<p>Major: Engineering
Junior Transfer(four semesters of course work done with 4.0s in the last 2)
3.89 gpa( I have completed most of the required course work for the third year so I could potentially graduate in three years.)
SAT: 2100+
ECs: Research 1.5 years of engineering research, Initially, it was mostly grunt work, but I was finally part of a group that got something published. Right now, I am currently in another school doing a research internship.
Student government, and lots of engineering research clubs.
Reccomendations: I could potentially get 1 stellar reccomendation and 1 good one.</p>
<p>Concerns: My main university does not have decent research oppportunities, most of what I have done so far have been at another university, besides the school atmosphere isn't what I like, and most importantly, I think the school is too expensive for the kind of education I am getting. I am an international student and I need a little financial aid. </p>
<p>I know it is a very competitive admissions process, so I know no one can really say whether or not I would get in. I just want to be realistic here and know whether I am in the ball park.</p>
<p>bump? any suggestions?</p>
<p>yale is pretty much a no-go for everyone, so i really wouldn’t waste your money applying. MIT also takes very few transfers. the rest you could have a shot at. what are your HS stats? finaid for internationals isn’t too good. what school are you coming from? maybe switch out yale or MIT for purdue because they have a good engineering school and you’d probably have a better chance getting in there.</p>
<p>If you have the $65 (or whatever it costs) to burn, apply to Yale! Your stats are very solid and you’re clearly a competitive candidate at all these schools. In terms of mere acceptance rates/common wisdom about each school, this is where I’d say you stand, as you’re clearly in the range of accepted students at all places:</p>
<p>Yale: High Reach
Dartmouth: Reach
Penn: Low Reach/High Match
Columbia: Reach</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about MIT, as I never applied and don’t know how their admissions process works at all.</p>
<p>Your success or failure will largely depend on soft factors, i.e., essays, recommendations, and ECs because your GPA and SAT are matches for each school. There are three types of applicants as I see them:</p>
<ol>
<li>Automatic admits with stratospheric stats and/or a truly exceptional EC/contribution to a field. (Or simply the son of a trustee.)</li>
<li>Automatic rejects with inadequate numbers or a felony conviction etc.</li>
<li>Everyone else with solid stats, but for whom there are simply not enough spots. </li>
</ol>
<p>You’re in the third category along with 60-70% of applicants, which means you have a great deal of control over your fate, so to speak. By preparing excellent statements/essays and forging a good relationship with your professors (and even doing some ECs), you can stack the deck in your favor, as these are the tie-breaking components of application.</p>
<p>I thought Yale, Harvard, and Princeton did not allow transfers?</p>
<p>Harvard and Princeton don’t. I think Yale does. Unless they changed this recently…</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! My major is Biomedical engineering; that is why I am considering these schools. I have other safeties that I am applying to. The schools above are essentially my reaches. As for my highschool stats, they are just decent, I had straight A’s my last two years in high school and in my A levels, but I don’t think that would matter now since I am a junior transfer. </p>
<p>Yale is a Crap shoot for everyone, so I not expecting anything there. I haven’t applied though. </p>
<p>I am working on my transfer essays now, and I expect to be done soon. I am might apply to MIT though to see how things turn out, however, I am fully aware of my chances there.
Thanks for the honest answers.</p>
<p>Personally - I would add Cornell onto the list. It would definitely be within reach for you, they have a decent biomedical engineering program, and its within the caliber you are looking for.</p>
<p>Just apply to yale, heck you get in, great, you don’t? Well so what lol!</p>
<p>Do it, you worked hard for it</p>