#TransferTalk Series 🇮🇳✈️🇺🇸🗽💜

Episode 2: Mithibai to Manhattan!

If you had told me two years ago that I’d be doing my undergrad at NYU, I would’ve laughed it off. Back in Mumbai, I was pursuing a B.A. in Psychology at Mithibai College and planning to apply for a Master’s program in the U.S. after graduating.

Then, during my second year, I met with my advisor, Binoy Mehta, to discuss future plans. I was looking into Master’s options abroad when he said something that completely shifted my perspective:

“Why not consider transferring now instead of waiting till graduation? You’ll have access to more opportunities, earlier.”

At first, I was shocked, I didn’t even know transferring between international universities was a thing, let alone possible.

But the more I thought about it, the more it aligned with my goals. Transferring meant exposure to global research, new methodologies, diverse peers, and the academic freedom I craved. So, I took the leap.

I applied to five universities in the U.S., and NYU was my top choice.

The process was intense, collecting transcripts from an Indian university system, getting recommendation letters, rewriting personal essays that truly reflected who I was, all while navigating a lot of uncertainty.

And honestly, the transfer process is not as simple as filling out a form. You have to carefully weigh your choices whether you want a city vs. college town, East Coast vs. West Coast, campus culture, coursework fit, and more. You’re not a freshman, but you’re also not fully integrated into the new system yet, it's a strange in-between.

Here are a few tips I wish someone had told me:

⭐ Research schools deeply – beyond rankings, look at coursework and fit.

⭐ Make a list of non-negotiables – location, class size, culture, dream city, etc.

⭐ Start your personal statement early – it’s your story, not just your grades and how you want to portray it.

⭐ Get recommendations early – especially if your professors are unfamiliar with U.S. systems and sometimes professors take tedious amount of time to hand out the letter.

⭐ And don’t take rejection personally. I got rejected by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill but got accepted into my dream school NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you’re thinking of transferring especially across countries, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed or uncertain. I’ve been there. But looking back, taking that leap was one of the best decisions I ever made.

💌 Next up on #TransferTalk is how shifting from the Indian education system to NYU changed the way I think, learn, and show up in class.

Until then, drop your questions or share your story. I’d love to hear from you!