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Just inside top 15% at Texas. Not interested in leaving, but I would like to put out a few transfer apps to see if I can get more money out of UT. Is there any reliable data out there about success in negotiating a transfer offer to a better scholarship? How high should I be shooting? What are my chances at those schools?

-edit-
a couple of other things that may be relevant:
- PI interest which is definitely there on my resume, if that helps w/NYU+Columbia acceptance.
- At least one of the profs I'd get an LOR from is definitely someone I don't want to burn bridges with. However, this prof is former faculty at HYS. Would it be worth it to ask her for an LOR and say tell her that since I'm doing PI I'm just putting in apps to get $ out of the school?

Congrats on your grades. That's pretty sick. Not sure specifically what PI opportunities you'll have out of Texas, or how stingy they are with their scholarship money.

I can say with some confidence, that I would absolutely not ask that professor to write the LOR, and then give the reasoning you mentioned in the post. It might come across something like this: "Hi. I know we just met, but I'd like to use your old employer to swindle money out of your new employer."

I disagree with not using the professor. Just don't tell him that particular reason for transferring. All you have to do is tell him that you love UT but you're interested in putting out applications to see what happens.

Transferthrowaway wrote:I disagree with not using the professor. Just don't tell him that particular reason for transferring. All you have to do is tell him that you love UT but you're interested in putting out applications to see what happens.

Sorry if my post was ambiguous. This is more what I meant to say: fine to use the prof, don't give him/her that particular rationale.

patrickd139 wrote:

Transferthrowaway wrote:I disagree with not using the professor. Just don't tell him that particular reason for transferring. All you have to do is tell him that you love UT but you're interested in putting out applications to see what happens.

Sorry if my post was ambiguous. This is more what I meant to say: fine to use the prof, don't give him/her that particular rationale.

Upon reading your post again, it wasn't that ambiguous. Late + RC fail on my part, my bad!

Would it be better to approach her and say it's a just for the hell of it sort of thing? Just to see what my options are, etc? I am just worried about coming off as thinking that I'm "too good" for Texas or something - I don't think that at all and in fact would really like to stay here.

NicePete wrote:Would it be better to approach her and say it's a just for the hell of it sort of thing? Just to see what my options are, etc? I am just worried about coming off as thinking that I'm "too good" for Texas or something - I don't think that at all and in fact would really like to stay here.

No one is going to think you're too good for Texas by wanting to transfer to YHSCCN, as long as you ask in the right way.

My method for approaching a professor: Ask to stop by his/her office some time after class. Start the conversation with something about how you were very fortunate that your hard work paid off last semester, that you value the professor's opinions, and want to get your professor's thoughts on transferring. That will get things going, and during the course of it, you'll find out things like a) your professor's views on transferring in the abstract, b) your professor's views on those specific schools and your chances, c) the prof's thoughts on your odds of getting what you want (PI) out of Texas and/or YHSCCN, and more. It also presents you a wonderful opportunity at the end of the conversation to ask for an LOR, having fully explained your intentions and rationale for transferring.

How you approach it initially is crucial here, going at it from an "I'm asking your opinion, which I value very much." as opposed to "Hey, I'm peace-ing out; you need to hook me up."

Also, I wouldn't mention anything close to "I'm just hoping to up scholarship money from UT." or "I'm not serious about transferring if the right opportunity presents itself." You're asking the busy professor to take time out of her day to write a (hopefully thoughtful and well-written) letter on your behalf. To do so would seem a little disrespectful.