<p>Hey guys! I’m not going to go into detail, but I’m writing a piece on the transfer admission process. I am interviewing the Dean of Transfer Admissions at SUNY Binghamton tomorrow. I already put together a list of questions to shed light on the admissions process. I was hoping you could contribute to my list below. Ask anything you would like to know or have found confusing about transfer admissions!</p>
<p>For some information: SUNY Binghamton is a ‘public Ivy’ and one of the top public universities in the nation. The admission rate is roughly 35% for the class of 2013. While it is not a ‘top-tier’ crazy selective school, we were ranked 77th in the nation by US News & World Report.</p>
<p>Ask away!</p>
<h2>Current Questions:</h2>
<li><p>Tell me a little about the common reasons students apply to Binghamton.</p></li>
<li><p>a. What are some credible, good reasons to apply?</p>
<p>b. Bad reasons, such as prestige? For example, it’s a bad idea to apply just because you’re not getting along with your roommate. Does this happen often?</p></li>
<li><p>How much of a role does the high school transcript play in the decision process? How much should an applicant feel weighed down by it?</p></li>
<li><p>There are many intelligent students who do not fare well in high school due to laziness, distractions, or lack of a good work ethic. Either due to rejections or change of environment, they come to an understanding of their shortcomings in college, begin to work hard and earn much better grades. Is this a common occurrence amongst transfer applicants? What advice do you have for them?</p></li>
<li><p>Does sincerity show in an application? If a student is really, really passionate about attending Binghamton, has visited three times, knows all about the school, and will clearly take advantage of every opportunity offered to him here, does that make a big difference? </p></li>
<li><p>What is the best approach to the CommonApp “Why Transfer?” essay? Specifically relating to creativity, there is far less of an opportunity to really let your voice be heard. Should an applicant try to make this essay unique, or just answer the question?</p></li>
<li><p>Continuing on that thought, what are some good approaches? If a student is having a completely miserable time elsewhere, both socially and academically, is it a bad idea to talk about the social atmosphere? Is it easy to cross the line and make it seem like the reason for the application lies with the applicant himself and not the school? (Again, do not apply because of a bad roommate!) </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Is a bad idea to focus on the negatives? Perhaps, talk about fit instead? </p>
<li><p>What are some common mistakes made in the transfer applications?</p></li>
<li><p>Tell me a little about how the application is read.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Assuming GPAs are roughly the same, do admissions prefer sophomore transfers that have completed like 45+ units or junior transfers that complete around 60 units?</p>
<p>@ Zan, I don’t think withdrawals make a difference since a lot of schools allow you several before it affects your gpa. It’s the WFs that you should worry about.</p>
<p>Ask them about A) how much high school grades weigh in, B) how much personal experience and essays weigh in, and C) what are the 3 most important factors in determining who gets in. Cheers</p>
<p>“There is a huge amount of published advice regarding freshman admissions, and significantly less information available regarding transfer admissions. Of the literature that is available on transfer admissions, a good deal of it is geared toward traditional transfer applicants. What advice can you provide to non-traditional transfer students who are likely to have a very different set of life experiences and motivations than their traditonal-aged student counterparts stand out as qualified applicants? What would a good admissions official look for in assessing a non-traditional applicant as opposed to a traditional applicant?”</p>
<ul>
<li>I’ve never been able to find anything which addresses this particular question. I’m dying to know what the transfer admissions dean might say!</li>
</ul>
<p>First of all, you may now stop asking questions, since I already did my interview.</p>
<p>Regarding non-traditional students: clearly, HS GPA and SAT/ACT matters a lot less. If the applicant had taken a number of years off and had recently come back into a community college or four-year school, that GPA will be of the biggest importance. Otherwise, Admissions wants to see passion for learning, an intellectual spark as expressed throughout the application, and a good explanation of how your experiences since HS have helped shape you and define your goals.</p>
<p>fantastic doesn’t equal public ivy
im not saying it isnt a good school - ive heard its the best of the SUNY’s; its just ive never heard anyone call it a public ivy before :O</p>
<p>i just looked on wiki, and it is a public ivy according to some books
thats awesome!
although theres some schools on there that i wouldnt consider to be one
[Public</a> Ivy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Ivy]Public”>Public Ivy - Wikipedia)</p>
