I’ve been going through a lot personally and I’m finding that Cornell is not the right place for me. I applied here in binding early decision because my twin brother committed to the swim team (we were both potential recruits for Harvard) and because my entire family had pushed for the two of us to attend the same school together. Since I’ve arrived at Cornell, I have developed depression. I attend counseling at Cornell Health, and my therapist told me that she thinks transferring to another school would be very beneficial for my mental state and my success as a student. I’m doing well in all of my classes, but I feel I could be happier and more successful somewhere else. Harvard’s transfer acceptance is very rigorous, only accepting around 1% of applicants. I know it’s probably impossible to tell me the chances of being accepted as a transfer student, but if it is possible, how do I stand? Here is a small list of my achievements, if that helps at all:
- 35 ACT Composite
- 800 SAT Math 2
- 790 SAT Physics
- High School Top Physics Student Award
- CEO and Founder of Goggles for Guppies, a non-profit
organization that distributes donated swim equipment to children
in need to encourage learning to swim.
- USA Swimming Make a Splash Foundation Hero Award
- Presidential Lifetime Award from POTUS Barack Obama
I am a CS/ECE major. I know Cornell is slightly better for engineering (ranked 9th) but Harvard is also ranked very high (10th). I don’t swim anymore, so I’m can’t get the coach’s help.
What is it that you don’t like about Cornell that you think will be better somewhere else?
Why would you want to transfer specifically to Harvard? What is it about Harvard that makes it preferable to 100 other universities?
I have worked with software engineers with degrees from Harvard. I have worked with software engineers with degrees from many other universities. Based on this, I don’t understand why you would specifically want to attend Harvard.
What other schools are you interested in besides Harvard? I think it’s important to have some other options.
@DadTwoGirls @twogirls Harvard was always my dream school but I am also looking into Stanford, Cal, and Georgia Tech.
What the acceptance rates at those schools? What is it that you don’t like at Cornell?
Are you sure you don’t want an “easier” school? Is it the pressure at Cornell that is contributing to your stress and depression? Then again, Harvard is more known for grade inflation. I think Cornell is likely more rigorous if you are in Engineering. But the environment at Harvard is still going to be competitive. I’m sure you can do the work (with those stats) but maybe you have never experienced being balanced and having things be easier so you have more time for exercise and hobbies?
Do you need a different climate? Sunny weather? If so then CA schools - but why only Stanford and Cal? Those are obviously also high stress environments, which can contribute to your issues. Are your grades high enough to be accepted to these schools for transfer admission? Do you have good recommendations?
Perhaps consider other options that are 1) more likely to get transfer admission and 2) less stressful, where you can have a balance and enjoy life.
I agree … it’s a good idea to add a few schools to your list that are less stressful and would give you some balance.
@sunnyschool I can handle the stress of the school work. My depression stems from a lot of personal stuff going on that I don’t feel comfortable getting into. I want to stay at a top tier school because I feel I belong at one. I’ve visited all 4 of the schools I am applying to transfer to, and I loved them all. I visited Cornell last year to see the team and didn’t love it like I did the others. I only applied here because my family pushed me to, and it was a binding decision.
I really think that you should ignore the rankings, give up the idea of a “dream school”, and think about what you actually want in a school.
When I went back to graduate school, Cornell was my dream school. I was not accepted and went to my second choice. I loved it and did very well (my second choice is higher ranked overall and for my specific major, although this was not why I went there – I went there because I got in). I still see a lot about Cornell that is very appealing. I loved its gorges and the leaves in fall and the snow. It has beautiful stone buildings and the finger lakes and …
However, I also see that Cornell is large and very competitive. Classes are going to be demanding. There are a lot of very smart students there. Some will be cooperative. Some will see you (and would have seen me) as competition for grades. The academic stress, size, and competitive atmosphere could be depressing. Many freshmen show up and find themselves surrounded by strangers not knowing anyone else on campus. Also, the dark winters and some snowy or overcast days could be a bit depressing also. Trudging around in the wet slush and snow at 4pm in the dark with a cold north wind is not everyone’s idea of fun.
Every one of these issues applies to Harvard just as much. I don’t see how Harvard would be less depressing than Cornell, or any better for CS.
@DadTwoGirls Why don’t we just ignore the reasons why I want to transfer. I’m not comfortable in getting into my depression with anyone other than my therapist and people I trust completely, especially not with people I don’t know online. I don’t necessarily mind the weather or the rigorous classes. All I’m asking is if I stand a good enough chance to transfer.
