Emailing transfer schools?

<p>I've heard that emailing, calling, setting up interviews with admissions reps, and visiting campuses helps by showing "demonstrated interest" in the university. But is it reccomended for transfers? I'm concerned because while I thought having a strong freshmen profile with a high GPA might give me the boost I needed to transfer into schools I've wanted to go to all along, another college might see my decision to transfer so early as premature, and it might be a cause for concern. Is it better to just request "more information" from the head of a department about programs than to actually start something more conversational? Or is it actually beneficial to inquire about how an institution might be a better fit?</p>

<p>Anyone have a take on this?</p>

<p>My friend showed exceptional interest in UCLA and USC and she kept a close contact with some high end admission officers at both universities and she was accepted into both. Mind she had the 4.0+ weighted GPA along with many EC's. Does this help answer your question? </p>

<p>BTW: It wasn't for transfering it was straight out of high school.</p>

<p>Well, I was really wondering whether or not at this juncture, there would be backlash from showing interest in another university, since I haven't actually attended classes at my current institution. But I see what you're saying about it giving your friend a leg up, even if she was qualified otherwise. :)</p>

<p>i'd say start showing some interest when you have at least one quarter of grades. i could of course be wrong, but that's what i plan on doing. at least that way i will be able to discuss my courseload, grades, GPA etc with the admissions counselors. i figure if i just start making contacts now i have next to nothing to show for myself, i doubt they'd take any sort of interest. i suppose it depends too on your high school work, if you were an amazing student and went to a lesser state school or a CC or wherever you went... for personal or financial reasons i don't think it would be bad to contact them now.</p>

<p>^ That sounds like a better plan to me than just throwing myself out there without much to say. I wasn't a terrible student in high school, but I went to a lesser state school to try and boost my grades and settle into college before settling into college thousands of miles away from home. Are you a freshmen also?</p>

<p>yea, i had the same experience in high school although i would say i was at the lesser end of average (everyone else on this site for the most part was a freaking valedictorian or something!). i'm going to be a freshman at community college in the fall. i'm hoping i'll be able to get my GPA high enough to start applying in the spring for fall 2006. where do you live now and what schools do you want to apply to?</p>

<p>I live in south florida & I'll be attending Florida Atlantic University in the fall (go fighting owls? lol). I want to apply to american, bu, northeastern, catholic university of america, gw, univ of richmond and I'm considering applying to bc & some more selective all-girl lacs just to see if I can get in (I'd like to go, but it's really just a "hey, might as well while I'm already applying" sort of situation). What about you?</p>

<p>i live in massachusetts right now and i plan on applying to smith, middlebury williams, st. john's annapolis, marlboro, boston university and a couple of others that i havent quite decided on yet. i've thought about applying to harvard just for kicks. i think i would frame my rejection letter....do you know what you want to major in?</p>

<p>I contacted already, because I was asking if my course schedule was good for them to gauge my strength on, and fortunately it is. I think asking questions helps no matter when you do it, and keep in mind if you're a strong applicant, they won't care if you contacted them a week before school starts. At this point in time (3 days before classes start), I know that my current institution is not where I want to be for 4 years (actually probably 5) of my life. I made a mistake in my lack of research. This school (UF) shows way too much interest in sports and partying for me. I'm really into academics and studying, and I said that in my email. All of my email replies have started:
"Dear Derek, thank you for your interest in attending our school!"</p>

<p>Do what you want to do, but if you know where you're going is not where you want to be, just ask questions. It won't hurt.</p>

<p>How a university factors 'student interest' in the decision process is contingent upon the school. Since transfer admit rates do not effect rankings, schools are not as concerned about yield. However, there are schools who still care, and thus, showing interest may help the borderline applicant, or it could serve as a tie-breaker between two level students. The only school I know of who performs this practice is Georgetown.</p>

<p>ive heard brown and tufts are big on this as well. tufts probably because it is often a safety-type for ivy kids.</p>

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tufts probably because it is often a safety-type for ivy kids.

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<p>Once again, that is only from the perspective of college rankings; I do not think they care about whether or not they are a 'safety' in transfer admissions</p>

<p>nspeds - that's true. I think I was thinking about it more along the line of yield (I think I read something in an article about how the more competative nature of the college admissions process was allowing schools to consider facts previously considered less important, and that was the example, but I forget where I saw it). Thanks for your response.</p>

<p>nspeds - yes but who wants to send out tons of acceptance letters and have a tiny fraction of those students enroll. They will recognize the kids who have adament interests in their schools.</p>

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yes but who wants to send out tons of acceptance letters and have a tiny fraction of those students enroll. They will recognize the kids who have adament interests in their schools.

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<p>I do not have time for your persistent cavilling. Do what you want, as it does not matter to me.</p>

<p>whoa nspeds, you need to relax.</p>

<p>I am not objecting to what you say, Im offering my take on the situation. You need to learn to conduct in a manner that suits a discussion, otherwise dont participate.</p>

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I am not objecting to what you say, Im offering my take on the situation.

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<p>Your perspective is inconsistant with mine, so an objection is implied. </p>

<p>As per my foregoing remark, do what you wish. Perhaps you are correct. I am not going to argue; however, the ostensible justification for measuring applicant interest in freshman admissions is not present in transfer admissions because the circumstances are different. Whether the university must labor themselves in sending a few extra acceptance letters (it will not be any more than usual, since they only have a limited amount transfer slots available), is irrelevant.</p>

<p>there is no objection. you explained that transfer admit rates have no effect on yield, which therefore makes interest somewhat irrelevant. I concur. However, whether they compile official yield rates for transfers or not, colleges dont like receiving withdrawls. Thats why tufts syndrome exists for transfers as well. Regardless, as you mentioned there is nothing to argue here. Good talk.</p>

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I concur. However, whether they compile official yield rates for transfers or not, colleges dont like receiving withdrawls. Thats why tufts syndrome exists for transfers as well.

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<p>It does? How would you substantiate your claim?</p>