This is a hypothetical situation, but let’s say I wanted attend a university that I would have very very low chances of getting into because of extra curriculars/situation (grades wise technically i am qualified). I instead attend a different university that is near me and very well respected (not as nearly as the school I want to go to) and do very well but also while at this school for a year or two develop something of value (strong performance in a sport or field etc, whatever, that the other school values) to the other school, AND this school I am currently at lacks focus in my interest whereas the school I want to attend has a strong program for it.
Basically, in this situation would I have a better chance transferring to the school I want to if I originally applied there as a high school student along with the other schools I’m applying to, or have a better chance if I did not?
I would think if I showed I wanted to attend there in the first place but was denied then that would help my chances of transfer, but just wanted to ask in case someone thought otherwise. This is probably a bad question, but thank you
You were denied once, so I think you could assume that that does NOT improve your chances of transferring.
It also depends on the college. If you’re thinking of trying to transfer to a tippy top, it’s even more difficult to get in than as a first time applicant.
Your odds are improved if you can show clear reasons why you want to transfer and that you would be an asset to that school.
Too many generalities, and the lack of specifics makes it difficult to offer advice. What are the two colleges in question? And what is the academic rationale for transferring?
Sorry, this is a very unspecific question and I probably should not have posted it, as well as leaving out the very generalized scenario.
Mainly I was just wondering, which I conveyed poorly, is whether getting denied from a college when you originally apply to colleges hurts your chances of transferring there later OR if it helped to show that you still wanted to the attend the school. Specifically, chances when applying to transfer to a school that denied you when you were in high school vs applying to a school you did not apply to when you were in hs.
@yahiko It didn’t hurt my chances at all when I applied to USC. By applying there initially as a freshman and getting rejected and applying again as a transfer applicant, I think it shows the university that you really want to go there. If you want to transfer to the university of your choice, don’t apply exactly like you did as a freshman. Have an extracurricular or do whatever you didn’t do that made your application weak. Basically, try to cover your weaknesses. Be sure to also get really good grades at the university you are planning to attend in the meantime. Then work extremely hard on your essay and ask for other people to look over it and offer you their advice.
You will find anecdotal evidence both ways, but in general imo the answer is no, it won’t help your transfer application. It is most likely to be neutral, possibly leaning to a negative (after all, they have already turned you down once) unless you have done something to materially strengthen your application). If you are imagining that you will go from not doing ECs to suddenly doing ECs that will turn an AO’s head, be aware that the odds of you doing that are not in your favor.
Apply where you really want to go as well as some other places where you are more likely to get in and you could be happy about attending for four years. Make your best application and make real choices, not hypothetical ones.
@collegemom3717@MoonKnight thank you! I will have to evaluate my situation and see how best to proceed but I guess I will apply, so that it will show I really want to go there. this has given me a lot to think about, I really appreciate your responses
Some colleges will not consider you for anything but a transfer student once you have been a full time student at another college. Read the admissions policy for the college you ultimately want to attend.