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<p>Harvard took 70 per year out of 1200 applicants from 1997-1999, it then dipped as low as 35 one year in the early 2000's, and has since crept back up. The admit rate has been well under 5% some years. I expect that the numbers will not decrease again because study abroad is catching on, but you cannot count on this.</p>
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<p>However, Harvard focuses primarily on the essay</p>
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<p>Untrue. Far and away the most important thing is your record at your first school -- how challenging it was, and how close to perfect your grades were. No one has a "great chance" before they have a college GPA. You don't have any kind of prayer without great grades, no matter what you say in your essay. Do not even think about transferring the first semester -- you should be focused on making a good life for yourself at Emory, because you may be staying there. If you are still unhappy in January, that's the time to begin thinking about transferring -- and if you have a 3.7 or above, the time to consider Harvard as an option.</p>