I want to transfer but can't decide where to go in the first place.

Transfer Students
1

Hey! So I’m an international applicant and I applied to some reaches and some safeties in the 2017 round. However, I was rejected from all of the 20 unis I applied to, except for Drexel University. Meanwhile, I applied to an Italian Engineering uni, which is a nice alternative. Regardless of where I go, I do intend to transfer out since both of the schools were safeties and I don’t think they can offer the rigor or courses I’m interested in. I wanted to know if there was any specific leverage towards admitting transfer students studying in US unis as compared to pretty much anywhere else. I ask because Drexel wants me to pay $25k per year whereas my Italian backup would cost me significantly less. According to my family, the 25k is payable but would be difficult, so I want to know if there would be any increase in my chances if I attended Drexel. I know that my overall chances do depend on my college GPA and recs etc, but I’m just asking to make sure I don’t mess it up this time around too. And yes, I would require some aid as well.

HS stats:
O Levels: 8As 1B
A Levels: Predicted 3As 2As. Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, General Paper.
ACT: 35 Composite.
SAT 2: 800 Math L2, 800 Chemistry, 790 Physics.
USAMO equivalent qualification in my country.
Deep involvement in community service, one leadership role.
Small job, editing Facebook posts for an organization, nominal pay.
Some research, nothing too special.
Some languages stuff, learnt French etc.

That’s about it. I know my ECs are weak and I will be working on them in college. I’m particularly interested in the Ivies, MIT, and Stanford since these were my original goals. Thanks in advance and I apologise if anything comes off as boastful.

2

bump. Can someone please give me advice here? :slight_smile:

3

go to the cheaper option, but you should know that financial aid is really stringent and sometimes not available for transfer internationals.

4

1-you wont get much , if any financial aid as an international transfer applicant.
2-transfer acceptance rates at ALL top colleges are minuscule compared to Freshman acceptance rates.
3-If you already applied to and were rejected by any of the colleges you hope to transfer to, dont bother reapplying to them. They keep records of previous applicants and wont accept students that they previously rejected.
in other words-
you need to bloom where you are planted.

5

International students should get very little financial aid. American colleges should prioritize American students, it only makes sense.

6

You should decide if it is to be Drexel, a perfectly good engineering school, or the program in Italy which is likely to be just as solid a choice. If you eventually want to work in the US, then Drexel would give you a leg up because of the ABET accreditation but either option should give you a good engineering education and I always suggest the lower cost option.

Once you decide, then make a commitment to stay the entire time. As others have remarked, the schools you mention have tiny transfer rates and the engineering education you will get there is not substantially different or better than your current options. Transferring may also cause delay in graduation if not all your courses transfer.