Transfer Admissions 101

Transfer Students
81

<p>Hi, I have urgent questions about dean's recommendation.. I know that dean's rec shouldn't be like professor's rec, but in this case, the colleges that I'm applying to are asking for my attitude, leadership, relation with peers, etc, etc which are more like recommendation letter. </p>

<p>The problem is, my dean refused to write me the "good standing" statement (because he doesn't know me well) and told me to ask my professor to fill those "recommendation" part before I give my Dean the form for him to sign. What should I do???</p>

82

<p>I must confess to some curiosity as to the matter of the customary question: something like "Have you previously applied to **** for a bachelor's degree?"
Whatever do they need to know that for?!! Does it matter in determing one's admission? If yes and I was admitted once but didn't accept it, they would know that I must reject them again so wouldn't bother to consider my application again? Still, they should have the courtesy to extend admission...or consideration since I paid $$.
And what if yes, applied before, but didn't get in? Would they give me preference this time? I think not. It's so unfair.</p>

83

<p>update:
I've just read this: "..., previously unsuccessful transfer candidates should be aware that competition for transfer places is 'consistent' and that chances for acceptance upon re-application are small."
Does this mean they will tend to disregard the rejectees?
I've been worried that I end up applying to the same universities next year... well, then I would have to lie and apply as a first-time applicant ;)</p>

84

<p>At least one school I know that asks if you applied last year retains old applications and doesn't make you send HS transcripts, etc. again.</p>

85

<p>alpha - I definitely know of numerous instances where students applied, were accepted, turned down the admission and were later accepted again as transfer students. It is not the case that they assume you will turn them down again.</p>

<p>Some do, some don't.</p>

86

<p>entonmom- good to know, but I think that the majority of people don't know that and send their HS transcripts along with their applications again.</p>

<p>andale- actually, that's understandable. Besides, I needn't worry about that pattern lol</p>

87

<p>etonmon- indeed some universities kindly give instructions to those who applied previously. It will be easier for me next year!</p>

88

<p>'I definitely no of numerous instances where students applied, were accepted, turned down the admission and were later accepted again as transfer students. It is not the case that they assume you will turn them down again."
Happened for my son at U of Chicago!</p>

89

<p>man, i really appreciate "Andale" you take your time and wrote all this helpful information. answer a lot of my question. thanks A+++++</p>

90

<p>does one have a better chance of transferring to a specific university if one got accepted to that university as a freshman but chose to attend a different school?</p>

91

<p>Probably (10 char)</p>

92

<p>Hey all,
I just finished the transfer process and, upon reflecting on it, have a few thoughts to offer the community.</p>

<p>Background:</p>

<p>Attended a top prep school and ended up middle of my class with 2250 SATs and some good extracurriculars. I applied to Cornell, Brown, Amherst, Williams, Tufts, and a few safeties. I went 1/9 and attended Hamilton in the fall. I worked the hardest I've ever worked, ran a 4.0, made very good relationships with two of my professors, talked to coaches at other schools, and reapplied this past year to the following:</p>

<p>Penn, Brown, Cornell, Amherst, Williams, Tufts, Yale, and Dartmouth</p>

<p>I was accepted at Penn, Brown, Cornell, and Tufts and rejected at the other four.</p>

<p>What I've learned:</p>

<p>1) Chances threads are a good form of amusement but don't put too much stock in them. They usually end up causing unnecessary stress; the people you're asking about your chances are applying along-side you. While they may have more information about admission rates and talked to a couple people at schools, many people write as if they're authorities on transfer admissions. Simply put, take their opinions with a grain of salt. I was told to take Brown off my list because I had no shot. Not only was I admitted, but I may end up going to Penn instead of it. This brings me to my next point.</p>

<p>2) If money is not an object, put in the work and apply to any school you really want to attend. I applied to Yale and was rejected but I didn't think I was terribly competitive at Brown or Penn and was admitted. I can't imagine how ****ed off I'd be if I had only applied to Cornell and was admitted. I'd be kicking myself for not reaching higher (yeah, I know it's Cornell and that it's an Ivy, but you know what I mean.) Even if you're denied, at least you won't be asking yourself "what if..."</p>

<p>3) Decide how intent you are on leaving before you apply and, if you're on the fence about applying at all, apply. The last thing you want is to finish your freshman or sophomore year and think, "Damn, I really wish I'd put in the time in the fall to transfer because I'd love the option." You won't be mad about having the option to transfer but you might be about not having it.</p>

<p>4) Make it a priority. All fall term I obsessed over grades and application materials, essays, etc. Where you end up getting your diploma does matter, despite what people say. It'll be a major factor for employment and, more importantly, how you think. Quality of education matters. </p>

<p>5) Decisions aren't value judgments. I was denied as a senior in high school to 8/9 places to which I applied but still knew that I was a smart, capable student. With many college transfer rates dipping below 20%, you must go into the process knowing that a) the odds are against you and b) getting denied is not a judgment of your human worth. This is probably the most important thing I learned in the process. I read about a kid applying to Wharton from a school that didn't have a specific business field that Wharton excelled at. The kid had a 4.0 at a good school and 2350 SATs and two 800s for his SAT 2s. And guess what? He got rejected. He's probably in the top percent for competence of all college students and still didn't get in. You have to recognize the nature of the game and accept it. </p>

