<p>Hello all. I'm a high school senior and I just finished the college application process (receiving notifications of all my acceptances and such). Well, you would think that my parents would be happy with all of my accomplishments, but alas that is not the case and they have informed me after that I'm going to have to apply as a transfer for Harvard next year or the following year, grades permitting. After much fighting and hostility, I've sort of come to realize that I"m going to have to go along with this plan until my parents start to think otherwise. Is anyone who has transferred to Harvard or a similar caliber school willing to share advice with me on the best plan of attack? Do you think I even have a chance of being able to do so (I currently have a 3.8 unweighted gpa (weighted much higher) 1500 SAT (can give more stats if necessary)), or can I somehow assure my parents that I don't need to go to the most prestigious undergraduate school in order to obtain a good education? (I know this is the truth). Anyway, the schools I have to chose from right now to enroll at for my first semester of college are Washington University, Colgate, Colby, Bucknell, Grinnell, Middlebury, Reed, and Dickinson....which of these do you think would best serve this crazy idea of my parents? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I hope that your parents are NOT serious about this. You got AMAZING acceptances! Middlebury?! Colgate?! WUSTL? Incredible accomplishments. CONGRATS!</p>
<p>For now, they may be upset for now. This is a very emotional time for students and parents because after several years of hard work (and 18 years for parents), the results have finally come in. Let them go through the grieving process and when they see how happy you are in the fall, they might just get over it. Pick one of these wonderful schools and tell other people in front of your parents. People will congratulate you and truly say what a fabulous school you're going to. Perhaps when your parents hear this over and over again, they might just believe that Harvard isn't the only place to get a great education.</p>
<p>Plus, ask them what would be a compelling reason to transfer to Harvard from these schools WITHOUT saying the word "prestige". Tell them that you cannot be a successful transfer without a solid reason to do so. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>while it may be easier for a transfer to transfer into "ordinary" schools, those prestiguous schools are EXTREMELY hard to transfer to.</p>
<p>While I certainly don't discourge you to try that, realize that only about 50 people transfer to Harvard, and as a transfer students you are competing against a much wider applicant pool.</p>
<p>for example, while a highschool student with 4.0 unweighted GPA and 1600 maybe considered elite in the elites, as a transfer you will face other unique compeition (for example, 20 year old single mother who raised 5 children while maintaining a 4.0, or a successful millionaire businessman who wish to return to school, the second example may especially apply to schools such as Harvard.)</p>
<p>My advice is, this is a MUCH more diffcult route to go.</p>
<p>
[quote]
as a transfer students you are competing against a much wider applicant pool.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Whether or not the pool is "wider" - I do not know how such a term is used to qualify your statement - the Harvard transfer pool is much less competitive than applying as a freshman. While many applicants for transfer might possess unique characteristics, the sheer number of applicants for freshman spots outweighs any countervailing circumstances that one must endure in the transfer pool.</p>
<p>Regardless of whether or not the applicant pool is more competitive for transfers, I do agree that I need some sort of compelling reason to transfer, other than "my parents are pressuring me to do so."</p>
<p>
[quote]
I do agree that I need some sort of compelling reason to transfer, other than "my parents are pressuring me to do so.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That much is implicit and the answer to which can only be found in yourself.</p>
<p>At the same time.. the acceptance rate for transfer students is about half that for freshman. I'm not saying it's easier one way or another, but I think a 5% acceptance rate for transfer students is pretty low. At the same time, you have some nice stats, no reason not to apply IF YOU want to go there. If you think you are going to like it better at one of those other schools... talk to your parents. It's YOUR life.</p>
<p>nspeds, there are only SO MANY THINGS you can do as a freshman, this may including an impeccable academic record, certain EC, etc.</p>
<p>but a transfer applicant may have some AMAZING abilities that freshman applicants simply CANNOT do, say research (given the same talent, a person will simply has more advanced research in college level) or EC (being a minor, there are a number of things freshman applicants can't do).</p>
<p>combined with the fact that they take less transfer, you figure.</p>
<p>I completely agree blackdream,</p>
<p>by the time you reach univ level the competition is at a whole new level. I think as a transfer, you have to do REALLY outstanding stuff that could NOT have been accomplished in high school. Academic research and national level conferences, national varsity sports and extracurrics are an example as well national and international awards. I think they are probably looking for transfers who have accomplished a lot in their university years, more recent achievements, as opposed to resting on laurels from the days of high school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Admission to Harvard College became more competitive than ever this year, as the school accepted a record-low 9.1 percent of applicants for the Class of 2009, according to figures released on Thursday.</p>
<p>Of the 22,276 who applied this yearalready a record high for Harvard2,074 were admitted to the Class of 2009.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What were you saying, Blackdream?</p>
<p>transfer acceptance rate is 5%, somewhat lower than 9%, so what were you saying?</p>
<p>newhaven04, my professor told me that university students transfering from another university is USUALLY not to be feared (if you aim is harvard that's another story), BUT, what need to be feared are some amazing older persons who are returning to University.</p>
<p>For all I care about, they could be royal members from Saudi Arabia, or a movie star, good luck matching EC with them.</p>
<p>
[quote]
transfer acceptance rate is 5%, somewhat lower than 9%, so what were you saying?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
Of the 22,276 who applied this year
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Read, blackdream, READ; you missed a very minor detail.</p>
<p>(if you aim is harvard that's another story), </p>
<p>what do you mean?</p>
<p>nsped, out of those 22276 who have applied, 10000 applications maybe just there for luck, another 5000 maynot even remotely meet the harvard standard.</p>
<p>While at the transfering process, everyone has their goal, everyone is strong.</p>
<p>Besides, I consider percentage more important than number. If you are trying to prove that transfer into Harvard is EASIER than get in as a freshman, please, prove me wrong.</p>
<p>i think competing against "amazing older persons" makes it extra tough as a transfer. As a freshmen, if you have one or two great hooks, it can really set you apart, whereas, as a transfer, you could be competing against someone who is a decade older, with soooo many more life experiences.</p>
<p>
[quote]
nsped, out of those 22276 who have applied, 10000 applications maybe just there for luck, another 5000 maynot even remotely meet the harvard standard.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Utter speculation, read the facts. I do not care if you consider percentages better than actual numbers, the facts are before you. </p>
<p>Believe what you wish.</p>
<p>newhaven04, when you are transfering to normal schools, your competitions are mostly from community college. Largely, they are not to be feared.</p>
<p>But applicant pool to harvard is another story.</p>
<p>
[quote]
newhaven04, when you are transfering to normal schools, your competitions are mostly from community college. Largely, they are not to be feared.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>From where are you deriving this information? What is your source!?</p>
<p>also nsped, those numbers i stated above are not fact to begin with. they are an analogy.</p>
<p>I have already presented my argument
1. transfer applicant pool is more diverse, features both amazing academic elite and socially mature older person, while the freshman pool feature more or less, well, academic elite.
2. percentage-wise, less transfer students are taken each year. </p>
<p>Ok, let me use an analogy nspeds. Ebola virus, the virus that is capable of eating person alive, have a near 100% lethality if the virus is injected.(only exception is a guy working in Porton Down, he was treated with half of the British national supplie of interferon and anti-virus serums) However, there are only about 400 people killed by this virus.</p>
<p>Comparing to flu, tens of thousands people die yearly, killed by flu. Are you going to tell me, according to your facts, flu is more lethal than ebola because more people die every year? </p>
<p>You make a good lawyer I see, because you are so good at twisting facts around.</p>
<p>Well,Believe what you wish. But i doubt juries will believe what you said in last post:)</p>