Hi everyone. I was hoping somebody can help me with this: I am a Russian currently in the first year of studying at UCL (UK) as an engineer. I would like, by the end of the year, to transfer into the American university for certain reasons. My biggest aspiration has been to get a degree from MIT which holds the top step in rankings of engineering institutions. I am wondering if it is at all possible for someone from neither UK nor the US to transfer between two foreign schools? If possible, what are the chances of getting into a higher ranked university from UCL (approximately number 6 in the world rankings of engineering)?
Any information or recommendations are much appreciated.
Yes you can apply for transfer. Contact MIT’s transfer admission office and ask about the process.
However, given the difficulty of transfer admission at these places, you probably are best off finishing at UCL and then applying to the others for your postgrad work.
Review the coursework transfer requirements on the MIT transfer pages; you will have to have SAT scores as well.The acceptance rate is about 1/2 that for first year applicants.
Incidentally, UCL might be #6 in the UK, but not globally. I couldn’t even find a list that had it in the top 10.
You can apply. US schools may be more flexible about application deadlines for transfers. I was able to transfer in somewhere good at the last minute. However, I am not sure all schools will take applications for next year at this point. Some schools may want SATs and SAT IIs from someone transferring in the first year.
US students are generally not as well prepared for specific subjects. However, in terms of the academic level of the students and the intensity of the course work, MIT is generally much more difficult than anywhere in the UK. I am not sure if UCL is at the level of a top 30 US school. You are going to need a very impressive record to transfer into a top school.
@collegemom3717 US rankings are irrelevant outside the US and especially in Europe. Indeed, unlike UK/European rankings, US university rankings take into account a load of utterly superfluous factors. If the individual in question wants to work in the UK/Europe, UCL can open doors. I say that having recruited for numerous UK companies and consultancies.
The first key elements would be how much you can afford since international transfers don’t get financial aid.
Second, do you have grades from UCL? How have you distinguished yourself (clubs/activities, research, political involvement…)?
Third, you can apply to MIT, Harvey Mudd, Stanford, Caltech, Northwestern, Case Western, etc. Don’t just apply to MIT as your odds are likely about 1% so you want to hedge your bets.
@exlibris97, we don’t disagree! I am very aware of the limitations of US rankings (both in the US & outside the US).
The OP stated that UCL was ranked #6 globally for engineering, My point was simply that the OP is mistaken or misinformed, and I say that having taught engineering in a European university. To confirm that, I looked at global rankings on THE, Shanghai & QS.
That’s all I was saying- I was certainly not dissing UCL, which can of course open doors- esp in the UK. As for where the OP wants to work, given that they specify that they are Russian, unless they have other connections getting a work permit in the US, UK or the EU may be problematic.
(also, as the OP has been gone for almost a month, and has only made the one post, I think we might be talking to ourselves)