Not sure what to do: Transfer to a better academic school, that has a worse running team?

The difference between US News #50 and US News #30 isn't a big deal.

Once you get past Ivy League, Stanford, Duke, MIT, Berkeley, CalTech, and maybe Chicago U I don't think it matters much where you go if you care about the name on the transcript. No one really knows the difference between state schools, or even small private schools like Amherst or Williams. For undergrad anyway.

You're better off killing it where you are now, a high GPA will set you up nicely for grad school or professional school. Then it does matter where you go and there are certainly top programs at schools I haven't mentioned above (Michigan, NYU, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, etc)

Hit it right here.You will be only marginally improving your academic chances by transferring, if not worsening them if you cannot keep good grades at the new school. You already have good grades at your current school.In the real world, after the 1st year out of college, it's NOT about the school you attended (even then, only if Ivy League caliber), but rather about YOU, and by staying and running and improving at your current school, you will likely become a better PERSON, which is the most important thing of all. And you will probably enjoy it much more along the way.Assess your priorities in life (what is REALLY most important), look at your long-term goals, and you will be able to come to the best decision for yourself.

Kanye North wrote:

The difference between US News #50 and US News #30 isn't a big deal.

Actually the school that me/my parents are thinking of me transferring to is one of the ones you mentioned above...

I wouldn't worry about running. Your not good enough for it to matter long term.I figure your odds of getting in are about 50% at best as a transfer even with great grades. Most of the top schools are not looking for a lot of transfers and there was a reason they didn't let you in the first time.Now if you get in, the question would be should you go. You might get a marginally better diploma but you also run the risk of hating the place (could really effect grades) and potentially taking another semester (depending on course sequences and requirements) to graduate. Obviously if this was your dream school, you transfer. If they have a much better department in your speciality (my school was like 17th overall but something like 4 in my speciality), I would really consider it. If your going to Law/Medical/MBA, it just doesn't matter.

Duke sucks, stay at your state school. Your undergrad doesn't matter nearly as much as your grades for jobs and for grad school.

Stay at the school where you're already successful.

You'll have more opportunity to differentiate yourself by networking and requesting undergrad research with the professors who already know you than by spending time acclimating to a new school.

I own my own company and hire professional science degreed individuals. You need a degree and a high GPA in your major, especially over your junior and senior year. The school matters very little to me. Because of my location most come here thru the Big Ten or the MAC. I place little or no value of any of these schools over the other.

It is more important to be in the right place at the right time. Be willing to work, earn your pay, and be willing to be compensated for what you accomplish. Being cautious and more concerned about how we can help you rather than what you can do for my company will not serve you well. Get a degree with a high GPA as cheap as you can with little or no debt, enter the workforce and work hard and have realistic expectations and you will do well.

I knew it had to be Duke too lol, now if Stanford came calling...but yea. Stay at your school, I wouldn't transfer from mine, love it too much.

My default advice to bright students is to go to the best academic institution and not to worry about the athletic program, but that's largely because there are a lot of uncertainties about how things are going to pan out anywhere, so focus on the stuff that's both important and relatively predictable. In this case, however, you seem to be thriving athletically, academically, and socially at your current school. Sp what's the upside of transferring? If you're confident that you would get a better education at the other school, then perhaps it might be a good move, but I tend to think that a highly motivated student can get a good education anywhere (although I hasten to add that, in my view, very few students actually do). I certainly wouldn't advise switching just because USN&WR ranks one place higher than the other. And, without advising one way or the other, I would caution against overrating the other school simply because it rejected you when you were in high school. That's like continuing to pursue the girl who rejected you in high school when you're wonderfully happy with the girl you've got.

Go to Duke and find that girl that made the powerpoint.

Actually in high school I didn't "live up to my potential" until my senior year (by which time it was too late). I was certainly capable of doing better (as I showed my senior year and as my SAT scores show), and my low GPA (relatively to the top schools) in HS was just due to procrastination, being lazy, etc... if I had gotten my grades up (which was possible if I'd put in the work) I'm pretty sure I could have gotten into this school in question. As it is I went to another school and really decided to turn a new leaf here, by not procrastinating, working hard in my studies (and in what is considered one of the "tougher" majors), etc. There's a pretty good shot I would get into this school if I applied now, as my stats are better than people who have gotten in in the past.

I do plan on going to graduate school though. I just feel bad because this other school is closer to home (and I have a good relation with my parents and siblings)... it's also a well regarded school for sure (but it's not like my current school isn't well regarded... it's just maybe a tier below this other school). My parents have been hinting at me transferring ever since I got to my current school, but after being here for a while I just really like it here...

You can always go to Duke for grad school (or try to, I should say). If you're studying a hard science you shouldn't even have to pay!

It sounds as if you're happy where you are and it's mostly your parents who'd like you closer. How much more likely though are you to see them more often even if you are a bit closer? Between classes and varsity running, you're not likely to have many free weekends. As others have suggested, if it were me, I think I'd stay put unless there were a compelling family reason such as an ill parent, and a reasonable liklihood that being at the other school would actually make visits easier. I definitely would not change if you are going to attend grad school, unless you are really unhappy with your current classes. I'm a doc and attended a very average state school at low cost and no debt, got a 4.0 gpa, and got myself into a top tier med school and residency. No one cares where I did my undergrad. In fact, in my field, no one even cares where I did med school. It's all about the residency program.

Stay at your school if you really want to run and improve your times. It is better to start and graduate from your school and then do a master's program at the school your parents want you to go to. Keep your grades high and run hard. If you transfer you may lose focus on a crappy team and not do that great on grades. Too much stress in transferring and trying to get used to a new school and system.

It doesn't matter what university you attend for undergrad, but it does for graduate school. Tell your parents you would prefer to just do graduate school there and hopefully minimize cost by a few grand.