Better Odds as Transfer?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I've heard that students sometimes face better odds applying for transfer admission. Can anyone testify for or against this? If not in general, perhaps for my specific situation:</p>

<p>3.7 HS GPA
2200 SAT
750/750/700 SAT II's
35 ACT
3 AP tests - 5 on Eng Lit and Psych, 4 on Euro History
National Merit Semifinalist</p>

<p>-rejected by Columbia as a freshman, waitlisted by Bowdoin</p>

<p>-should have a 4.0 for the fall semester as an honors student at a community college, including honors and sophomore level classes</p>

<p>-transferring to U Montana for the Spring</p>

<p>-plan to play up life experience since high school; moved from NY to FL by myself, got good grades while working for rent and living expenses, then moving to MT</p>

<p>-unique work experience specifically: worked on the set of Rubicon in NYC, Amway Center (home of the Orlando Magic) in FL, and have secured a job with a private social work company in MT working with disadvantaged and troubled youth</p>

<p>I would like to spend the spring at UM, but apply to a better, more financially generous school for fall 2011. I was hoping to apply to Columbia, U Penn, Bowdoin, and Northwestern. If I can keep a 4.0 in honors courses at UM, participate in many extracurriculars, and accumulate strong recommendations from both professors and employers, would I stand any chance for transfer admission to these schools? If not, any recommendations for other schools in the same category?</p>

<p>I feel a bit lost amidst the college process, and could really use some grounding.</p>

<p>Thanks for any help and feedback!</p>

2

<p>That is a pretty big if considering that you will be taking courses that you may find more challenging than HS. Assuming you can do all that you have a good chance of being able to transfer but the question is why did they waitlist/deny you admission in the first place? Until you fix that issue (if there was one) you probably will not be accepted for transfer either.</p>

3

<p>I know it’s a big if, but I have done very well in college classes so far and done so easily. I assume this will be the same in MT, but I suppose it could potentially be otherwise. I’m pretty sure I was originally waitlisted because of my high school grades. They weren’t bad, but they weren’t necessarily Bowdoin material. My hope is that succeeding in college courses will resolve that shortcoming.</p>

4

<p>I’m not aware that the “odds” would be better at the type of schools you were considering, just because you are applying for transfer vs. freshman admissions.</p>

<p>However, if you are a stronger applicant second-time around, that can improve your individual chances. Strong college profile, better essays, excellent reason for transfer, demonstrating why the new school is a good fit for you and what you would bring to it… all can improve your chances.</p>

<p>There are numerous instances of applicants denied as freshman being accepted as transfer. There are also numerous instances of being denied both times. As always, no way to predict which category you will be in.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>