My Fall 2025 U.S. Transfer Admissions Decisions (Undergraduate)

Note: This post is an English adaptation of my original Chinese article (URL). Some parts have been modified for clarity, cultural relevance, or to better fit the English-speaking audience.

As of May 18, 2025, all the transfer decisions from the universities I applied to have been released. Fortunately, at the very last moment, the outcome was positive, although the journey was quite tumultuous.

First, allow me to provide my basic information:
Male, not LGBTQ+, international student, non-citizen without a green card, not a first-generation student. My MBTI is INTJ. I handled the entire transfer application process myself (DIY). I am currently enrolled at a Top 100 university, majoring in Pure Mathematics (all my transfer applications were for Pure Math as well). I have no SAT score, no competition awards, a university GPA of 3.99, and a high school GPA equivalent to somewhere in the 2.x range. I will not disclose further information to avoid being identified by acquaintances.

Before the CMU decision was released, it was truly disheartening to see the rejections come in one by one from UC Berkeley and the private universities. However, it also felt justifiable. After all, I had no SAT score, no competition awards, and a poor high school GPA. If they had admitted me, what would that have said to the students who had genuinely worked hard for years in high school?

Occasionally, I would imagine: if I hadn’t been addicted to video games in high school, if I hadn’t gone through that period of confusion, and had just continued to study for the sake of studying without understanding why, would my results be better today? My family and I both believe that under those circumstances, I might have found myself in an even more dire situation upon entering university, perhaps even facing academic suspension.

You see, my academic performance was actually decent when I was younger. However, this was primarily due to various external motivating factors, such as not wanting to disappoint my family and teachers, coupled with a genuine interest in some subjects. Nevertheless, I still didn’t understand the fundamental purpose of learning; I viewed it merely as a task that every peer was striving to complete. Consequently, as soon as I finished my homework, I would play video games. My parents weren’t overly strict; as long as my grades were acceptable, they allowed me this freedom.

However, things changed when I entered the international division of my high school. I had my own phone and computer, and the curriculum emphasized self-discipline, with no homeroom teacher constantly monitoring me. Without these restraints, I completely let myself go. At that time, I paid no attention to my GPA. My homework was often done carelessly, just to get by. During class, I frequently played games in the back row (and to be honest, I was quite unskilled at them, but my lack of skill didn’t diminish my desire to play). Even my previous passion for certain subjects could not compete with the allure of gaming. As a result, when it came time to apply for undergraduate studies in the US, my GPA was absurdly low. I was lost, with no idea what I wanted to do in the future or what the purpose of my life was. To make matters worse, I was so unconcerned about my future that I even missed the application deadlines for all the University of California campuses. Fortunately, a kind university eventually took me in.

Later, determined not to become a dependent living off my parents, I proceeded to study abroad. After some time, I discovered that I was indeed capable of performing well academically, and my GPA returned to a normal, high level. Subsequently, through experiencing loneliness and dedicating myself to serious research in certain areas, I matured. I began to realize what I wanted, the kind of person I wanted to become, and most importantly, I came to understand why I study and how to study effectively.

The rest of the story is one of getting back on track. For instance, I engaged in some undergraduate research, completed numerous projects and activities, and cultivated strong relationships with my professors. Following this, applying for a transfer was the logical next step.

Returning to the main point, my top choice for transfer from the very beginning was actually CMU. Some might argue that CMU’s pure mathematics program cannot compare to those at Princeton, Stanford, etc., and may even seem inferior to UCLA’s. However, the field of Pure Mathematics is divided into many sub-disciplines, and in my specific area of interest, CMU’s program is considered Tier 1. Therefore, the conclusion to this story is, for me, quite perfect.

And so, my story ends here. I hope that all of you can also get into your dream schools. Even if you don’t, please do not be discouraged, because your future is not defined by this single setback. Keep going!