<p>Is it just too many times to re-apply to a particular school twice (ie 3rd application for Fall 2012). This school has a particular program and a particular professor from which I hope to learn a lot from. Unfortunately, they denied my transfer application this year (transfer admission rate <5%). I was, however, accepted as a high school student the year before (for Fall 2010). Do you think there is a chance they might just see it's my 3rd application and throw my file away? Also how should I go about asking people again for recommendation and stuff? This is just so awkward. Also, I want to stress that the only reason I want to go there is because of this particular program/professor. There is just no way I would get to take the classes I want to take there and study with them at any other place. I could not care less about things such as location, size, ranking, ect... (though these aspects also happen to be a very appealing part of the institution here) and I'm extremely happy at my current school, which is also excellent. I am just not completely academically fulfilled. And the point of school is academics, isn't it? </p>
<p>Could you contact the professor directly, express your interest, and ask if there is any way that you could be a “visiting student” for one semester? From that platform, you might be able to transfer if you still want to do this.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine why a third app would draw a negative reply for that reason alone. </p>
<p>But why did you decline their first offer? If lack of sufficient FA, that’s something they can understand. If you simply chose another school, did you explain the rationale in your transfer app? </p>
<p>You are still the person they accepted once. It sounds like all you need to do is work hard/harder to be desirable in that competitive transfer pool. Will it still be <5% for incoming junior year transfers or more/less? </p>
<p>I did not explain anything. I thought it was rather clear but now that you mention it, there is no way they could have guessed, especially if it was not the same people reading my application the second time.</p>
<p>I agree, you can apply as many times as you like. However, if your transfer application was not successful the first time, it may also be unsuccessful the next time, unless things with you have changed a lot. The definition of insanity after all is doing the same thing and expecting different results. </p>
<p>I would however caution you about your approach. If your’e at a school where you’re happy, you may just be chasing a pipe dream about this other school. The professor and the classes may not end up being that amazing in person as you imagine them being in your head. And the professor, even if he’s a leader in his field, may not be as great a teacher as you imagine. I’m not sure if it’s wise to up end your entire life to chase one set of classes and one person. But hey, it’s your life, you might as well go for it.</p>
<p>With <5% transfer app acceptance rate, your odds of getting accepted after a rejection are pretty low, UNLESS you have done some amazing things in the interim year to push your app up in consideration.</p>
<p>Most schools and departments are really more than ONE prof and in any case you are likely to have to take courses from several profs. I would not EXPECT to be accepted, but it is worth a try if you have things to add to your transfer app.</p>
<p>That said, D applied 3 times before she was accepted into the department she is currently enrooled in & loves (very competitive admissions, especially for transfers/upperclassmen). I was surprised by her persistence but she’s very happy and for her it paid off. Each semester when she applied, she had taken more courses in that school & was more focused about what she wanted to do in that school. She had no problem getting amazing recs each time, mostly from the same profs in that school who thought the world of her & her abilities.</p>