<p>I am going to UTexas at Austin next year and am contemplating transferring after the spring semester (The end of my freshman year). I was looking at transferring to Harvard, Rice, or Vanderbilt and I had a couple of questions:</p>
<li><p>What do i need to do academically/extracurricularly in college (CGPA, XC’s) to have a good shot at these schools?</p></li>
<li><p>Do I need to retake my SAT I? (I have, right now, a 2080 composite score)</p></li>
<li><p>Do any of those schools give merit aid for transfers??</p></li>
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<p>Thanks a lot.</p>
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<li><p>Well, you need to maintain a high GPA first. A 3.5 is the minimum which is required for transfers. Of course, take the toughest courses and in the area of your intended major. Engage in extracurriculars which you took part in in high school and achieve certain level of proficiency in them. </p></li>
<li><p>Well, the relevance of SAT depends on the year in which you transfer. For sophomore transfers, SATs are more important than for junior transfers. For the latter, colleges pace greater emphasis on the college transcript. Since you're planning to transfer after your freshman year, you might consider retaking them But do keep in mind that SATs are less important in the transfer process compared to the freshman one, and if you have scores above 650, then it is okay.</p></li>
<li><p>I can only talk about Harvard. It does not give any merit financial aid (according to Ivy League agreements), and only gives need-based aid. But of course, it is also completely need-blind.</p></li>
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<p>if u wanna make any chances at harvard or schools like harvard, start off strong. take the hardest course offered. I mean start from Calc III in college, skip General physics I and II, or for that purpose, also General Chem I and II....take one or two higher level math class like Modern Algebra.......and if u still score all A s ..........u will have proved everything.......no SAT required then.....and one note, scoring a 4.00 with regular freshman classes doesnt impress Harvard or school of its standard.</p>