<p>I've been doing some research on Harvard transfers and the stats needed to have a shot at admissions, but every thread I find there seems to be a huge amount of people all saying the same thing: "It's impossible to transfer to Harvard. Don't count on it." However, each year, 1-2% of the transfer applicants are accepted. If it is inherently 'impossible' to transfer into Harvard College, what is it that these accepted undergrad students are doing that earns them their admissions?</p>
<p>There’s always the Adam Wheeler route: [Harvard</a> Faker Adam Wheeler Pleads Guilty to 20 Counts | News | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/12/16/harvard-wheeler-college-guilty/]Harvard”>Harvard Faker Adam Wheeler Pleads Guilty to 20 Counts | News | The Harvard Crimson)</p>
<p>One of:
- National-level athletics.
- Point of origin for transferring = Deep Springs College, a random and tiny institution that is also the only extremely selective associate-degree-granting institution in the country.
- The most amazing story the transfer office has ever heard, plus obviously an impeccable record.</p>
<p>There is a direct correlation between Harvard’s transfer admissions rate and it’s graduation rate. Harvard has the highest graduation rate of any college in the US – 98% of all students graduate. That’s important to understand, because Harvard has only so many available beds. A transfer student can only be admitted to the college if there is an available bed – and only 1 to 2% of current students leave the school per year. So, to compete for that bed, a prospective transfer student must really stand out from the crowd – much more so than than a student applying in regular admissions.</p>
<p>How would you say a student stands out aside from athletic reasons? What type of academic qualifications would be necessary?</p>
<p>My guess is that adcom is going to be looking for a reason that a gifted, dedicated student (you) is unable to fully realize his or her potential at their current school - and further, will bring something unique that may be lacking in the makeup of the present class</p>
<p>Ah, alright, thank you for the information. 
I appreciate that no one has made any cynical or snide comments in response to my concern. It’s hard to avoid that on this website.</p>
<p>I applied as a transfer last year, of course was rejected. I did find out that many of the accepted applicants had a letter of rec from a Harvard professor which I speculate they received after attending Harvard’s summer study program. Also, there is a story somewhere on CC about a rejected transfer applicant that had a perfect SAT and successfully started a multi-million dollar non-profit organization that did some kind of humanitarian work. I know one person who was accepted last year was #1 in the country in his sport and another was one of the best violin players in the world. My only advice is magnify what makes you stand out and don’t expect to get in. I am glad I applied because I don’t have the “what if” feeling if I didn’t do it. Good luck!</p>
<p>^^Harvard also has a soft spot for Massachusetts community colleges. Combine a community college background, great stats, a good sob story (pregnant with octoplets but committed to raising them, etc.), some research prowess. . . </p>
<p>But the best way to get in is to be simply great at some sport. The Harvard alumni magazine a few years ago had a story on a couple of twins from the University of Tennessee who were really good swimmers who got in as transfers. The Ivies misdirect you, always: you think they want great stats, but they really want great athletes with reasonable stats. Your best hope of transferring is having some really good sports story and having a coach stick up for you. If you think you will make it on some academic basis, well, Harvard has all those bases covered already. It needs squash players, linebackers, and gymnasts – national caliber. There’s your 1%</p>
<p>I think being a transfer is even harder as there are X number of transfer students vying for very few spots .</p>
<p>Most transfers are admitted because their current school cannot provide what they’re really needing/looking for.</p>
<p>I’ll add that as 4. to post #3 :)</p>
<p>Also there are rumors that extension school students have a shot at transferring or applying.</p>
<p>I know somebody that transferred from a very prestigious university in the South to Harvard for sophomore year. She did have an amazing extracurricular (founded a nonprofit based on hardships she had faced in the past) but it was something she’d done in high school too. I don’t know specifics though.</p>
<p>What if the school I attend doesn’t have a team for the sport I excel in? Haha…just kidding. Thank you again for the replies. I suppose I should just not even bother applying, right? That’s what everyone on CC told me about applying as a freshman, and I listened…</p>
<p>You can always transfer from Yale -_-</p>
<p>@Samonuh: Most transfers are not athletic recruits.</p>
<p>That’s reassuring. Although now I’m hearing conflicting theories…</p>
<p>Trust me here. I was a transfer a few years ago. I should know better than most on this board.</p>