I’m glad that you were able to find success at your current school! One thing I would consider is what aspects of this school helped you to succeed? Small class sizes? Flexible class choice? Etc. I would then try to identify colleges that have those same characteristics, so you have the best chance of success. Good luck!
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That’s a strong point @michaeluwill. It may only take someone to being in the general 10% chance range. (However we want to call it, I think we mean the same thing.) And so much more matters, after that, for a final Yea decision. That includes some factors an applicant can’t anticipate/beyond his control. (Institutional needs, meaning geo diversity, balance in majors, gender, and the specific competiton from another great candidate, in one’s area or town. Or from another local hs with exciting recent successes, of different sorts. Etc.) But it does also include he college’s general “wants,” how the school perceives an applicant as strong, how a kid works it.
Sometimes, when a a potential applicant is so interested, it “can” make a difference to know the school better, to ‘play to one’s strengths,’ (to understand what that means,) and figure out how to better hack their way through the jungle. It can increase the possibility he or she gets a positive adcom reaction, to start. It’s what IS within control, to some extent.
This takes work. It’s the opposite of the usual advice to just write a great essay and/or to spill the beans about a rough background. It needs a candidate to be savvy. More than this determined- and youthful- optimism.
So the decision how to proceed is the kid’s to make. Imo. How will this particular OP choose to proceed? There are no guarantees, but does any applicant want to get past the “crapshoot” ideas.
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Apologies from me, but I mistook a post from ArtsyKidsDad as being by the OP. So forget my confusion in that question about who asked what. TY.
I have an update for all of you.
I just met with my college guidance counselor, who informed me that my listed schools (Cornell, Wesleyan, and Rice) are unrealistic given my freshman grades and lack of rigorous classes. I made no mention of Princeton, but she recommended NYU, Skidmore, Babson, and Middlebury.
She said that after a successful year/semester at any of these schools, I could apply to Cornell as a transfer student and would have a better shot of getting in than if I applied now (their transfer acceptance rate is higher than their freshman).
It hurts–it stings… but I guess this is the pathway forward. I don’t want to give up on my dreams and will work to realize them.
So, in view of the foregoing, can anyone help me out here? What is it that I need to do to gain admission to Cornell/Princeton as a transfer student? It seems that transfer applications are less common, so I’d like to hear about them firsthand here.
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Princeton admits very few transfer students, and apparently emphasizes non-traditional students (older students, military veterans, etc.).
Cornell admits more transfer students, but many of them are from NY community colleges to the NY contract divisions.
But why focus on unrealistic reaches – that will most likely lead to disappointment. Why not find colleges that are realistic for admission and affordability for you that are academically and otherwise suitable?
If you want to study architecture, you may want to see if CCNY’s BArch program is suitable for you.
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Bad advice. You will need a full year IMO, but will love those schools so much you will never look back!
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But great that you saw a counselor that understands how your classmates do in the process and that has helped you to change focus.
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I know it stings but the schools your counselor is recommending are fabulous. My advice is to love the school that loves you back and forget about transferring. If you start somewhere with the intent to transfer, it will impede you getting fully involved and giving your school your all.
FWIW, Cornell is not an easy transfer. They have a high transfer rate because of the guaranteed transfer option for new applicants out of HS. And as noted, they have agreements with some of the community colleges.
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FWIW, Cornell is not an easy transfer. They have a high transfer rate because of the guaranteed transfer option for new applicants out of HS. And as noted, they have agreements with some of the community colleges.
If that is the case, then what will I need to do to increase my changes of getting in as a transfer? It seems a bit vague to me and I want to start bettering my chances ASAP.
If my chances greatly increase by applying to Cornell from a community college, I’d consider attending one.
I understand your feeling: youve achieved so much, you want to keep pushing yourself.
But there are SO MANY incredible colleges that admit only the most accomplished young people, that you can keep pushing yourself to get there. Excellence has many names in the US.