No I dont think you do because you have no real rationale. Harvard will want to know why as well.
@Center what do you mean rationale? I would express everything to Harvard, I just don’t feel telling people online that I don’t know personally.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Without answering the questions posed by users trying to help, this thread becomes pointless. The first question Harvard will ask is: “What do you think Harvard can provide that is not available at Cornell?” “Harvard was always my dream school” will not satisfy the question.
Here’s the reality: Harvard will accept ~12 students a year, and you should assume that half will be recruited athletes. If your bottom line question is “What are my chances,” then the answer is the same as those given when you previously asked about Stanford:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/2101829-cornell-to-stanford.html#latest
If your pattern of responses will continue to be “Why don’t we just ignore the reasons why I want to transfer” or “I just don’t feel telling people online” then I might as well just close the thread, because users can’t help you.
@skieurope I’m sorry I can’t get into what causing my depression. That’s very personal to me and I’m not going to talk about. The simple question is are my stats good enough. That’s all I want to know. I can take care of everything else with my reasons why and deal with that for myself and Harvard. This is not a therapy session for me to talk to you all about what I’m going through. I know for a fact (because I know myself and what I need) that I would be happier somewhere other than Cornell.
“The simple question is are my stats good enough.”
Nobody knows since stats are just a part of what the Adcoms look at. Even harder as a transfer applicant.
Your stats (except that you have no college GPA yet) are good enough that you have a 0.5% chance of being accepted to Harvard and 1% chance of being accepted by Stanford. It’s fine that you don’t want to talk about your depression here, but I hope that you are talking about it with someone from Cornell. Whether Cornell is a contributing factor is outside of anybody’s expertise here. In the end, if Cornell is not the right place for you, then it’s not the right place for you. But you need more realistic options than either Harvard or Stanford. Certainly apply to both if you wish, but also cast a wider net. Good luck.
Nobody here knows whether you can get into Harvard as a transfer student. Apply… and see what happens. Make sure you also apply to some other schools.
We can’t suggest other schools for you because we don’t know why you don’t like Cornell. We don’t know what you are looking for in a school that Cornell may not offer. I agree that upstate can get cold and dreary… but so could the area surrounding Harvard.
I wish you the best and I am sorry that you are experiencing depression.
Doesn’t matter if your stats are good enough. More matters. And you can’t just “explain everything” to H or the others. They want to see evidence of fit and thinking that goes way, way past that you want H or had issues at C.
And our seasoned perspective allows us to ask, if this is personal or social, “Why go from one flaming pot to another?” If you want to heal and resolve issues, a less competitive arena may suit better.
For them to choose you now, successful transfer applicants to a tippy top have something the college wants. This is not like a UG app.
It would be helpful if you could better articulate what you don’t like about Cornell, no need to divulge any health details.
Harvard accepted 16 of 1,553 applicants (1%) per 2017/18 CDS. As ski says some portion of those are likely athletes, count on 1 or 2 from Deep Springs every year too. You should familiarize yourself with what Harvard looks for in transfers, and how you are going to position yourself as an applicant, here is but a snippet (from https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/transferring-harvard-college)
Cal prioritizes California community college students for transfer, further, students coming from a 4 year college can only come in as a junior:
From your listed schools, Georgia Tech has by far the highest acceptance rate (721/1909 or 38%), but some not-insignificant proportion of those will likely be in-state CC transfers.
Good luck, both with your health and with the transfer.
" I know it’s probably impossible to tell me the chances of being accepted as a transfer student, but if it is possible, how do I stand? "
Your stats are appropriately impressive but the key issues are in #18:
“A clearly defined academic need to transfer
A proven record of achievement at your current institution
Strong faculty recommendations.”
Nothing has been posted to suggest these key issues will be “hit out of the park”, as they would undoubtedly need to.
So, just my guess, chances seem: unlikely.
There’s plenty pf places a bit further down on the selectivity pecking order that would probably love you though. Provided that they actually take some transfers, and CS is not an impacted major there. For each of these schools you will likely also need to meet “soft” criteria, beyond stats, especially your need to transfer to that school in particular.
If you really need to get out, you clearly need to spread a wider net. Where else, nobody here can help you, because we’ve almost nothing to go on.
But meanwhile, while you are still there, I suggest strive to make it as good there for yourself as possible. Maybe work with your therapist on that. For example, maybe a change of dorms would be helpful ? Some extracurriculars might help ? Maybe a part-time job? Different courses? Whatever. It’s a big campus there are plenty of things to do and ways one can go about carving out a life for ones self.