<p>“I know the chances are in the 1%-2.5% range depending on the year, but I don’t want to hear that.”</p>
<p>You have to.</p>
<p>The positive outlook you need is a positive outlook toward making straight A’s at Emmanuel and becoming a campus leader. Then, and only then, can you give any thought to transferring. It is pretty hard to make straight A’s under any circumstances, but it will be nearly impossible if your heart is not where your body is. When Harvard admits transfers, it wants people who have poured every effort into their first campuses. It wants people who get transfer recommendations from professors at the first campus who say, “I’m heartbroken that xxjp might be leaving Emmanuel; it’s such a joy to be in class with this kind of student.” Go to Emmanuel and be a joy to your professors, your roommate, and everyone else.</p>
<p>Harvard won’t “overlook your application completely” unless you go to a school that’s unaccredited or you’re in a program (like accounting) where the courses don’t transfer. But you will need darn close to a 4.0 in the most rigorous program available and outstanding leadership to have a shot. The good news is, if you can manage that, even if Harvard doesn’t take you, you’ll be well positioned to transfer someplace like Penn, Cornell, Northwestern, etc.</p>