Btw, your friends or neighborhood may not know all of them but “people in the know” will know the colleges in question (I listed some, as did others on your thread -write them down, fill out the request info form for all of them, see which ones appeal to you) but in the end, what matters is what YOU do once there. What really helps you succeed at your current school? What format for classes, etc? What accomodations (flat campus, room with direct bathroom access, tutors/note takers…)
Can you answer the question about classes taken (see my earlier message).
Are you HEOP for NYU?
Do you know your family’s income bracket?
Transferring to Princeton isn’t possible - until 2 years ago they didn’t even have a process for it (transfers replace freshmen who left, and there aren’t enough freshmen who transfer) and now they only admitted about 12 people, mostly with non traditional backgrounds.
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You are STILL not getting it. You are in love with a person you saw on a TV show. You don’t know that person.
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You are STILL not getting it. You are in love with a person you saw on a TV show. You don’t know that person.
I appreciate your reply, but how is it that I automatically have no shot of getting into Cornell as a transfer?
One of the issues through all my school years was my lack of caring. I didn’t care to try my best, and consequently didn’t know about things like APs, honors, ECs, etc.
Now I know about these things. I will study what the prerequisites to get into Cornell as a transfer are, and will be motivated to do what is needed to have the best possible chance of getting in. I will do my best at a college some place and will, at the very least, apply.
And subsequent to this, my goal is to get into Princeton as a grad student.
Let me emphasize that if Cornell rejects me, so be it. I’ll redirect my energy to another school, or another goal. But as it stands, this is my goal. Having said this, please give me as much info as possible about transferring to Cornell (and other schools if possible), and what it is I can do to have the best chance of getting in.
The issue with Cornell transfers is that it doesn’t depend on what you do.
If you want help you should answer questions that have been asked.
I’ll try one last time.
Are you HEOP?
(I assume you’re a NYS resident.)
What classes are you taking for math and foreign language? Have you taken or are you taking bio, chem, and physics?
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Your best shot at transferring to Cornell is 1) being a star at whatever college you attend first and 2) being a really good fit for the program to which you apply. But beyond that, nobody here can help you- we don’t even know what program at Cornell you would be interested in! much less whether the learning environment at Cornell will suit you (pro tip- it really does not suit everybody- not a question of smart or dedicated, a matter of temperament).
Build a list of affordable places at a range of selectivity.
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I am not sure you are going to find that answer here, or anywhere.
There is something about your thinking that makes me really want to help you, but I feel the best way to help you is by pointing things out to you. To me, you are treating college like a person who worked hard to buy the car he wants. I love tenacity, but yours is misdirected. The joke is - if all you ever want is to get a degree at Cornell, I bet you will eventually get one. My bet, also, however, is that you will look back at it and realize it was not what you really wanted at all.
I would be looking deeply at colleges, in my range, that will give me the best experience I can get. I have never seen more good advice than you have received on this thread.
Have you even been to Ithaca?
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The problem with this being your ONLY plan is that by the time Cornell rejects you, if you have not already researched, shown interest, and applied to other selective universities, it may be too late to initiate that process.
The time to research all your options is now. Don’t wait until after Cornell and Princeton deny admission to you. You need to research now, so you will be able to apply to 6 other schools the same week you apply to Princeton and Cornell.
It’s not that you “automatically have no shot of getting into” those two schools. It’s that even under the best of circumstances, you have maybe a 5% chance. That means you have at least a 95% chance at being denied. Even for the very best students who got all A’s from 9th grade through 12th, who have already scored 1500 on the SAT, who have already taken 10 AP classes, they have less than a 10% chance at being admitted.
You can do the math and see that’s not the kind of odds you should bet on. Help yourself by starting to investigate the other schools that have been recommended to you.
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The issue with Cornell transfers is that it doesn’t depend on what you do.
If you want help you should answer questions that have been asked.
