<p>so i'm matriculating in nyu for the fall term and have a guaranteed transfer option to cornell for the following year. however, if possible, i'd like to transfer to columbia~one reason being that i don't want to leave a load of friends at both columbia and nyu. i was wondering what the most important part of the transfer app is....i mean i'm pretty sure its the gpa but this adviser woman suggested the essay to be most crucial. can anyone help clarify these points?</p>
<p>GPA is most important. After that, I would say SATs/Essay, which - if good - can be the deal breaker. I tried to transfer to Columbia from Cornell with a 3.8 GPA and was waitlisted (they accepted ~100 and waitlisted ~50, so it was already an achievement to get that far). I think the thing that got me that far was my essay, which was excellent (according to me & assorted friends). After there, it’s basically luck who gets in and who gets waitlisted; at least I rationalize that way.
I’m going to Penn now, and I think similarly because of my essay.</p>