Anyone feel that elite colleges are not keen on transfers?

<p>Besides Cornell, it seems to me that many elite colleges don't really want transfers and they basically take them to fill up spaces not taken by accepted students who decide not to matriculate and students who had to leave the college for whetever reason. I mean the admission rate for transfers at some elite colleges is notoriously lower than for first years. I don't even have to mention the certain college in NJ that doesn't even admit transfers. In my experience, adcoms don't seem to be as nice to me a transfer applicant. They seemed to be a bit more pleasant to me as a first year applicant. Perhaps others see things differently and if so please do share. It just seems to me that there is a covert disdain for transfers at elite colleges and that we're just a last resort. If you agree with me why do you think this is and if you don't agree just shoot away.</p>

<p>From where do you get this information? I was treated generously by every adcom to whom I spoke, except for Georgetown.</p>

<p>Ironically, I am now studying philosophy at Georgetown.</p>

<p>Well, most of this is just based on my observation. I guess I'm just overly sensitive. It just seems as if adcoms were overly nice when I applied as a first year. Like someone was always willing to answer my questions and I never had to wait. I just felt I was treated differently as a transfer applicant. Maybe it was the colleges?</p>

<p>The one college I feel that seem genuinely interested in transfers is Bryn Mawr. Smith seems very receptive as well but I know that they both have programs for non-traditional students too.</p>

<p>I guess this sort of depends on how you define "keen."
I think UPENN is also very nice to transfer applicants....considering that their transfer admissions rate was a whopping 20% last year. I also heard directly from the admissions officer that UPENN in fact prefers transfer applicants because they assume that the student has matured over the years. It is also in many school's best interest to construct a diverse transfer student body portfolio.....so i heard some ivys like yale and dartmouth (i think?) actually set aside a certain minimum quota among incoming transfer students for applicants from lower ranking institutions.</p>

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I mean the admission rate for transfers at some elite colleges is notoriously lower than for first years.

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<p>This is because of extremely low attrition rates. There simply aren't enough seats.</p>

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This is because of extremely low attrition rates. There simply aren't enough seats.

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<p>Not always. In fact, it is not the case for many schools.</p>

<p>Edit: For someone who has not even filled out a transfer application, you seem awfully authoritative.</p>

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I think UPENN is also very nice to transfer applicants....considering that their transfer admissions rate was a whopping 20% last year. I also heard directly from the admissions officer that UPENN in fact prefers transfer applicants because they assume that the student has matured over the years.

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<p>I've heard this too. Their admission rate for transfers is pretty high compared to other colleges on the same level. Personally, I thought most of the staff I spoke to was pretty rude but I've never really like most of the admission staff I've come into contact with at Penn, even as a hs senior. Two or three were nice but most seemed a bit aloof. I guess it's a give and take.</p>

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Not always. In fact, it is not the case for many schools.

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<p>If you are talking about HYS, this is the main reason, although they have enough money to build a whole separate campus for transfer students.</p>

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For someone who has not even filled out a transfer application, you seem awfully authoritative.

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<p>Thanks. Nobody seems to have figured out I actually have no idea what I'm saying.</p>

<p>I do feel that some of the elite schools are not keen on transfers, but sometimes that view does make sense. Fortunately, I'm applying to the schools that are a little better, like Cornell, Brown, and UPenn, though I'm not sure I have the stats to get in. I guess I won't know until I apply, so I'mma go for it!</p>

<p>A decent indicator of a colleges attitude toward transfers is how their financial aid packages compare to normal accepts packages. A school that really wants a student there will make sure they can pay, and many schools really screw transfer students in this respect.</p>

<p>Do any of you have a reason why you think some colleges aren't big on transfers?</p>