<p>Hey guys,
I really thank you all for posting your stats and where you were accepted/rejected.
I tried searching for a thread that will summarize all that I need to know about taking a transfer, but I wasn’t able to find it.
If anybody has a link to it, please post the link.</p>
<p>I just graduated out of high school and got accepted to UT. My goal is to take a transfer to either MIT or Stanford.
I am interested in engineering.</p>
<p>Would you guys please answer some of the questions that have been confusing me?</p>
<li>My current SAT score is 2050. Should I study SAT over the summer and aim for at least ~2200+ ? My SAT II scores are 780 and 710. Should I retake the 710?</li>
<li>My high school GPA is not stellar. My class rank is in top 20s. Is that going to haunt me down in the transfer process?</li>
<li>I had minimal EC’s in high school. Is that going to haunt me down? </li>
<li>When can I attempt to take a transfer? Can I transfer right after the freshman year(beginning of sophmore year) or do I have to wait two years?</li>
<li>What should my college GPA be? </li>
</ol>
<p>Guys, I understand that some of the questions might sound redundant and really dum, but I am distraught after getting declinced by so many universities. Help me out.</p>
<p>You can transfer in as a sophomore. The application deadlines are usually in March.</p>
<p>Your college GPA should be as high as you can get it. Equally important is the rigor of your course selection. You want to take the same coursework that an Engineering freshman at your target schools usually take (or as close as you can get it). Don't worry about needing a 4.0 (no matter how many times you read about kids here on cc obsessing about it ;). It's not necessary). 3.5+ would be a "magic number" of sorts; kind of an informal cut-off for some schools; formal cut-off for others.</p>
<p>You want to get to know two profs well enough to have good recommendations. So, plan ahead for that. Small classes would help if at all possible. Or visiting during office hours. Or being outspoken/asking questions in class. If you have all huge classes, collaborative recs by TA/prof can work.</p>
<p>Your high school rank/GPA/ECs will be looked at. But you can't do squat about them. So focus on your strengths.</p>
<p>If you really want to transfer out of UT-A, you will need to add some MUCH safer schools to your transfer list. Schools you like with much higher transfer acceptance rates. You might not find them in the top 17, though.</p>
<p>You might love UT-A. It's a great school.</p>
<p>I always hate the over-emphasis on test scores. BUT... higher scores can only help. Yours aren't bad, though. What was your math score? That will be the more important one for an Engineering transfer. What were the two SAT II tests you took?</p>
<p>lol Superman123.
It's not all based on rank. There are a lot of schools that I love in the top 17.
For example, Columbia, Rice, and others.
I like very few out of the top 17. I like Berkeley but I heard there is a huge grade deflation.</p>
<p>I've heard that some colleges do not consider SATs taken while a college student as this gives you an unfair advantage (the test being meant for high school students and all), just to let you know.</p>
<p>Consider applying for Junior transfer, SATs and high school grades matter much less at that point.</p>
<p>Transfer to MIT and stanford lol... be happy where you are at because you won't get accepted to mit or stanford... at least think that way, because your chances are so low its not even funny. even if you do have a 4.0 gpa. UT-Austin is a very good school, why not be happy there? If you truly arent going to be happy at UT you better have some backup plans. All of the colleges you listed above are extremely competitive and overqualified students still get rejected.</p>
<p>As a transfer you have to worry less about the past (highschool) because it really isnt important, you have to focus on the future. Too many students on this site put WAY too much emphasis on their high school academics.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I've heard that some colleges do not consider SATs taken while a college student as this gives you an unfair advantage (the test being meant for high school students and all), just to let you know.
[/quote]
This may or may not be true. As of 2006, Stanford did allow it for sure. Check each school of interest for you.<br>
[quote]
Even the top 17 are hard to get in?
[/quote]
Uh, yes. You can get an idea of recent acceptance rates on college board.com, USN&WR Premium Online edition and/or (best source) each school's Common Data Set.</p>
<p>For a truly safe school, you want a 40% acceptance rate AT LEAST. UC-Berkeley will be very difficult if you are not a state resident. </p>
<p>Go ahead and apply to your two faves - but think exactly as burgler says: assume you will not get in. The odds are just not in anyone's favor. Then apply to school(s) with acceptance rates in the teens to 25%ish range. Then apply to safe school(s). Or consider UT-A to be your safe situation, and only apply to your faves. But spend your first term finding mucho things to love about UT-A. Get involved. Do well. You may find that transfer is no longer on your horizon.</p>
<p>Best thing you can do for yourself, probably, is think no more about transfer until after the end of first semester. Then, and only then, see whether it really matters to you.</p>
<p>Andale, thank you so much.
Maybe I should work hard for grad school...
I think acceptance rate for grad school is generally higher than that of transfer.
I am totally satisfied with UT for now.</p>
<p>One more "everything I need to know about transfer" item.</p>
<p>When applying, make your "Why transfer" essay very specific as to why this school is the one for you. Know more about the school than general man-on-the-street knowledge plus its ranking. Research in-depth about your major at the school, faculty research interests, special programs. Maybe do the same about ECs of interest for you. Show how the school fits your needs in ways that your current school doesn't. But do not diss your current school.</p>