New to Process, Wondering about chances at top schools

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>I recently decided I want to test the transfer waters before it was too late and was hoping for some input about my chances. Here are my Stats:</p>

<p>3.86 GPA after 3 semesters of study at a top 40 private university. Dean's List all semesters, 3.92 in major GPA.</p>

<p>In high school, I graduated in the top 2% of a competitive public high school taking the hardest courseload in my class of over 350 kids. I took 7 AP exams, getting 6 5's and 1 4. (Colleges did not see most of these grades when I originally applied). I got a 1470 on the SAT and top 3 SAT II scores of 800, 800, and 770. </p>

<p>In high school I was heavily involved in a variety of activities like teaching sunday school, coordinating tutoring program for NHS, coaching a youth hockey team as well as playing JV hockey and doing track, in Model Congress and on its E-board. I worked about 10-15 hours a week the last few years. Yes, I know, rather mundane. In college, I work 10 hours per week and additionally coordinate and run a community service group with over 40 members that has daily activities. </p>

<p>I'm transferring because I would like a school with more opportunities within my major, one that does has more school spirit, and one frankly one that is flat out more academically excellent. </p>

<p>So finally, I'd appreciate to know what you think my chances are at the following schools for Fall admission: Harvard, Yale, Brown, Amherst, Georgetown, Penn, Duke, Tufts, U Chicago, and Northwestern.</p>

<p>You should check out the transfer rates at all of these schools. For example, Princeton does not accept transfers -- and the transfer rate at Harvard, Yale and Stanford are at about 3%. You need to find somewhere that accepts at least 25% of its transfer applications. There might be pertinent information on the rates on these boards or on the individual college websites. Hope this helps. Also, it's easier to transfer after sophomore year than junior, FWIW.</p>

<p>I don't think you can transfer after junior year, and just FYI, the transfer application deadline for Harvard was yesterday, and most of the others are March 1 (or at least Georgetown and Tufts, the only two on your list I'm applying to as well, are)</p>

<p>I know I already applied to the schools, and I am a sophomore, not a junior.</p>

<p>My guesses:</p>

<p>Harvard: 30%
Yale: 10%
Brown: 65%
Amherst: depends on year
Georgetown: 90%
Penn: 60%
Duke: 50%
Tufts: 95%
U Chicago: 85%
Northwestern: 85%</p>

<p>I think you applied to too many matches, you didn't need places like Tufts. Also, I would have added Dartmouth, as a fellow transfer myself I cannot think of a better and more accomodating school to transfer into, particularly as a junior. Since its quarter system you have six terms left as a junior transfer, so going abroad for a quarter is no big deal. Also, transfer orientation is amazing, best housing, awesome advising, etc. Finally, juniors can start sophomore summer (when the upcoming junior class stays on campus taking classes following sophomore year), which is such an easy time for transfers to assimilate and meet their class. Also there are sophomore summer outing club trips to reunite the class at the beginning of sophomore summer so you'd have a mini-orientation with other juniors (where else do you get this) and then a full orientation with the other transfers in the fall.</p>

<p>Its unbeatable socially for transfers, not to mention the awesome academics.</p>

<p>I tihnk you have good chances at Amherst, Gtown, Tufts, Chicago and Northwestern, decent at Brown and Penn and no one has good chances at Harvard/Yale. Just FYI, my friend at Tufts says there is almost zero school spirit, and same with Chicago. From what I've seen personally at both schools, this is true. One of the reasons I'm applying to Tufts because I think school spirit is annoying.... just for whatever that's worth...</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice guys, I really liked Dartmouth and was Waitlisted there when I applied as a freshman. I see I still have a few weeks to put together an app there so maybe I will fire one off. Hopefully I can get them to change their minds this time around.</p>

<p>bump, anyone else have any input? It would be much appreciated.</p>