I was lucky enough to get accepted ED2 to Bates College. I really loved the college when I visited and my older sister went there so I know Bates really well. But when I was applying, I thought I was going to major in History and Economics and minor in Dance, which I know Bates has very strong programs for all three. But as I am thinking more and more about college and my future, I have had a change of heart and really want to study Computer Science which Bates doesn’t offer. I know I am being pre-mature and definitely want to make it work because I love Bates so much, but I also really want to study Computer Science which Bates doesn’t offer. The colleges I am thinking about wanting to transfer to are really similar to Bates, like Colby, Hamilton, Colgate. Do you think that is reason enough to want to transfer? Also, I didn’t think of it while I was touring colleges, but Colby’s private research island is really starting to appeal to me.
Also, if I were to transfer, do high school grades matter? Will they hold the same weight as my college grades? Also, do you guys know how fin aid works w/ transfers? Does that impact admissions a lot?
Just an FYI from someone who has recently gone through this… transferring to another NESCAC is WAY harder than applying as a high school senior. In 2019, Colby, for example, received 318 transfer applications and accepted 8.
Bates is developing a program that may fit the bill for you. You should talk to its admissions office and whoever else they suggest to find out what options you might have. They may not be as limited as you think.
@unruhe I really want to make Bates work, but in the case that I can’t find what I want at Bates, do you think if I were to get straight As at Bates that would help my chances at transferring to another NESCAC or school w/ similar profile? Do most transfers have straight As?
I assume straight As would be a must but not in itself qualifying. In that pool of 318, there were likely many many applicants (100+?) that had straight As, high test scores, etc. When a school takes only 8 kids of 318 (2.5%?) it is very likely those 8 had some kind of hook (like a coach pulling for them) or a special status ( such as someone who has served in the military or is a first generation student from a community college might have).
There may be other fine schools (bigger universities like Boston U. or U. Mass. Amherst that definitely offer computer science) with higher transfer acceptance rates, but those at most NESCACs ae quite low.
Hamilton appears to genuinely welcome transfer applicants, and it shows a reasonably accommodating 23% acceptance rate for them on its most recent CDS.
So a 2.5% transfer applicant acceptance rate? Since Colby doesn’t produce a Common Data Set, I’m wondering where this information might be openly available?