Chances at Yale as a transfer student?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I would really like to go to Yale in the future, my plan is to apply for the 2017-2018 academic year. The issue I have is that my recent performance at university was really poor. I don’t want to get into details, but it was mainly due to some undiagnosed health conditions, which since I was unaware of what was going on caused me a lot of difficulty living on my own. I ended up leaving there after doing one year (failing half of my classes) on academic probation, planning to take care of the issues I was dealing with before going back.

To make a long story short, after quite a bit of digging and visits to the doctor, these health conditions are diagnosed, and I am now much better equipped to cope with them.

The only issue now is, my high school grades were not great either (3.46 weighted, 3.26 unweighted GPA), and obviously my college GPA was absolutely horrible. I talked to Yale admissions and they said they suggest I go to a community college to show some more solid academic performance. But I’m wondering, even if I get perfect grades, will that make up for it? My ACT was a 33, and it wasn’t terribly hard either, so I don’t think my intelligence is an issue. I know that I’m smart enough. I think it’s going to come down to whether or not I can convince them that I can and will do much better with utilizing that intelligence.

I don’t want to come across like I’m making excuses, but at the same time, I feel the health issues I have had a very significant impact on my performance, if not entirely the reason I have done so poorly in the past. Will I get a chance to explain this properly to them, perhaps in one of the essays?

By the way, I understand all the other factors that go into admission chances, I am just wondering about this issue specifically. And, as an extension of this, I’m also wondering how Yale is with accommodations, because I feel that, at least when I’m starting out, I will probably need some (reasonable) accommodations. I have a a form from my doctor that I could provide to them that explains this.

2

Yale takes only a tiny number of transfer students each year.
You will need to describe in your personal statement why Yale and only Yale can address your particular educational requirements.

In Yale’s own words:

In addition, you would really need to have excelled academically in your college work. Quoting Yale again:

Does this sound like you?

3

Transfer admission to Yale is tethered to attrition. Currently attrition is 2% and in some years! even lower. Transfer admission is much more difficult than regular admission, so it’s not something you should be counting on–further, successful transfers also are admitted because their original institution does not offer a degree or program. So, basically lights out degrees and a compelling reason.

4

Hmmm… Well as far as academics I am sure I could pull off the GPA. I’ve never had many issues as far as understanding material, my sole issue in the past was keeping up with and keeping track of my work, especially homework. But if I plan better ahead of time I think I can eliminate that problem and do very well.

Though I don’t think my desired major alone is likely to make a difference, though I haven’t decided on what exactly I want to do either. All I know at the moment is that I want to major in music, and in addition study voice, as singing is really my only passion. I have been meaning to check out which schools in particular would be best for this, but one school name that I have seen many times during my searching is Yale, which is why I was interested.

Would a graduate degree offered at Yale be enough reason for them to consider? Because as far as I know, Yale doesn’t offer anything in particular that I was looking for in the undergraduate programs for music that would be reason enough for me to go only there. Mostly I’ve just read that they have a good music program in general.

The other thing is, I don’t want go to an actual music school, I just want to do a music program at a more diverse university, and I figured Ivy Leagues in general are probably pretty well-rounded in that regard, which is another reason I’m interested.

5

Another thing, I am actually eligible to apply as a freshman next year as of right now, on account of my small amount of transferable credits. But I think, unless they were willing to take my essays as good enough reason to believe that my recent college performance is not indicative of my possible future performance at Yale, doing community college first to bring my GPA up would still be better.

6

You could try getting straight As at a community college and then apply as a transfer to Yale. The problem is that it is thought that community college coursework might be easier than other college courses so even with a 4.0 in community college, you might not be viewed as sufficiently outstanding.

7

Honestly at the moment, you are just not there…it’s not an intelligence thing–rather, they have very defined criteria in what they are looking for in transfer student. Your want of doing a graduate degree at Yale will not be sufficient, especially since you are not even sure about your degree. Not to be cynical, but I would look at other schools with less stringent standards. You are actually trying to transfer to one of the most difficult schools to obtain admission as a transfer, and without immpecable grades and a lucid and cogent reason, it’s a non-starter.

8

I totally understand what you are saying, and I am aware that it’s not all about academics and intelligence. I do have other things, a moderate amount of leadership experience in multiple programs, and I am an Eagle Scout, etc. I am not the epitome of what you’d generally think of when you think of a student that gets into Ivy League university for sure, but I am at least somewhere in between that and a student who would definitely get turned down. I really feel like the only things I am totally missing are the high GPA, challenging courses (both of which I could possibly fix at community college), and a specific reason I want to attend only this school (though I’m not necessarily missing the last one, I just haven’t found a reason yet).

Honestly I’m only just starting to look into the possibilities. Perhaps I’m getting a bit too focused on one place, I tend to do that sometimes. It’s just difficult for me to go through all the different options I have at once, so I like to thoroughly explore just one of them, and add or eliminate them from my list as I go.

9

Anyway, my point is, I know it’s a slim chance. But my thought process is this: I would really like to go there, so if I actually DO find a really good reason to go there and only there while I’m researching it, then that would be awesome. And if not, it’s no big deal, because I’m still not planning to even start applying to universities for at least 18 months or so. I have all that time to research and think about where I’d like to go.

10

This reason alone would probably knock you out of contention.

Let’s move off of Yale, because it’s not going to happen.
Have you looked at Wesleyan? My S has a music degree from Wesleyan and really loved the program there. Wes is likely a reach for you as well, but I think it’s far more realistic than Yale.

11

Well, like I said, I’m only just starting to look at places. I may have made it sound like I was counting on getting admitted to Yale or something, but I’m not, nor was that my intention to sound that way. I already know I need a really good reason to go there in order to have any chance, and I thought I made that clear.

I don’t think your intention is to be rude, but I still feel like I’m being talked down to. I already acknowledged this several times and people keep saying the same thing, that I basically have no chance as of now. I KNOW. As of now I’m not even necessarily planning on applying, I’m just looking into what it would entail, and even if I was it wouldn’t be for well over a year from now, in which time I could quite possibly discover something that would help my chances.

Anyway, I will look at Wesleyan and some other places then, since apparently all the information about an Ivy League school I’m going to get is, “It’s not going to happen.”

12

Not trying to criticize your process, but when you’re finished analyzing Wesleyan, you may want to drop down to Skidmore. Their avg transfer GPA is 2.9:
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/skidmore-college-2814/applying

13

Does nobody read what I wrote? I didn’t think I had to spell this out. Let me make this clear. As of now, my GPA is 1.16, that is what I got freshman year at college. Ok? My point in starting this discussion was to ask SPECIFICALLY and EXCLUSIVELY about that aspect, about whether or not going to community college and getting very good grades to improve my GPA tremendously, along with explaining the verifiable health reasons for my performance being so poor in the past, would be enough to at least take care of the academics factor of getting admitted to a selective school. I KNOW there are other factors, it’s not about that. I’m wondering about how this specific aspect would be considered. Because if they are so selective that they still wouldn’t even consider someone with my transcript anyway, no matter how much improvement I show at a community college, then there is really no point in applying there at all, since academics is the first thing they look at. Am I wrong?

I’m not asking about whether I’d get in with my current GPA, I KNOW I would NOT. Now please, STOP with telling me my GPA is too low. I’m not an idiot, I know it is too low AS OF NOW. That is the whole point in going to community college, to improve it. All I’m wondering is whether that would be enough to get me some consideration in the future, AFTER I’ve done some community college. Is this making sense now?

I’m starting to regret even coming on here to ask about this.

14

I guess all I’m good for is a crappy community college then right? There’s just no possible way I could bring up my GPA, and explain to any decent college that my performance was significantly affected by the health issues I was dealing with, and therefore is not an accurate representation of my abilities? All because of that my entire future is ruined right? Because I don’t think any remotely good college would have an average transfer student GPA like mine.

15

I really do not appreciate all the condescending responses from people who aren’t even answering the question I asked to begin with. I suppose I wasn’t quite clear about it initially but at this point I’m getting sick of it.

Here, how’s this: will improving my GPA at a community college and then applying as a transfer student significantly improve my chances at getting into Yale (or any selective university for that matter), at least as far as academics goes? This is what I wish to know, and that is all. I don’t want a bunch of condescending answers from people telling me it’s not likely. My point is, right now my chance is literally 0 pretty much anywhere good due to my current GPA. Anything is better than 0. I just want to know how to go about doing the community college route so that my chances will be improved enough that applying MIGHT be worth it. It’s only one factor but it’s probably the biggest one. And if not, tell me WHY, so I know you’re using logic and not just being all annoyed and condescending to me because I supposedly think I’m surely getting into these tough schools.

I’m just trying to be hopeful and to explore all the possible options. I do not have unrealistic expectations.

