CC Student --> Ivy League?

College Search & Selection Community Colleges
1

<p>I'm a community college student in northern California and will soon be applying to transfer to a four-year school for the Fall 2013 term. I am applying for the TAG to either a UC as a safety net, but my goal since enrolling in community college has been to transfer to a private four-year school on the east coast. A few Ivy League schools are included as possibilities to apply for transfer. </p>

<p>However, I am having personal doubts about whether it's worth applying to Columbia, Dartmouth, and Yale because of the fact that I am a community college student. I maintain a 3.8 GPA (4.0 GPA for my Political Science major classes), am involved in a leadership position in a school club (and potentially in my school's Associated Student Government as treasurer), participated in community leadership programs, and have volunteered and worked on local political campaigns, a congressional campaign, and in the California State Capitol. </p>

<p>I am fully aware of the highly selective nature of Ivy League admissions (I believe Dartmouth, for example, had a 3% admission rate for its transfer students in 2011) and the academic rigors that are associated with those schools. My GPA is on par with most transfer demographics for Ivy League schools, I am focused on my intended major and built up experience related to it (Political Science with an emphasis on International Relations), and attempted to show leadership in my community and community college. But will this be enough? Several individuals from my community college have been accepted to schools such as Yale and UPenn, with similar profiles to me, but yet I still doubt myself.</p>

<p>I am perpetually stressed with this thought on my mind, and I know it's possible to be accepted, but I am doubting whether it's even worth to apply to an Ivy League institution. Are there any suggestions as to what I should do, or if there's anyone who has successfully transferred to an Ivy League from a community college?</p>

2

<p>Our local community college has sent several students to the Ivies and Ivy-peers over the years so I do know that it can be done. If you will always wonder “what if?” then apply.</p>

3

<p>go for it!</p>

4

<p>While it isn’t an ivy league school, Stanford took a few from my community college.</p>

5

<p>It happens, but CC applicants looking to transfer to Ivies, Stanford, MIT, UChicago, Duke, etc. face a steep uphill battle. At my local CC, about 50% of graduates don’t go anywhere after their two years (i.e. they enter the workforce with their associate’s degrees), about 40% go to one of two “eh” local colleges that accept almost everyone, and the remaining 10% go to “real” colleges, but usually noncompetitive state ones.</p>

6

<p>Go for it! I wish you the best of luck if you decide to apply.</p>

<p>The local CC sends at least one student to an ivy each year, so please have hope.</p>

7

<p>While not easy, it’s NOT impossible. I think you’d have to maintain that 3.8 GPA & go from there. What’s the worst that can happen? You won’t get accepted? Big deal, go for it, there is far more upside than downside, this is an easy +ev decision.</p>