<p>6) Get to know professors. If you're dead set on getting into a top school, this is crucial. I went to office hours constantly, not only to get my work done but to show professors that I cared about their subject and was putting in the effort. Any problem set you do, go to office hours or meet with the professor. Any paper you write, submit a draft well before the deadline to get comments. Early drafts are key for writing intensive courses. You get direct feedback from the teacher, which is good for a number of reasons. You start developing a relationship with the teacher, you shower him/her that you're putting the work, that you're interested in the subject, and (esp. with papers) you find out what the teacher wants to see both in terms of format and content. The last thing you want to do is find out what the teacher wanted when you get your C+ paper back that counts for 1/4 of your grade. If you can find out before hand (which you can!), do it. Additionally, you're going to ask two professors to write on your behalf and having more than a strictly academic perspective will only help their rec and your application. I guarantee schools would much rather have Joe, the outgoing, gregarious scholar than Charles, the introverted, socially distant straight A drone. </p>

<p>7) Write stellar "Why X school?" essays. This one seems obvious but there are tons of students who simply don't put the time in, or worse yet, copy paste their "Why Cornell?" essay and use it for Brown by switching the name. Don't do this! Research the school. Talk about specific programs. Admissions spends all day reading "Why X" essays. The last thing you want to do is give them another "Penn is an ivy-league school. I want to go to an ivy-league school" essay. Say they read that essay and then yours, where you list in great detail, just why you want to attend Penn. Something like:</p>

<p>-top notch research facilities (best in the ivies)
-competitive track team
-submatriculation program (can get b.a. and m.a. in four years)
-dual-degree program (can get b.a. from school of arts and sciences in addition to b.s. from wharton)
-philly=most livable city in america
etc...</p>

<p>You need concrete researched reasons for wanting to attend. After all, if you don't have those, why are you applying? Frankly, that's exactly what the admissions committee will think if you submit a generic essay. </p>

<p>8) Proofread! Not doing so, in addition to being unprofessional, shows a serious lack of interest in a school, like saying, "I don't care enough about this school to properly edit my essay for them." Penn's website explicitly says "Proofread your essays. No really. Seriously." That was their admissions tip of the week today and I'm sure that applies across the board for other competitive schools. </p>

<p>9) A mediocre high school record doesn't spell doom. I was in the middle of my class and none of these schools would have given me a glance out of high school. My application would have been instant kindling. But showing serious growth and being able to tell a story about it seriously bolsters your application.</p>

<p>Lastly, I wanted to thank the contributors to the forums. It's been a long 12 months since I got my rejection letters in high school. Thanks for your ongoing support and encouragement. Best of luck to all future applicants.</p>

<p>Sincerely,
Claymangs</p>

<p>P.S. Anyone with questions about the process and thinks I might be a good resource, feel free to P.M. me.</p>

1 Like
93

<p>does non-transferable courses' GPA affect ur transfer?
cuz i juz wanna pass these courses to get to the college level courses that
time,so juz got Cs........</p>

94

<p>Claymangs07, thanks for the advice for the community. I heard that I might have a hard time trying to get a high GPA at Berkeley, but I'll try.</p>

<p>If I'll have Sophomore standing at Berkeley in my 1st year because of AP credit, would I be able to apply to Brown, Penn, etc. as a 1st or 2nd year student?</p>

95

<p>I'm a senior in HS and thinking about transferring in my first or second year in college. I took 5 AP courses this year and got good grades (all above 90's; my school doesn't use letter grades), but I thought AP exams were pretty hard and expect to get low scores. Will I be required to send my AP scores for transfer admission?? Will there be my AP scores on my college transcript? If the amissions officers looked at my HS transcripts and found no scores elsewhere, will I be at disadvantage? Schools like Stanford, MIT, and Chicago don't talk about AP scores anywhere on their website.</p>

96

<p>Most often, you do not submit AP scores as part of the application process (for freshman or transfer). Sometimes there is a place for you to put them on your application but it is optional. I'm not aware of any where you have to list them, much less have to send in official score reports (there could be exceptions, so be sure and check each particular school, but this is the general rule).</p>

<p>Typically, you only submit AP scores to:
1. the school where you actually are accepted and decide to matriculate
2. for courses where you want to receive credit or placement into a higher level class.</p>

<p>Typically, AP scores do no show up on college transcripts - even if you got college credit. If they are not on your hs transcript, the schools will likely not know the scores. Some students still don't even take the AP test, so colleges don't necessarily expect you to have a score for every AP you took.</p>

97

<p>"Essays
When applying, make your "Why transfer" essay very specific as to why this school is the one for you. Know more about the school than general man-on-the-street knowledge plus its ranking. Research in-depth about your major at the school, faculty research interests, special programs. Maybe do the same about ECs of interest for you. Show how the school fits your needs in ways that your current school doesn't. But do not diss your current school. Show what you will contribute to the school."</p>

<p>I understand I need to be specific and all that jazz about the school I want to transfer to,but how does this hold up when I am using the common app? I mean, how can I be specific about a certain school when I am applying to three simultaneously?</p>

98

<p>You write your CA essay for one school, submit it, modify the essay and send it to the next school, etc.</p>

99

<p>Thanks, entomom.</p>

100

<p>What types of classes should I take as a 1st year transfer? I did not find the answer in this thread.</p>