Advice for a would-be transfer applicant?

[RoswellEndsWell]

<p>Hey guys. I was recently accepted into Carnegie Mellon for computer science undergrad early decision. I'm pretty excited, but I'm thinking about applying as a transfer to MIT for computer science after my freshman year for a few reasons (MIT is closer to home, is better in other subjects I'm interested in like math and physics, has better financial aid, and I wouldn't lose rigor computer science-wise). In short, I'm glad to be going to Carnegie Mellon, but MIT may be just a bit (no pun intended) of a better fit in retrospect. Anyways, I have a few questions about MIT transfer admissions in no particular order.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How important is the current college being attended for transfer admissions? Would being in a good computer science school like Carnegie Mellon give me an edge, or do transfer students pretty much come from anywhere as long as they're smart? On the other hand, would a student from a more prestigious but lower-ranked-in-computer-science school (e.g. some of the ivies) have an edge over me?</p></li>
<li><p>Should I retake the SAT I at some point? I got a 2310 superscore (M 790, CR 800, WR 720), but is a 2390 or 2400 an unwritten requirement of sorts in such a competitive pool? </p></li>
<li><p>Is anyone here intimately familiar with the computer science program at both Carnegie Mellon and MIT (e.g. through attendance, being a professor, etc.)? From what I understand, they are pretty neck and neck, would I be losing a lot if I left Carnegie Mellon for MIT?</p></li>
<li><p>From what I understand, there are only as many transfer spots for a given year as there are people who drop out the year before. Do spots open up by department, or just the college in general? In other words, does somebody have to drop out of the engineering department (or even course 6 specifically) for me to be considered as a transfer to that department, or would a spot open up for all transfer applicants regardless of the department the student who dropped out was under?</p></li>
<li><p>Besides GPA and test scores, what are some of the common traits transfer students at MIT have?</p></li>
<li><p>Do I have any chance at all? I'm not going to turn this into a chance me thread, but is a lot of luck required to get in as a transfer, or do I just have to stand out somehow?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks for any help. This isn't at all urgent, it's just something I've been thinking about. Cheers.</p>

[PranamMIT]

<p>Hi RoswellEndsWell,</p>

<p>I am recent transfer student to MIT (this fall was my first term in Cambridge). I was accepted Early Decision to Dartmouth, and I spent two years in Hanover before I decided to apply for transfer to MIT. I think it’s safe to say that I was the one of the only junior transfers in my transfer class of 19 students. </p>

<p>It’s very easy too rethink your decision to apply Early Decision — I definitely did. But I want to tell you honestly that it’s best to give CMU a chance. It has a wonderful CS program, as you know! I definitely gave Dartmouth every chance I could to prove that it was the right place for me, and I only applied for transfer after I convinced myself that there was nothing Dartmouth could do or have to convince me to stay. In the end, it was a very difficult decision to apply, but I’m glad I did. </p>

<p>Let me answer your questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>YES. It is very important. Almost every transfer admit this year came from a community college/state school. I was one of the few from a “peer institution,” if you may. The reasoning is pretty simple: you have to NEED MIT. If you have the resources at your current school to accomplish your academic/personal goals, why should MIT give a spot to you when they could give it to somebody who really needs/deserves it (and could thus potentially change their lives)? I was thankfully able to make that case, but it is much more difficult to do so coming from a good school. At least Dartmouth was a very different, liberal arts Ivy. Carnegie Mellon has a very comparable CS department to MIT. I think it would be very difficult to make a case that CMU doesn’t have the resources for you to succeed as a CS major there. In the end, the “edge” you are talking about would probably go to a very gifted, talented, and probably accomplished student from a school with much fewer resources than MIT. </p></li>
<li><p>I got a 2320, so I think you are fine. I never retook it after high school. Then again, like I said before, whether it is your accomplishments, scores, or grades, as a transfer applicant from CMU, you need to be incredibly, incredibly competitive if you are going to prove to MIT that you should be there.</p></li>
<li><p>I am not Course 6-3 here, so I would not be the best to ask. Then again, Course 6 is by far the most popular department here, so I am sure it is VERY, VERY good!</p></li>
<li><p>I believe the Transfer Admissions Office looks to space, but also quality of applicants. It isn’t department-based. They accept, on average, about 20 students a year in the spring. </p></li>
<li><p>Again, on the Transfer Application, other than the standard stuff (test scores, extracurriculars, etc.), you have to write an essay on why you want to come to MIT, and why you want to leave your current school. If you can nail those essays, and have the academic credentials and accomplishments needed of an MIT admit to back it up, you have a chance. My litmus test for applying for transfer was when I felt comfortable writing BOTH of those essays without hesitation. </p></li>
<li><p>I will be honest with you. If you are going to get in as a transfer from Carnegie Mellon, you need to be really darn good. This is coming from an Ivy-to-MIT transfer. You have to show that you are incredibly accomplished, academically gifted, and that you NEED to go to MIT to fulfill your academic and personal goals for college. My advice is to enjoy your first semester at Carnegie Mellon. If you feel something is not right, then start thinking about it. Otherwise, I would suggest to stay at CMU – it is a wonderful school!</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Hope this helps! :)</p>