State School --> Ivy League After 1 Year?

[Billybeejr]

<p>My friend and I had an idea that we could go to our state school (SUNY Buffalo) for a year then apply to an ivy/top school after this. How often does this happen? Is it even possible? What would we submit?</p>

[katliamom]

<p>Transfer rate in the Ivies is extremely low - maybe a few students a year. Anecdotal evidence suggests most of the transfers are from other elite/Ivy schools. And some Ivies don’t take transfers at all due to their already full classes. I believe last year Harvard said they would take no transfers.</p>

[miss_murd3r]

<p>If you don’t even know what goes into transferring, you probably shouldn’t even do it. </p>

<p>From SUNY Buffalo, you should definitely shoot for a 3.8+ GPA to even consider transferring. Depending on the school you want to transfer to, there are different class requirements. Also, your SAT scores will still matter, as well as your high school transcript/GPA. </p>

<p>What are your stats? It will be easier to gauge whether or not you can pull this off if we know.</p>

[Sikorsky]

<p>I agree with everything katliamom said.</p>

<p>I will add an anecdote from 25 years ago. When I was a senior, I had two roommates who had transferred into Harvard. One came from University of Michigan; the other came from Williams. And they seemed to know everybody else in our graduating class who had transferred in.</p>

<p>The take-away messages? There are very few transfer students. And often, they do, in fact, come from other highly elite institutions.</p>

<p>Is your plan impossible? No. Is it even less probable than gaining admission as a freshman? Yes.</p>

[mikemac]

<p>

I will add an anecdote from 25 years ago. When I was a senior, I had two roommates who had transferred into Harvard. One came from University of Michigan; the other came from Williams. And they seemed to know everybody else in our graduating class who had transferred in.

My guess is they were “Z-list” admits. Harvard has an unpublicized program where they admit students provided after a mandatory year off, in which they are free to enroll at another college if they wish. These kids tend to be children of alums or big donors. See [Z-Listed</a> Students Experience Year Off](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/3/30/students-year-harvard-zlist/]Z-Listed”>Z-Listed Students Experience Year Off | News | The Harvard Crimson)</p>

<p>As to the OP – forget about the “plan”, it is almost certain not to work and you’ll ruin your 1st year of college since you hope to leave and so won’t be putting time & effort into building the friendships and connections that kids in for the long haul make.</p>

[miss_murd3r]

<p>The plan is certainly NOT impossible. My brother transferred from CUNY Hunter to Cornell after his first year. This is why I ask you, OP, what your SAT/GPA stats are.</p>

<p>Do they fall into the range of those that are actually admitted?
Did you apply to these ivy league schools during your admissions cycle? </p>

<p>If your answer to both is no, then I don’t see this plan going into fruition. </p>

<p>If you got waitlisted from the original admissions cycle, I could see a margin of possibility.</p>

<p>Know what you’re getting yourself into first, but don’t put all your marbles into the “plan” working. It takes hard work.</p>

[T26E4]

<p>“If you don’t even know what goes into transferring, you probably shouldn’t even do it.”</p>

<p>Nor did you understand the infinitesimal odds. You have a better chance statistically of applying now. Typical transfers are kids who turned down accepts into Ivies for some reason or another (accepted a full ride somewhere else) but now feel they would like the Ivy experience. Basically, some are kids who rejected a few Ivies.</p>

[laurennicole]

<p>I know a girl who transferred from UNC Chapel Hill to Penn. It’s not impossible, but the transfer rates for Ivy leagues are extraordinarily low, and what you did in high school will still matter along with your current college grades. You have a better chance (still a small one…they’re Ivies) if you apply now.</p>

[Sikorsky]

<p>

My guess is they were “Z-list” admits.

</p>

<p>I did not learn of the existence of the Z-list until many years later, but I am quite sure that’s not what they were. Particularly since, if you read that article from The Crimson, it clearly says, “Given a year to spend in nearly any way they choose—apart from enrolling at another academic institution for credit—this group of students comes to Harvard with a wide variety of experiences under their belts” (emphasis added). They were transfers.</p>

<p>

The plan is certainly NOT impossible. My brother transferred from CUNY Hunter to Cornell after his first year. This is why I ask you, OP, what your SAT/GPA stats are.

</p>

<p>Cornell may indeed be a different kettle of fish. I’ll admit that the only things I know about Cornell are ice hockey, gorges, and “Far above Cayuga’s waters.” But it’s really not a sensible plan for Harvard or Yale.</p>

[MitchAPalooza]

<p>Cornell is unique because they have a guarantee transfer option. This of course skews their transfer numbers.

A small number of students who apply to Cornell University as freshman are offered a guarantee of transfer option. It simply states that although we are unable to offer them admission as a freshman, we would like to guarantee their admission as a transfer student. These students are then given fairly clear guidelines about what they need to do in order fulfill the requirements (usually they must achieve a certain g.p.a. and complete certain courses).

</p>