Transfer Admissions Questions

[CharlieTransfers]

Hi, I have some Harvard-specific questions about transfer.

How do AP Exam Credits taken senior year factor into transfer application? Can I report AP Exam results alongside high school transcripts?

How do previous applications to Harvard via freshmen entry affect my transfer application? Will they look at my old application? If yes, will being rejected via freshmen entry cause them to look at my application differently?

How many courses do most successful transfer applicants have on their transcripts? I have a 4.0 GPA at an American, 4-year university, but I am worried it might not be enough.

[gibby]

In general, admissions pays MORE attention to an applicant’s reasons for wanting to transfer, their college transcript and their college recommendation letters than they do their high school courses, high school GPA, AP courses taken during high school, or ACT/SAT/SAT Subject tests taken in high school. So, in answer to your questions:

How do AP Exam Credits taken senior year factor into transfer application?

IMHO, they’re really not factored in to the decision. Admissions will notice the AP scores, but even if you scored all 5’s, it not going to be that much of a plus factor, as Admissions puts more weight on your college courses than your high school AP courses.

Can I report AP Exam results alongside high school transcripts?

Sure, why not.

How do previous applications to Harvard via freshmen entry affect my transfer application? Will they look at my old application?

Admissions saves an electronic copy of every freshman applicant for three years. So, if you applied to Harvard previously, they will look at your application, re-read your essays and teacher recommendations.

Will being rejected via freshmen entry cause them to look at my application differently?

It depends on the reasons you were rejected. If your freshman application seemed to lack maturity, or comments by your teacher indicated that you needed time to grow, then those comments will be compared to your college professors comments. If your high school EC’s were bland, they will look at your college EC’s and compare them to see if you maintained a specific interest, or whether you tried something new, and what leadership positions you took on in college. There’s really too many unknowns here to give you a better answer.

How many courses do most successful transfer applicants have on their transcripts?

Most college students take 4 courses per term; a few take 5 courses a term. So, If a student applies as a transfer applicant to Harvard while a freshman at another college, most will have 4 to 5 graded college courses on their transcript. If they apply during their sophomore year, they’ll have 12 to 15 graded courses on their transcript.

I have a 4.0 GPA at an American, 4-year university, but I am worried it might not be enough.

As Harvard only admits about twelve (12) transfer students per year (out of over 1500 transfer applications), most successful applicants have a 3.8+ or higher, but that’s not all Admissions considers: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/transferring-harvard-college

Transfer students have unique college experiences that add to the diverse fabric of our academic community. Each year, we welcome a very small number of transfer students to Harvard College. We look for:

**- A clearly defined academic need to transfer

• A proven record of achievement at your current college level
• Strong faculty recommendations.**

Through a holistic admissions process, we strive to give you ample opportunities to best demonstrate your interests and accomplishments. **The Admissions Committee looks for strong preparation, especially in your expected field of specialization. **

Beyond strong grades, programs, test scores, and recommendations, the Committee considers other factors such as **significant non-academic talents and personal qualities—capacity for leadership, creativity, resiliency, intellectual curiosity, and independent thinking. ** [All the extras you did in college – not high school.]

In addition to our standard application materials, you may submit supplementary materials showcasing exceptional or unusual talents, including musical performance, artistic work, and research material.

Yale has some great advice to transfer applicants that I think apply to Harvard as well

**As competitive as the admissions process is for freshmen, the transfer process is even more so. **

It is difficult to state in general terms what qualities will improve a transfer applicant’s chances of success, because those chances are unfortunately quite low, and we judge each application individually and holistically.

A transfer candidate’s academic strength is our first consideration. An applicant for transfer admission should have an outstanding academic record. The average GPA of admitted transfer students is usually 3.8 and above in a demanding selection of courses.

**Transfer candidates should also have particularly compelling and well-defined academic reasons for wishing to attend **Yale.

**Wanting to leave one’s current school is not a sufficient argument for admission **to Yale. Transfer candidates should explain in their application essays how studying at Yale **would give them an educational opportunity particular to their interests that could be experienced nowhere else. **