I’ll try one last time.
Are you HEOP?
Thanks for the reply.
My family comes in around the 1%. As I said, I’m higher-middle class for NYC.
By reason of this alone, I don’t think I’d qualify for HEOP. Another reason I wouldn’t qualify is because I have an average above the 70-84.5 range necessary for eligibility.
I also want to make clear that, while many schools are need-blind, I don’t intend to apply for financial aid. I don’t need it, and don’t want that opportunity taken from someone who does.
(I assume you’re a NYS resident.)
What classes are you taking for math and foreign language? Have you taken or are you taking bio, chem, and physics?
I am a New York resident, but my family is considering a move to Connecticut within the next year or so.
I took and passed bio in 9th grade, had an A-A+ in chem last year and am currently at an A+ in honors Microbiology. Next year I’ll likely take physics, but I’m not certain as of yet.
I am not sure you are going to find that answer here, or anywhere.
There is something about your thinking that makes me really want to help you, but I feel the best way to help you is by pointing things out to you. To me, you are treating college like a person who worked hard to buy the car he wants. I love tenacity, but yours is misdirected. The joke is - if all you ever want is to get a degree at Cornell, I bet you will eventually get one. My bet, also, however, is that you will look back at it and realize it was not what you really wanted at all.
I would be looking deeply at colleges, in my range, that will give me the best experience I can get. I have never seen more good advice than you have received on this thread.
Have you even been to Ithaca?
I want the Cornell degree not just for its prestige, but because I feel that I would gain a tremendous amount of knowledge by attending that I could put to great use in the workforce.
I also reckon I’d fit in quite well there. The setting is great, it has a stunning campus, and a diverse student body. It also has a great variety of courses that I believe I’d utilize at one point or another.
I’m not only looking at Cornell, and the very reason for my existence is not to be admitted there. I’m also looking at safeties and other high-caliber schools that I believe will suit me.
But why is it that people apply to Cornell and other Ivy/T20 schools? It’s for the quality of education, the esteemed diploma, and the experience.
And no, I haven’t yet been to Ithaca. I will absolutely visit at some point, though, and from what I’ve heard from students, it’s a beautiful place. Hopefully I’ll be spending at least three years there, but again - if I don’t, so be it. It’s something to work toward.
Your best shot at transferring to Cornell is 1) being a star at whatever college you attend first and 2) being a really good fit for the program to which you apply. But beyond that, nobody here can help you- we don’t even know what program at Cornell you would be interested in! much less whether the learning environment at Cornell will suit you (pro tip- it really does not suit everybody- not a question of smart or dedicated, a matter of temperament).
Build a list of affordable places at a range of selectivity.
Thanks for replying. I appreciate it.
The problem with this being your ONLY plan is that by the time Cornell rejects you, if you have not already researched, shown interest, and applied to other selective universities, it may be too late to initiate that process.
The time to research all your options is now. Don’t wait until after Cornell and Princeton deny admission to you. You need to research now, so you will be able to apply to 6 other schools the same week you apply to Princeton and Cornell.
It’s not that you “automatically have no shot of getting into” those two schools. It’s that even under the best of circumstances, you have maybe a 5% chance. That means you have at least a 95% chance at being denied. Even for the very best students who got all A’s from 9th grade through 12th, who have already scored 1500 on the SAT, who have already taken 10 AP classes, they have less than a 10% chance at being admitted.
You can do the math and see that’s not the kind of odds you should bet on. Help yourself by starting to investigate the other schools that have been recommended to you.
Thanks for this. Let me emphasize that I am compiling a list of other schools. I have many already listed and will be fine regardless of whether I’m admitted to schools like Cornell. It’s just that, optimally, I’d be going to one of my top choices. And I’m willing to work to let that scenario materialize.
And again - should it not, I’m in the privileged position of not having to worry much about it. It’ll sting, but I’ll still be getting a top-tier education elsewhere.