Just how much harder is "transfer admission"?

<p>I keep hearing that the process for transfer students is notoriously harder but to what degree? is it a question of space? Is it more grade-oriented than regular admission?</p>

<p>yes and yes.</p>

<p>Last year:</p>

<p>Transfer Students</p>

<pre><code>* Total number of transfer students who applied: 1,223
* Total number of transfer students who were admitted: 78
</code></pre>

<p>That's a 6.3% admit rate to the college.</p>

<p>Yikes. Should I just not mention the one year I did at the local college and apply as a freshman?</p>

<p>You have to disclose the fact that you already attended college.</p>

<p>Oy. I was afraid of that. Could you tell me though; to what degree are recommendations, your letter, extracurriculars, volunteer work, and work experience taken into account for transfer students? +, -, = (as for freshmans)</p>

<p>I basically have everything, including a great SAT score, except the GPA (mine is average)</p>

<p>You need a great college GPA in order to have a shot at transferring.</p>

<p>Yes, GPA is the most important factor for transfer admission.</p>

<p>Dammit to bloody hell!</p>

<p>What about SATs. I got a really....REALLY good SAT score. Those 2 weeks I spent studying from 7am to 9pm every day in my room have to count for something.</p>

<p>^Um...great. Most people who apply have great SAT scores.</p>

<p>your chances significantly improve if you're appying to teh school of engineering. I'm not saying you should change your major just so you have a better chance of getting in but.....</p>

<p>ses; be nicer. :(</p>

<p>And I can't go into engineering. It repulses me. I'm a business guy. I called Columbia today to order some pamphlets and such and the lady was actually really nice. She said that my gpa was a problem but that they always looked at the overall student and that I should definitely make my case and mention it in my essay.</p>

<p>She says that the fact that ive started my own business at my age and was CEO of a green conference here in Mtl are great highlights.</p>

<p>sigh...if only they looked more at sats than gpa.</p>

<p>


</p>

<p>I was accepted as a transfer student to Columbia College this year, and I'd have to disagree. GPA is important, but the most important factor is the reason for transferring.</p>

<p>I didn't say that. greennblue did...</p>

<p>Ah, my mistake! Yes that should be greennblue, not Ses.</p>

<p>Anyway, what I mean is that GPA is merely prerequisite for admission. Students with 4.0's get rejected while often enough students with 3.7's get accepted. I don't think it's possible to transfer with a GPA lower than a 3.6, but I'm not an admissions officer. What really makes or breaks an acceptance is how well you have demonstrated that you truly belong at Columbia.</p>