It is certainly true that students in elite CS programs are more likely to get great internships. I believe this is due to a combination of their merit and their connections via peers, alumni, and faculty. My impression is that especially if you're interested in the startup world, credentials aren't very important. But especially because you are not surrounded by people with connections to Silicon Valley and top tech companies, if you stay where you are, you will have to find in yourself tremendous motivation to hone your knowledge & skills, apply for internships at places where the best people work, and really shine in every interview.
- bluzard 13y agoI agree with your comment on it being easier to get intern ships, and have access to a bigger network. Regardless of where I end up at school, I'll always focus on honing my skills, and on making the best of what my school has to offer. I guess my main question is about peers. I went to competitive HS where everyone pushed themselves and each other to do better. I think with a lack of motivation and ability, people automatically draw barriers/limits on themselves, i.e. I can't do XYZ, it's too difficult, only a genius could do that, etc.
- iopq 13y agoJust don't try to do group projects with your classmates, they'll probably not be that motivated/smart.
- bluzard 13y agoI don't think that something I can avoid... and it's not that bad. I think I should've reworded my original post- my current school isn't bad, it's just not the college experience I'm looking for.