<p>I was admitted into my early decision college this year, and after the passing of certain events, wish I had applied to Harvard. I know it is extremely early to post such threads, especially as college has not even started yet. I also know that I probably don't have much chance at Harvard, but I at least want to try. </p>
<p>Feel free to make this the official Harvard (Hopeful) 2012 Transfer Thread</p>
<p>What are your stats? I applied to transfer for my sophomore year to a few schools (and am proud to say that I’ll be attending Columbia this fall), and I’m just going to point out how insanely selective Harvard is - especially for transfer. According to my rejection letter, “nearly fifteen hundred candidates applied for twelve places available in the sophomore and junior classes” for transfer this past year. That’s about .8%.</p>
<p>My suggestion is to see how you like your current school before you get antsy about applying elsewhere. You might really come to love it.</p>
<p>My stats are good but not excellent. I received a 2310 on my SAT, had a 4.5 weighted GPA (3.94 unweighted), am an AP Scholar with Distinction, and am a commended national merit scholar. My extra curriculars are piano (for which I have received a few district level awards) and violin. As far as community service, I have about 300 hours of service at the local and school library and as a teaching assistant. I was involved in the premed club, cum laude society (top 20% of class), and national honors society. </p>
<p>What stopped me from applying to Harvard in the first place was the fear of rejection, which, I know, is extremely stupid. But after visiting the college I am to attend next year, I am having my doubts about whether it is the correct institution for me. However, I am thinking of completing a semester there until I actually decide to get started on a transfer app. </p>
<p>BTW, congratulations on Columbia. What are you majoring in?</p>
<p>Thanks! I’m majoring in English with a concentration in Psych, unless somehow I can squeeze a double major in there and still take a Comp Sci class here or there.</p>
<p>I think it’s a good idea to wait a semester before getting married to the idea of transferring (which will gear your thoughts to seeing only the negative at your new institution). Naturally, you’ll need a good reason of why you’re transferring (rather than “You know, it just don’t… feel quite right, y’know?”), ESPECIALLY for Harvard. Maybe you can somehow develop an insane hook along the way…</p>
<p>Nice stats. I say that, of course, with the caveat that good stats only set you up to be maybe considered alongside everyone else with good stats. If you do decide to apply for transfer, make sure to become close with your professors (office hours, class participation, etc.), because their recommendations will count. Of course, even if you don’t decide to transfer, you should still try to get close with your professors is a lovely part of the college experience that you wouldn’t want to miss out on.</p>
<p>Oh, and I realized you didn’t mention leadership positions in regards to any ECs. Maybe see if you can bone up on those in college.</p>
<p>If you decide to transfer and have any questions, let me know :)</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>This thread seems to bear no life anymore, but I will give it a shot.</p>
<p>I did not receive any communication from Harvard with regard to my application, except for being contacted for an interview. Has this been the case for you as well?</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>@ac.tekin I received the same email that they had received my application but haven’t heard back from them since. Do they have interviews with international transfers?</p>
<p>I got that they received my application, and I also had an interview.</p>
<p>@eriqp123 They ordinarily do not have interviews with transfer candidates, so says the website at least, and I would assume this applies to internationals as well, maybe even more than it applies to American students.</p>
<p>I am an international student as well but I happen to go to an American university, which might help explain my case.</p>
<p>@angelsonthemoon are we talking about the commonapp automated email acknowledging receipt of the application or an other email?</p>
<p>Thanks everyone,</p>
<p>P.S.: On a final note, they seem to have sent out usernames and passwords for the admissions portal for last year’s applicants. I suppose they have simply changed their policy.</p>
<p>@ ac.tekin, no I actually received a Harvard email acknowledging its receipt. I also got a portal login (my last name) plus user PIN, which just says which documents you still have to submit (or if they are all in) and your address information. If you never got that check your junkmail. But I’d say if you’ve been interviewed, they probably have all of your stuff.</p>
<p>@angelsonthemoon thanks for the info. Yes, I presume there wouldn’t be any problems with the application given I had an interview, but that is peculiar. Rationalization is a dangerous tool to which I had succumbed. But all seems under control.</p>
<p>Thank you again, and I obviously withdraw my assumption that they have changed their policy.</p>
<p>Has anyone tried to log into their admissions account? Some action on another thread inspired me to give it a whirl, and the login fails each time. I’ve triple-checked my PIN, and do hope that application season hasn’t rotted my brain so much that I can’t spell my last name. Not sure what to make of it.</p>
<p>@ettohtiw If I am not mistaken, last year during the freshman application cycle, I ran into a similar problem in the last few days. There shouldn’t be anything to worry about.</p>
<p>Samsies. It’s normal I think. Btw I called admissions today, still no date on decision day. They said “by June 1st,” but in the past it seems like its been before then. I hope its next week!</p>
<p>It was May 6th last year, I hope they value tradition in this practice. By the way, last year’s thread seems to have been very active. Such an odd contrast with this 14-post-thread.</p>
<p>@ac.tekin Thanks for responding. I hate parsing each new development for meaning. Glad this seems like standard operating procedure.</p>
<p>@angelsonthemoon I am also really pulling for next week. Last year, around this time, the Harvard thread was really robust and had tons of active members. This year, not so much. I think the abysmal admit rate might have scared all of the posters off. I wonder what the applicant figures will be this year.</p>
<p>Who knows. My interviewer said he speculates around the same number admitted though. Honestly at this point I just want to be done with finals… wish I could receive my rejection in peace at home! haha</p>
<p>it’s really unlikely that you will have an interview if you are international. only 1 of the current transfer students in this year’s class had an interview.</p>
<p>@trans2011, are you referring to the international transfer students or transfer students in general? Thanks for the information by the way.</p>
<p>So few people are applying to Harvard this year to transfer?</p>
<p>No I’m guessing most people just are not posting or aren’t on CC. I mean the odds are ridiculous.</p>