From MIT to Stanford...

<p>How hard is it to transfer out of MIT after Freshman year and into Stanford? How much does the high school record factor into a transfer decision, especially since MITs first semester freshman grades are pass/fail?</p>

<p>It is typically easier to transfer from one top school to another top school: in this sense, I doubt there are many people wanting to transfer out of MIT and think you have an amazing shot at Stanford (given you pass all your classes ;) ). Obviously if your HS stats were good enough to get into MIT fresh year, they'll be fine for Stanford and yes, they will be heavily used.</p>

<p>You should contact the admissions dept at Stanford re: how they evaluate pass/ fail courses. From what I have gleamed, all A's your freshman year in college are a must to be considered for acceptance as a transfer student. But I agree that you have a better chance than most applicants, coming from MIT. Did you apply to Stanford last year?</p>

<p>I'm actually inquiring for a friend. He applied to Stanford and was rejected, but was accepted most everywhere else. Stanford is his first choice though and his high school stats kick ass.</p>

<p>Well, Stanford only accepts around 5% of transfer students, which is approx half the freshmen acceptance rate. They look at the total student record, including high school. So that fact that he was rejected does not bode well. But, you never know.... I think he would have a better chance at transfering elsewhere.</p>

<p>I'm also trying to transfer from MIT to Stanford. I'm currently a freshman. I was accepted last year.</p>

<p>I, too, am worried about a lack of real record in college after only 1 semester. Compared with a record of 8 semesters in high school, how can they really get an idea of how well you're doing with 1 semester's worth of TA recommendations? Classes are too big to get to know professors, and we've just started college. Hopefully they look more at HS info than college info.</p>

<p>Good luck to your friend. I think we may both need it; the lines of determining who should get into Stanford get pretty blurry with such a low rate of admission.</p>

<p>What I was told by a mom of a successful transfer applicant [who I do know well, so she was not just bragging] was that if you don't have a 4.0 GPA in college, you can't get in as a transfer applicant to Stanford. I have a feeling she might very well be correct, based on how few students they accept. I live 2 blocks from Stanford, and the HS both of our kids went to sends 15-20 students to Stanford each year. So we know the caliber of students Stanford accepts. Don't pin all your hopes on Stanford.</p>

<p>If the average MIT student applies to a bunch of ivy league transfer schools, he/she will definitely get into at least one if for nothing more than coming from MIT.</p>

<p>whats wrong with MIT?</p>