Do you think this is possible?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi, well I have been reading tons of threads for over a month now about transfer admissions.
I would want to explain my situation (I have done previously in other threads, but this time I am looking for especific answers a/o advices). Thanks to everyone reading =P</p>

<p>First of all, I am international student. I am actually living in Peru, and I have studied for over a year now at highly regarde peruvian university. I tried to calculate my gpa for my first two semesters (I am actually on my third one), and I got something like 3.75. The academic rigor here is very demanding by the way, especially for somenoe at the engineering department like me.</p>

<p>Well, lat year I applied to the Fulbright comission in Lima to some universities in the US, looking to get a scholarship to study Computer Science (mainly because I will have better opportunities in this area of study in the US). I have been admited to KU with a scholarship that covers full tuition, and I am planning to attend this Fall.</p>

<p>I applied to KU as a freshman, but I sent my college transcripts and they say they will accept 29 transfer credits from my first two semester, and once I arrive they will consider my current courses to make an evaluation of what else I can transfer.</p>

<p>So, to the point. Besides being accepted at KU, I want to transfer to a greater university with a greater CS program. I am thinking primarily on the Ivies and MIT/Stanford, because of their finantial support (most of them are need-blind or need aware). My EFC is about 11000, so I would not want to be accepted at an institution that I can not pay.</p>

<p>My main concern is how my situation would put me at a disadvantage. I am international student that would basically transfer twice if I succeed in the process. I have taken 63 credits for my first threes semesters, ad I don't know how much I would take at KU, so I am bit worried about that could play against me.</p>

<p>Also, I believe my lack of ECs may hurt my chances. I have been VP of Finances for a student creatd company, 300 hours of community service, 5 years of Karate and gold medals at competitions, and worked at a church in a summer. I plan to participate on research proyects and be involved on as ECs and leadership positions I can once I arrive at KU.</p>

<p>Well, do any of you have any advice for my situation? Any sources of finantial aid or scholarships or maybe great schools that offer geat FA to transfers like me? I know it is extremely difficult to transfer to such top universities, but I am going to try it so I have no regrets. I believe that I am capable, but more important thatn that, I have the will to commit myself on whatever project that is exciting for me, and applying for transfer really is.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance</p>

2

<p>Oh man, I’m glad you’re not a sophomore transfer at those schools. They’re where I’m applying for CS major as well hahaha. And I’m an international too, except I’m still in my first year in a foreign school, and will apply directly to the top schools you mentioned.</p>

<p>I can’t tell you anything reliably helpful, but to remove some weight off your shoulders, it seems that international applicants seem to have some extraordinary merits to those schools, as long as they meet the academic standard. This is what I’ve gathered from going around CC for a few weeks. I can’t link you to any specific threads though, but you can find them when you go around for a while. Also, I don’t think it would hurt to apply regardless of your chances. :smiley: hell, id be more hurt if I didn’t apply at all.</p>

3

<p>^Thanks for your comment. I am glad you are aiming high too :slight_smile:
It doesn’t hurt to try, that is exactly how I think. This is why I am considering such great schools, so that I have no regrets when I think about what I could have done.
I have also gathered information at many threads here in CC regarding international students, and I have seen many international transfer success stories (I have PM many of them and they have given me great advices).</p>

<p>Good luck on your applications</p>

4

<p>…buuumpp!</p>

5

<p>Be careful! Even some of the Ivies declare that they don’t have good aid for transfer students who are considered international. Some colleges might not offer any aid to international transfers, but I don’t know what your situation would be if you’re transferring from a school in the US.
Take this from Columbia’s website:
"Transfer admission is not need-blind for Foreign Students (see the Admissions website), meaning that the admissions committee takes into consideration how much financial aid a student requires when rendering an admissions decision. Although financial aid is available for foreign students, candidates should be aware that their applications are read in a more selective process than are other candidates’. Columbia admits a large number of foreign students who receive a substantial amount of financial aid.</p>

<p>Only limited institutional grant aid is available for foreign transfer students. Columbia may therefore be unable to meet the full need of all admitted foreign transfer students. Please understand that as grant aid is limited, a failure to submit the required financial aid forms by the stated deadlines will result in a greatly decreased chance of receiving grant aid."</p>

6

<p>Thanks of your response. I am making my research and I find too that most schools offer very limited (if not zero) finantial aid to internationals. I have written to most of the chools of my list asking for this concern.
Columbia, for example, states that they offer fa to internationals and would meet 100% of their demostrated need, but because of having limited funds their admission policy is need aware. I am leaning towards applying to MIT, Harvard an Yale, which are need blind, but their transfer rates encourage me to cosnider other more “real” options…</p>

<p>Does anyone know about any other school likely to give good fa for internationals? (even if they are need blind or need aware)
Thanks again.</p>

7

<p>Wow…Hi guys…it is so great to have people with similar aims, I’m an international too, this fall am going to attend a u.s.-style university in Czech Republic with a double degree of SUNY ESC, if all will be according to my plans I will transfer to US university, and I have the same problem-AIDDDD:((( my parents can pay max 15k per year, so it would be great if we make our research together, we can open our thread too=)</p>

8

<p>We are in similar cases then, but I will be double transfering, first to the KU and then to other university if I succed in this.
maxgoroshko, we can share advices or preparation tips if you like :slight_smile:
I have written to every university I am interested in, and received some interest responses but nothing that I did not know eralier… It seems that there is no problem in applying for me, but I will ahve to commit 100% on it! I am prepared to do it anyways.
If aynone else has an advice we will be glad to hear it. Thanks!</p>

9

<p>Well, I know that int transfer is a difficult one, but I believe if we do all preparations right all will be fine:) I researched many universities and their requirements and decided to take ACT or SAT obviously:)than toefl, not sure about SAT subjects, I’m really lazy about exams, so I hope I will struggle with myself. Planning to take in october, so I will prepare for 2-3 months, my high school gpa is quite good 9.25/10 ~3.7/4(us system), can’t say that my EC’s are great, but still, basketball, bodybuilding, and fishing-an unusual one, my main passion:) volunteer work like in USA is unable in Belarus, so I don’t know what to do about it, also I’m a winner of National Olympiads in Geography for three years and different international competitions in Geography. So glad to see any advice. And, yes, its a good idea to do it in cooperation, I think our experience will be useful on CC</p>

10

<p>Hi! So just to update: I have decides to transfer and will commit to the process. But I will also try to enjoy my experience at KU, as it is possible that I stay there.
Does aynone have any experience or comment to share? Anybody planning to do something similar? What about the people that posted previously?</p>

<p>Sent from my GT-S5570L using CC</p>