<p>I applied this year for a spot in the freshmen class and was rejected. If everything works out, I may be going to Carnegie Mellon instead. I am going to apply to Harvard as a transfer student after my first year, and if I am rejected, I will try to apply the next year. I know that transfer admissions is extremely competitive, so I need some help. Besides getting good grades, what can I do that will really help my application to Harvard? I am interested in majoring in mathematics and linguistics. I hope to become involved in research as soon as I begin my freshmen year, but I'm sure that I need something more than that (short of some spectacular discovery, which is highly unlikely to happen).</p>
<p>Could someone help me out with this (maybe someone who has transferred or is familiar with the process)? I'd really like to know what types of things are sought after in a transfer applicant.</p>
<p>I have absolutely no clue, but what's wrong with Carnegie Mellon? I went over this with someone else too. It's a disruption to your life and your studies to suddenly change schools one year in. Freshman year is when you make all your friends and learn your way around the school. It's not like there's such a huge disparity between educations at Carnegie Mellon and Harvard that you need to transfer in order to fulfill your life goals.</p>
<p>Not trying to sound disdainful or anything, but you should at least give Carnegie Mellon a chance.</p>
<p>But if transferring into Harvard is what you truly want, then best of luck to you.</p>
<p>It is much, much, much harder to transfer... and it sounds like the only reason you want to transfer is for "prestige." If you go into your first year at Carnegie-Mellon (a phenomenal school) with the mentality that it's not quite good enough and you're gonna transfer out as soon as possible, you will end up having a miserable time... it is a self-fulfilling prophecy.</p>
<p>Look, I know it hurts not to get into your first choice, but move on.
CMU is fantastic... throw yourself into the experience and give it your best shot of making it a great experience... put aside all notions of transferring.
If, after giving it an honest go at it you discover 2 years down the road that you need to transfer, then so be it... but I find it a bit premature to think of transferring before you even gave it a chance.</p>
<p>By the way, you have to write an essay explaining WHY you want to transfer and what Harvard has that your school lacks... "prestige" is NOT a good answer.</p>