Harvard transfer?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I am going to try to transfer to Harvard from Vanderbilt for the fall of 2006. Any suggestions on the type of professors I should ask to write recommendations? Also, does anyone know how the dean report works? I don't personally know my dean; I'm not quite sure how he could write an accurate report. Do I need to attempt to get to know him? Thanks for the advice.</p>

<p>Oh yeah, I had one more question. I was admitted to Harvard RD for the class of 2008. I've been thinking about calling the admissions office, making this fact clear, and trying to talk to a dean. Is there any point to this? Will personal contact with the dean (or whomever else) do any good? Again, thanks.</p>

2

<p>May I ask why you turned down Harvard for Vanderbilt and now want to go to Harvard now?</p>

3

<p>Three essential things, SMVH, three essential things...</p>

<p>Candles, Chardonnay, and a dean of Harvard College. Oh yeah.</p>

4

<p>In response to Tpeck's question, I turned down Harvard initially for financial reasons. Vanderbilt offered me a full-tuition scholarship, plus a paid summer abroad in Italy or Spain. It seemed like a good package at the time. I, however, did not investigate either school fully (and I accept responsibility for that). I didn't realize how much I loved Harvard, or how much I would dislike Vanderbilt (for the reasons listed earlier in this thread). I was up at the JFK school of government in February of last year for a conference when I realized that Harvard was where I wanted to be. The place is just so amazing. I am going to point all of this out in my admissions essay. By the way, I'm from St. Louis; go Cardinals!</p>

<p>In response to janel89, very funny. I am actually serious, though. I don't know if writing a letter or trying to get in contact with someone higher up in the office is a good idea. I'd appreciate some actual recommendations on the matter.</p>

<p>Also, thought I'd include my stats in case anyone had any predictions or additional pertinent advice.</p>

<p>SAT Comp: 1560
Verbal: 800
Math: 760</p>

<p>SAT IIs:<br>
Math IIC: 800
US History: 800
Writing: 800
World History: 800</p>

<p>ACT Comp: 35</p>

<p>Class Rank: 1 out of approximately 410
High School Final GPA: 4.67 on a 4.0 scale</p>

<p>College GPA: 3.96 (all As, one A-)
Major: History and Economics, minor in Public Policy</p>

5

<p>SMHVandy, you're a very strong applicant for any of the IVYs, do you have any ECs?</p>

6

<p>I hope you're right. My college extracurriculars are as follows:</p>

<p>Vanderbilt College Democrats: I worked for the Kerry-Edwards campaign last fall in the Middle Tennessee area. In total, I put in about fifty hours of campaigning, canvassing, etc. I also helped with several voter registration drives. More recently, I have worked on a student campaign to keep TennCare, Tennessee's state healthcare program for the poor. Also, I will be helping several other Vanderbilt students set up voter registration drives this spring for the 2006 midterm elections.</p>

<p>LEAD or Leaders Engaged for an Active Democracy: This organization has been in charge of Vanderbilt's efforts as part of the National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement. The Campaign was set up in 2003 by the Harvard Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government. I attended a conference at Harvard last year as one of two Vanderbilt representatives to the Campaign. It was during the weekend of the conference that I decided I would try to transfer to Harvard.</p>

<p>Through LEAD I have also led the charge to get televisions installed in Vanderbilt's main dining hall. This is a work in progress. The purpose of the televisions will be to keep Vanderbilt students connected to the outside world. They will be tuned to various international news channels during lunch every day. There is much intransigence on the administration's part.</p>

<p>The Vanderbilt Hustler: This is Vanderbilt's student newspaper. I have a weekely opinion column in the Hustler that covers a variety of topics, but is mainly political in theme. I have written over forty pieces while at Vanderbilt. Also, I have worked as an arts and culture reporter for the Hustler.</p>

<p>Orbis: Orbis is Vanderbilt's progressive student magazine that publishes every two weeks. I have been a consistent contributor of opinion pieces to Orbis.</p>

<p>Sierra Club: I am a member of Vanderbilt's Sierra Club. This organization is one of the main reasons I want to transfer to Harvard. Vanderbilt's Sierra Club has less than thirty members (out of a student body of over 5000 undergraduates). No matter how hard we (the members of Sierra Club) try to recruit new members, the club's membership fails to grow. With only thirty members, it has been very difficult to effect any environmentally-friendly changes on campus. Vanderbilt's administration, moreover, has shown hostility towards Sierra Club, cutting off our funding and rejecting our petition for an energy audit. </p>

<p>I am absolutely obsessed with trees and the environment (Vanderbilt's beautiful trees were, after all, one of the main draws of the school). I would like to make the move to Harvard because of that school's friendliness towards the environment. The administration is very green, as are many of the students. Additionally, Harvard owns a forest reserve in central Massachusetts that is open to students (in fact, students help professors conduct research there during the summer). </p>

<p>I am involved in a smattering of academic honor societies too. I don't put too much weight in them, though.</p>

<p>Also, was a National Merit Finalist in high school if that still counts for anything. My PSAT score was 235.</p>

7

<p>I think you have a very good chance of admission to Harvard as a transfer. Your stock has only gone up since high school because of your strong performance in college.</p>

8

<p>Jeez, dude, you're as close to a lock as I can imagine. I'm shooting for the H transfer as well, but I don't think I'd be getting in over you...</p>

9

<p>want to trade? i would love to be in your position! well... I guess it's time i petition to get a television installed in my common room</p>

10

<p>do you think they might still your freshman application, since you were an accepted student? If so, I'd imagine it would only help.</p>

11

<p>Julians, I wish I could be as optimistic. Where are you now? Hopefully there will be room for us both.</p>

12

<p>You're so smart. I mean really, you really are. I'm not being sarcastic at all. Kids like you deserve to go to Harvard.</p>

13

<p>How are you so smart? (no, im not joking)</p>

14

<p>I didn't claim to be. That was someone else's comment. Actually, I don't consider myself to be above average when it comes to intelligence. I simply studied for the SATs and worked hard in high school (and thus far in college). Very often scores and GPA have little if anything to do with smarts. In fact, some of the smartest people I know did not do all that well on their boards, and do rather poorly when it comes to grades.</p>

15

<p>I see. I guess its me not putting in enough effort. Do you have any tips on how to do well in math? Thanks</p>

16

<p>Oh yea, forgot to ask one more question...Do you believe that taking the sat 2 subject tests after taking the class in college will help you achieve a better score than you would have normally?</p>

17

<p>Haha, I'm probably smarter than you...j/k, but yeah hard workers do achieve a lot. But things can change depending on the circumstances, but when you combine hard work with smarts, anything can happen.</p>

18

<p>Manjot, I have no idea whether you are working hard enough or not. Nor is it my place to judge. In response to your question about SAT IIs, I do believe that taking the tests after having taken the course in college will increase your scores.</p>

<p>Thanks bullseye11. Where are you trying to transfer to?</p>

19

<p>I am aiming for Cornell, Brown, or RPI. UIllinois is my safety school. Cornell is my first choice.</p>

20

<p>Nice. Cornell is an amazing school. Good luck. Where are you trying to transfer from?</p>