International Transfer from India to Ivy Leage/MIT/Stanford.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m a freshman at BITS, Pilani in India(top 10 in India) and the most selective college here on par with IITs.

CGPA: 8.9 (From conversion forums and the opinion of experts, equal to a 3.75+/-0.05 on a GPA scale.
ACT: 33
12th board: 96%
10th boards:96%

Extracurriculars:

  1. Structural Design Engineer at the Hyperloop India team that takes part in the SpaceX pod design challenge. Only team from India and one of two from Asia
  2. Part of the Debating club/ Car racing team/ SAE BAJA team and wall street club on campus
  3. Published an economics research paper
  4. Recipient of the Government of India scholarship for appearing in the top 1% in the country in 12th board exam
  5. Had PORs in Debate, MUN and student Government in High School
  6. Appeared in the Common Merit Rank List in JEE Advanced.

What are my chances of transferring to Ivy Leagues/Stanford/MIT. Also I will be needing a substantial Aid package.

Thanks in advance.

2

Your chances are nano-level small.

Most of the places you name accept less than 10% of their applicants as first year students.

Of the successful applicants ~10% are international students.

So even as a first year applicant, international students are looking at ~1% acceptance rates

Then remember that the only spaces for transfer students are those that become available because a student leaves after the first year (there are no additional places added). A few students do leave, but not very many.

Transfer acceptance rates for domestic students are -at best- half the rate of first year acceptance rates, and can be as low as 1-2%; for international students they are smaller again. There are some schools (notably Cornell) with headline numbers that look bigger, but they are misleading, as they reflect pre-existing agreements.

Then add in that you need financial aid, which means that all but 4 of the places you are talking (HYPM) will consider your financial need in deciding whether to admit you.

So, the answer to your question is that your chances are very, very small. Of course, very very small does not = 0.

3

As you probably already know, the schools you mentioned have very low acceptance rates. All the applicants will have similar or better scores and grades and extra-curriculars. Are you going to take ACT again? You should also look for other schools to be realistic. But, you never know. Good luck.

4

You also have to discount Stanford’s numbers due to athletic transfers.

5

Thanks a lot everyone! :slight_smile: Do I have to retake the ACT though, I got a 36 in Math? Also have there been cases at Cornell or UPenn?

6

Doesn’t your note says that you have 33 in ACT? Please see below.
CGPA: 8.9 (From conversion forums and the opinion of experts, equal to a 3.75+/-0.05 on a GPA scale.
ACT: 33
12th board: 96%
10th boards:96%

7

Well Yea, I got a 36 in Math and Science and 30 in English and Reading. :slight_smile: