Hey guys, so I don’t know a lot about transferring but I did some research about it, but I’m still not sure. So I’m currently a graduating HS senior and I didn’t get accepted to bunch of schools. I got accepted to Syracuse, and Purdue so I figured Syracuse would be a better place as a New York resident. I don’t have any experience with the school I’ll be going but I know for sure, I’ll want to transfer. Possibly schools in New York like Columbia or NYU because these are the schools I’ve targetted ever since I came here. I had taken courses from Columbia over the summer and during spring semester as a high school visiting student and I have a GPA of 3.7. I also ran for National Honor Society, Student Government, and have several work experiences including volunteering. However, my stats aren’t very good because I was busy and having a tough time managing as a varsity player. I felt like that was one big reason why I didn’t get into these schools, my stats. I want to transfer as a Sophomore student after my freshman year if possible, but I’m not sure what the chances are?
If low test scores, low for NYU, extremely low for Columbia.
No chances at all?
For Columbia, according to their website, for transfer students, they will consider your college GPA (min 3.5), and also will look at your HS grades, HS academic rigor, and standardized tests (SAT/ACT). You will also need two letters of recommendation from college professors.
NYU will also look at your high school record.
So if you were not admitted straight out of HS, the chances of being accepted as a transfer student look slim, since they will be evaluating the same information plus your college record.
For a sophomore level transfer, your high school record as well as your college record will be relevant. Junior level transfers (i.e. those transferring after two years, ready to declare a major) will have their college records as the primary transfer admission criteria.
If Syracuse is not a school you are willing to stay at for four years and graduate, and is not extremely low cost after financial aid and scholarships, you may want to consider whether you have less expensive transfer-prep options (e.g. community colleges).
Also you have to be realistic and look at your GPA and SAT…you can want Columbia all you want, but that doesn’t mean it is a good fit for you. Look and see if Syracuse is more realistic for your stats.
Odds are you won’t be able to transfer - it’s much harder to get into a selective college as a transfer than as a freshman. If you don’t like Syracuse, why don’t you apply to a few of the colleges that miscalculated yield and still have space ?