<p>Hello my name is Camille Coker. My son, a very motivated and intellectual kid, now currently a high school school senior, really would like to go to an Ivy league school as a transfer student, he has great test scores and extacurriculars but he has had a rough high school record, partly due to my husband and I. I am going to give you all his stats, and I would love to have your insights on his chances at the tops schools as a junior transfer (attending Penn state next year).</p>
<p>High School- 3.04 class rank-84/163(Public high school, Georgia)-40% go on to 4-year University
College-3.9-4.0(Hopefully he does what he says he is going to do)</p>
<p>Schools:
Harvard University
University Of Pennsylvania
Stanford University
Columbia University
Northwestern University
Cornell University
Brown University
Johns Hopkins
New York University
University Of California, Berkeley</p>
<p>If he can maintain a high GPA, good ECs, recs, and essays, he should have a respectable chance at some of the schools listed. However, earning a 3.9+ can be pretty difficult, so I wouldn't advise you to make too many plans for transfer schools just yet. Give him a semester or two and see how well he does, although he'll definetely need two years before applying to the aforementioned schools.</p>
<p>It's important that you don't send him to school with an attitude that the school he's at is somehow below him. Transferring, especially at the ivy level, is not guaranteed, even if you're more than qualified.</p>
<p>His SAT scores are absolutely exceptional, so if he keeps his grades up and gets involved in some school activities/sports/community service, then I would guess that he has as healthy a shot as anyone at those schools. Keep in mind that only 5% of transfers get in at places like Harvard, and these are VERY distinguished students, even when compared to Harvard's entering class, so he should try to do something unique if possible. Maybe an internship?</p>
<p>did any of you see this?: "African-American"</p>
<p>the politics of race in college admissions aside, if he does well in college and applies to transfer to those schools, i would be shocked if he didn't get into most. very few people, to say nothing of URMs in particular, have stats that are that high.</p>
<p>It would be a mistake to assume that being black is a golden ticket to getting into a good school. His stats are great, but transferring is a lot harder than getting in as a freshman, and stats alone aren't going to carry him.</p>
<p>I'm black myself and I got rejected from three schools I felt qualified for (75th percentile SAT-wise in one case), but that's neither here nor there. Point is, he has to work like everyone else, and he needs to earn his spot.</p>
<p>75th percentile doesnt compare to 97th percentile! I didn't say "african-american" for the sake of someone saying. "ohh wow, a black 2360 scorer." I just wanted to get input on chances</p>
<p>His college GPA (grades plus courseload) and essays will be key in his transfer plans. Also, factor in the transfer rate for the schools; if it is under 15%, it'll be difficult. His URM helps immensely, BTW. Also, his SATs scores will have less and less influence the further he is into his college career. One thing that'll help will be an interview as well as developing a relationship with any transfer counselor in the admissions offices of those schools.</p>
<p>Here are a general rule of thumb from another thread that'll help. BTW, he should try to transfer after freshman year since it'll give greater weight to those excellent SAT scores.</p>
<p>College GPA 30-50% (depends on the school)(10% for difficulty of courses and 10% for reputation of the college)
HS GPA (average 20% -- varies 25-30% for freshman transfer, 10-20% for sophomore)
Interview (only if it is encouraged) 15-20%
ECs (important if same ones from HS continued in college) 10%
Recommendations 10-20%
Essays 15-30% (if they're outstanding, 30+%)
Test scores 0-15%
Geography & Demonstrated Interest 10-15%</p>
<p>Also, calculate extras such as supporting material like research papers, special projects or supplemental (but appropriate) documentation. These things can add 15-25%.</p>
<p>Yes, it can all add up to well beyond 100%, but at the schools you're considering, you'll need to go that distance because of the low rate of transfer acceptances.</p>
<p>You might also add to your list: Tufts, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown and Dartmouth.</p>
<p>He doesnt have any siblings that go to any of these schools. My husband and I both do not have college degrees. If he were to apply as a sophmore transfer, What would be his chances? if he applied as a junior, and had been rejected from these schools, and decided to reapply, would that help out any?</p>
<p>They look at those who reapply after having been rejected with fresh eyes. They know that he/she is not the same person as in high school. They'll want to see growth and maturity -- and will not refer to the earlier application in most cases. However, they want winners -- and if he/she doesn't come across as one, then they'll reconfirm their earlier assessment and deny him/her twice. One thing of great interest in the transfer vs. first-year admissions process is that while the criteria remain the same for the most part, the weight of each of the components is reconfigured. In what were weaknesses in one application are seen as strengths -- and vice versa. </p>
<p>While there may be a certain prejudice against a transfer applicant who seeks to right a perceived wrong from an earlier rejection, a fair and open admissions committee will disregard such bias. What is also interesting is that transfers are often reviewed by an entirely different group of assessors, ones who look for different criteria than do those reviewing incoming first-years. For example, faculty can often be represented more strongly in transfer decisions, playing a more active role than for first-years where they defer to the wisdom of the adcom to fill their classes. Oftentimes, a candidate's chances increase with transferring, provided that he/she has shown they are worthy. Again, as in the first round of applications, it can still be a crapshoot.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your insight. So if he were rejected, hopefully not, his freshman year, it would more than likely be due to his high school transcript correct? So I would assume that if he re applied his sophmore year, with a maintained GPA, that he would not be at a disadvantage correct?</p>
<p>IMHO, correct -- His college GPA should be a minimum of 3.5 and with nothing under a B. Also, his ECs should be what he liked doing in high school and should continue in college. Again, how he's grown & the content of his essays will be key as well. Good luck.</p>
<p>The one drawback in all of this is, however, that he will go to Penn State with the sole purpose of wanting to transfer -- and won't give himself a fair chance to really enjoy this time away from home. I hope that he goes to the football games, at least; there's nothing like being at a Big 10 game, especially when your team is winning.</p>