16

Many of the posters here are parents of college students or college students themselves. My D attends Yale, and I formerly had an academic fellowship there as well. I think, you might be a tad sensitive to some of the remarks. Rereading these posts, most were giving you very productive and insightful information. Nothing in fact was perjorative to you, rather it was merely pointed out that your ultimate goal was not currently symmetrical to your current stats and that it might be helpful for you to look at other options that are more parallel to your credentials. Take all this good info, and ignore the rest…

17

How is that not answering your question? You don’t have to go to Yale. The knowledgable posters here are offering alternatives where you might actually be able to complete a transfer.

18

“Does nobody read what I wrote?”

Yes. We actually read this:

“Chances at Yale as a transfer student?”

That’s the question that you asked. The answer is “Almost 0%.” As in, “Even if you were a great student already, less than 1%.”

THAT’S the actual question you originally asked, and THAT’S the real answer. Almost no one gets to transfer to Yale. For any reason at all. Period, End of story.

And that answer applies even if you were already doing well somewhere else.

Now, if you have another question, maybe it’s something more like this:

“Considering I got off to a rocky start, can I recoup my college education somewhere for a year or two and then eventually transfer to a good four-year college and get a degree therefrom?”

That answer to that question is “yes.”

The key is open enrollment. Your previous college experience doesn’t qualify you for much by way of a selective school. You said you didn’t do all that well in high school. So, you need to start somewhere where they’ll take you without regard to your previous record.

In many states, one can attend community college, and upon successful completion of a year or two of community college, one can automatically transfer to a four-year state university.

There may be other suitable open enrollment schools other than community colleges where you could go for a year or two to rehabilitate your GPA, as well.

In my state, if you successfully complete two years of community college, you’re guaranteed admission to the state flagship university to complete your four-year degree. It isn’t Yale, but it’s a very good school, and in some fields, it’s among the best in the nation. After successfully completing a year or two or community college or other open enrollment program, there may be other selective schools that may consider a transfer for you (although that won’t be guaranteed).

This kind of path isn’t uncommon.

You mention that you can start as an incoming freshman. You may decide that is in your best interest. There’s nothing in your prior GPA that you’d want to take with you to your next educational endeavor. It’d be better to start calculating your GPA from scratch.

19

I just feel like I’m selling myself short going somewhere that’s takes pretty much everyone who applies. I don’t think that’s the best I can do, and while I understand at this point my chances are basically none at an extremely selective school I don’t see why I shouldn’t look into it anyway, given that I have quite a bit of time to make the decision, my circumstances could change in that time, and I am obviously going to apply to a lot of places that are more likely to accept me as well, just because that is the logical thing to do. And I REALLY don’t see why I need to look at going somewhere that takes basically everybody. I’m not saying it’s bad to go to a place like that necessarily, but for someone like me, if I can do better, why wouldn’t I?

The point is, I don’t want to START with looking at easy places, but I am going to apply to many places with a variety of admission rates to be sure I’ll get in somewhere. I don’t want to go to an easy place, just because I feel I’d be overqualified and around peers that I can’t relate to, and I wouldn’t be very motivated to try hard I don’t think.

And the other thing is, I have some unique circumstances in my situation. It’s not like I just did poorly in college just because I was being lazy, there was a reason for it that was out of my control, and I just don’t think it’s logical to dismiss my chances outright simply because of that. Maybe that’s not why, maybe you are saying that even considering that factor there is still is no chance, but either way the intention wasn’t clear to me, which is why I got so frustrated.

1% doesn’t mean no chance. It means a small chance. And if, in my searching, I find a very selective college like Yale that I really want to attend for a particular reason pertaining to my degree, I don’t see why 1% means I shouldn’t apply, if I truly want to go there. Call me crazy, but I don’t think most applicants get turned down because they are not qualified, they get turned down because they aren’t going to fully take advantage of such a prestigious school, they don’t have a really good reason to go to a place like that. They just have a really good academic record, so they apply because they qualify and that’s it.

20

And one thing I’m confused about: if transfer students are so rarely accepted even if they are good, why would the person I was emailing at Yale admissions tell me, even considering my circumstances, that they strongly recommend I do some community college first? Because if even great students get turned down, wouldn’t it be easier for me to apply as a freshman and just explain to them that I will do immensely better in the future? I had already explained my situation to them and they said doing a year of community college was what they strongly recommended. So either they were just being nice and not telling me either way I’m not getting in, or there’s something else I’m missing, because it seems like people here think applying as a freshman would be better for my chances.