I’m a freshman in one of the top 20 LACs and planning to transfer to Harvard:
My stats are:
4.0 GPA (First freshman year semester)
1530 New Sat
Lots of extracurricular
Part of the crew team in my school.
Now the real question is: Why do I want to transfer?
Well, as a major, I’m considering computer science. However, my school’s courses choices are so limited, especially when considering the part of CS I’m interested in (Artificial intelligence). In addition, computer science research is limited for me at my college because I’m an international student, and so I don’t get enough funding as domestic students.
The part I’m concerned about whether I should mention or not is the social scene in my college. I’m simply not a fit for my college. I was expecting a bit of intellectual experience out of the classroom, but I couldn’t find it. Note: Yes, I’m not that much into partying.
I’m really skeptical about mentioning that in my why transfer essay? are the academics reasons enough? what do you think?
Yale probably has the best advice for transfer applicants on their website – and it applies to Harvard as well
So with that in mind, what educational opportunity does Harvard offer you that cannot be obtained at your current school or any other college? Students seeking to transfer from a top 20 LAC will have a difficult time answering that question. If you can answer it, that might increase your overall chances. Otherwise, posting a chance thread when Harvard admits about 12 transfer students each year from a pool of over 1500 transfer applications is a fool’s errand.
I think OP is on the right track. Yes, it’s true the transfer admission rate is much lower than the freshman already low rate. It helps if you have something H needs or wants. CS is a good start. I think however it does need to be more than academic. If you could find something else about the college you love from a community perspective, it could help your chances. Good Luck!
@Gibby. it offers me all the CS courses that I want (that my current institution fails to provide). it provides me with the research opportunities in the areas I’m interested in. It offers me the computer science environment I’m looking for (clubs, events, and organization). All of those, my current college fails to provide. Yes I know there are only 12 students, but I don’t see why not I can be one of them!
You don’t get in as a transfer because your reasons are compelling (to you) or you love something about them. You get in when you are compelling, your picture, your accomplishments and presence.
Out of 1600 apps, they admitted and enrolled 12. That’s more than plain “much lower.”
My guess is that out of the dozen transfer students Harvard admits each year, about one-quarter to one-third of them are recruited athletes (3 to 4 students). So for a non-athlete, the numbers keep shrinking (8-9/1500-1600 = less than one percent admit rate). As @Lookingforward wrote: That’s more than much lower.
Harvard is NOT lacking in students wanting to major in Computer Science. In fact, Harry Lewis, the Dean of Harvard’s CS Department, who taught both Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, sits on the Admissions Committee and I imagine he takes an in depth look at every CS transfer applicant. If you apply as a CS transfer applicant, you’re going to need to present a sold case for what you offer the school. Of course Harvard has more CS courses than your university; of course Harvard has more courses in artificial intelligence than your university. That’s stating the obvious. However, what CS talents and skills do you bring to the table that other students interested CS do not? That’s the real question you’re going to have to answer for yourself and present in your application. Harvard is looking for transfer applicants who would most benefit from their resources, so you’ll have to prove you are worthy of one of those 8-9 slots.
I wouldn’t mention the social scene for several reasons. Many of Harvard’s faculty and administration received their degree from other institutions besides Harvard. For example, Harvard’s Dean, Rakesh Khurana, received his undergraduate degree from Cornell and the President of Harvard, Drew Faust, received hers from Bryn Mawr. As Harvard’s Admissions Committee is made of 20+ faculty members, you don’t know if one of them has their undergraduate degree from your college and you don’t want to bad mouth their alma mater. And besides, Harvard is looking specifically for academic reasons for your need to transfer: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/transferring-harvard-college
For the reasons noted by others your transfer chances are statistically very low. I’d recommend focusing on other schools that meet your academic needs where a transfer is more realistic. Good luck!
Why are you thinking of a new major? Why didn’t you apply to Harvard as a senior? If you changed your mind on your major after a semester, how do we know you won’t change it again and not benefit from the transfer?
These are all questions I’d be wondering if I were part of admissions
I was just going to say something similar. Even Harvard admissions knows that there are equally good or better CS schools out there. It isn’t considered one of their greatest strengths. So to me it seems like a weak argument.