<p>I'm going to be a sophomore at USC looking to transfer to Harvard and am wondering what my chances are or if you have any advice to improve my chances. Here are my stats:</p>
<p>HS GPA: 3.96
USC GPA: 3.96</p>
<p>SAT Writing: 740
SAT Math: 670
SAT Reading: 790</p>
<p>SAT II Math I: 620
SAT II Literature: 710
SAT II US History: 720</p>
<p>National Hispanic Scholar PSAT/NMSQT</p>
<p>Freshman courses included a 300 level history course and a 400 level senior seminar in history as well as a 300 level orchestral conducting class. (I'm a cello major at USC, hence the conducting.)</p>
<p>Well your stats are in Harvard's average range, and I'm assuming you are a URM, so that will help. No one is going to say you have a good chance of getting in as Harvard usually accepts 5% or fewer of its transfer applicants. But in terms of being competitive, your stats look fine.</p>
<p>Transferring is much harder than regular admissions.
If you didn't get in regular, then if you haven't done something amazing as a fresh in college, why would you get in as a transfer?
If you never applied, then I still really doubt your chances.
who knows, harvard may need a cello player though.</p>
<p>Hmm. Harvard doesn't usually get many performance major transfers since they specify that they want their transfers to have a strong liberal arts course load, and the typical performance major is heavy with ensemble courses, lessons, ear training etc. courses. With only theory theoretically transferable, the process is a bit difficult. (Though the orchestral conducting course should be transferable, it'll only count as an elective, so it's not much help). </p>
<p>The fact that you have taken upper level history courses (and have done well in them) really does help. Continue a balanced course load (music vs. other liberal arts course...perhaps even an upper level math or science if you are up for it) would be ideal. </p>
<p>Anyway, I strongly encourage you to emphasize your interest in having a more broad-based (i.e. liberal arts) focused music education as opposed to a performance-based education. </p>
<p>You seem like an interesting applicant. Good luck.</p>
<p>Well, I highly doubt it. Yale says on its site that you do not qualify as a 'freshman' if you've taken a semester of college, or something like that.</p>
<p>My honest answer: very slim chances. If you're truly interested in transferring somewhere else because you're not enjoying the school you're at, make sure you apply to many different places. I say this not because you wouldn't be able to do the work at Harvard, but because Harvard transfer admissions is even harder (statistically) than freshman admissions. Also, Harvard plans on reducing the number of transfer students it intends on admitting in the coming years. </p>
<p>For example, out of all the Tulane students that came to Harvard after Hurricane Katrina, only one was accepted as a transfer student and was allowed to continue her studies here.</p>