<p>hey, I'm thinking of the same sort of schools to transfer: definitely applying to Stanford, Columbia, Yale, and maybe Harvard, if I can get up the nerve (what can I say, the name intimidates me.) I'm looking into a double major of math and english with hopes to be a math professor, so all these schools are excellent. I've heard consistently high opinion of Stanford social life and in general have been convinced that might be a very strong place for me, although I'd be honored to go to any of the above schools. I'm happy where I am, but having just decided to put more emphasis on math than the humanities, and also decided I'm looking for an environment with more academically serious students, I think at least applying to transfer would be worth checking out. However.. does it make anyone else nervous to be applying to such high caliber universities? Not to say we aren't already at great ones, nor just nerves about getting in, but ... I sometimes get scared they're just going to be lightyears ahead of me. It won't stop me, but does anyone else share that hesitance?</p>
<p>All these top schools are reachable so long as you have the stats to boot.</p>
<p>stamatis, it sounds like you have some great things going for you! i would recommend applying for transfer if you have great reasons (as in, other than for prestige) because the applications take a lot of effort. </p>
<p>your current school is very prestigious, and perhaps having a diversity of locations for your degree-granting institutions would be beneficial (ex. in your case a top UK school for undergrad, top US school for grad school, or another combination etc). i personally wish to do my graduate work in the UK, but hope to finish my undergrad in the US after having completed two years in Canada. i suppose it just depends on what you are looking for in terms of career goals. if you already have great chances of entering a top US school for graduate school, then why would you switch halfway through undergrad, cutting off two years of growth and self-establishment at your current school... unless you have very strong reasons for doing so? either way, it sounds like you have great options whatever happens and i wish you the best of luck!</p>
<p>Alright, so I was just looking at the Harvard application, and there's no personal statement? That part is just grayed out on the application, and it just says, "Optional for Transfer Applicants." What's the deal?</p>
<p>Because its just a modified version of the Common Application. The essays are on the supplement if you've gone so far as to examine the entire application.</p>
<p>Haha, sorry about that.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>