<p>I am currently at Tufts University in Medford, MA, and am realizing I may want to transfer. Tufts is a great school and I do like it there, but the Computer Science department is a little underwhelming in terms of how many people graduate with it as a major. So, here after first semester Freshman year are the classes I took and ended up with a 4.0 GPA (waiting on the fourth class to come in actually, grades are slow):</p>
<p>Logic, Non-Fiction Writing, Introduction to Computer Science, and Astronomy.</p>
<p>The only I don’t have yet is Comp Sci strangely enough, though I do feel confident in that class.</p>
<p>So this, combined with a 2220 SAT score and alright High School transcript (3.8 weighted), make me want to at least consider options. I know Brown has an incredible Computer Science department and my basic question is: would I have a shot as a transfer here or at any of the Ivies?</p>
<p>Thanks guys,
James</p>
<p>Hey, I’m looking into transferring to Brown as well! I think you have a good shot, and you have a solid GPA at a respected university. As a sophomore transfer, your high school GPA and SAT score(s) still matter a lot, however, you seem to have a good record. Just make sure you tie in your interests in computer science with Brown’s CS department, and how Tuft’s CS department doesn’t correlate well with your interests. The deal breaker is financial aid: if you need aid, your chances at being admitted are lower. (How much lower – no one can say…) I feel as though if you were not to apply for FA and were to write solid essays relating to CS, you would be a competitive applicant.</p>
<p>I rarely do chances threads, and I am NOT an admissions officer or associated with the adcom in any way. But I do know a number of transfers, and I know that acceptance is contingent on a lot of things:</p>
<ol>
<li>Good grades, both at your current institution and in high school (unless you’ve taken a lot of time off or have extenuating circumstances).</li>
<li>A compelling reason for Brown. What propels you to fill out the transfer application in the first place, and why are you bothering to apply to Brown? What does Brown have that your current institution does not?</li>
<li>Do you fit in with the school, and also, with your class at Brown? Do you bring a particular kind of diversity or set of interests the school needs?</li>
<li>And can you pay? Arguably, this criterion is one of the most important. Brown is not need-blind for transfers, and most of them end up paying full or close-to-full tuition. (That’s not to say there isn’t aid for transfers because there is; it’s just that Brown looks for qualified students who can pay.)</li>
</ol>