Transfer from Top Liberal Arts College to Top Private University

Transfer Students
1

Hello! I’m going to be a sophomore at a top 10 LAC and am considering transferring to either Brown, Duke, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, or UChicago as a junior majoring in international relations or public policy. Currently, I loathe my school’s location, extremely small student body which I do not get along with, relative lack of diversity, lack of academic challenge, and lack of career prospects. My parents also believe the listed schools are a better financial investment, which I completely agree with.

HS GPA UW/W: 3.89/4.51
HS Rank: top 5%
College GPA: 3.85 (two B+, rest A)
SAT: 2260 (M: 740, CR: 740, W: 780)
SAT II: 710 (US History), 700 (Literature)
AP: five 5s, three 4s
HS Courses: 8 AP year-long courses, 5 semesters of community college courses, rest honors, Korean, or PE
College Courses: 2 major-related, 4 GE courses, 2 intermediate (I’ll be taking almost exclusively intermediate-level courses my sophomore year)

Honors:
-National AP Scholar
-NMSQT Commended Student
-Dean’s List at college and at community college dual enrolled in during HS
-Recipient of a few local scholarships, one minor national scholarship
-Turned down 10 college-specific merit scholarships ranging from $5,000-$30,000 annually to attend my current college which does not offer merit awards
-Selected for global leadership program in East Asia

HS Extracurriculars:
-Interned for a university-affiliated NGO conducting research on global educational policy and transitional justice
-Interned for state senator conducting legislative research and working on constituency outreach programs
-Class senator
-Assistant Editor-in-Chief for school’s education journal
-Member of award-winning orchestra that toured internationally
-Volunteer at medical clinic
-Volunteer tutor assisting in SAT prep, English, Korean, and college applications

College Extracurriculars:
-President and founder of nonprofit specializing in diversity and policies relating to it, which has received awards for our advocacy and activities, has chapters in a few high schools nationwide, and works with a few universities
-Interned in Korea for an education nonprofit
-Employed as an overseas editor by a Korean university journal
-Employed by my college’s history department in their office
-Founder and main choreographer for my college’s intramural, multicultural dance team

Miscellaneous:
-Multiracial (Asian/White)
-LGBTQ-identified
-Upper-middle class
-Top public HS

2

HS stats are irrelevant in a tansfer application.

3

And what scholarships you turned down don’t matter.

4

Au contraire! From my research, they are still considered but weigh less than college stats, extracurriculars, and letters of rec. Considering for freshman admission colleges consider all 4 years, though last two count more. Similarly for transfer admission, I’d figure colleges would consider the past 4 years extending to junior year of HS (which all of my extricurriculars are from or were ongoing at that time) up to the present.

5

Read the transfer processes at thee schools.

6

Hmm point taken but the common app STILL includes room for 11th and 12th grade. Considering the schools I’m considering are rather selective, I’d figure any bit of extra info counts.

7

Yes, I have read transfer processes at each school, have planned courses for next year that would transfer, and am coordinating letters of rec. Any others have suggestions/actually chancing me (I know it’s impossible really the whole “chance me!” deal)?

8

You have very impressive stats! If you also have a very compelling reason to transfer, then you should be good.

9

Thank you for your vote of confidence @Neurological. Concerned as admit rates for these schools in the past few years are:
Brown: 8-16%
Duke: 3-7%
Georgetown: 12-16%
Johns Hopkins: 11-12%
UChicago: 1-2%

My SAT is in top 25% for Georgetown admitted transfers, and in range for admitted transfers at Brown and Duke. UChicago and JHU don’t have a transfer profiles readily available, unfortunately.

10

And FYI, Brown, Georgetown, and Duke transfer info mentions SAT scores, Georgetown even mentions HS rank, so this must come into SOME consideration.

11

Jym is both right and wrong (in my opinion). High school stats DO play a significant role as a transfer for sophomore applicants, however, you are a Junior applicant, so they play little importance.

Did you apply to these schools as a freshman applicant?

12

I didn’t apply to these schools as a freshman applicant.

13

Are those the only four schools you would consider transferring to?

Are there other schools where you would be more likely to be admitted as a transfer student that you would prefer over your current school?

What was the reason you chose your current school over others?

In terms of high school stuff, if the college asks for it, then it will be considered. However, it will be much less important for a junior level transfer, since you will be showing a significant record of college course work.

14

I’m only planning on applying to schools more academically rigorous than my current school. If I get rejected by all of those five I’d be content staying at my current one.

The main reason I chose my current school over the others was it was the best school to which I was accepted. I ended up getting accepted to every school I applied to and realize in hindsight I should have tried harder in my college selections.

Also, if anyone could chance me that’d be great.

15

The (few) students I know who transferred to top universities all had compelling academic reasons to do so. So my advice would be to really do your research on the majors, opportunities and even individual programs and professors that each of your targeted transfer campuses offers. Then use that information in your application to make a solid, well thought-out argument that includes concrete examples why you belong at said campus as opposed to where you’re at now. That’s the kind of thinking that persuades ad coms. Good luck!

16

@katliamom, a large factor for me is major availability, considering my college does not offer public policy as a major and many of the schools I am considering have very good public policy departments. Not sure if my desire for a much more intense academic environment would be compelling enoug, but in conjunction with my other reasons maybe? But anyways thank you very much for the feedback.

17

They may look at your past history in high school but first and foremost if you’ve completed two years of college, that’s going to be the primary deciding factor if they have the room for a transfer and if you look like an appropriate candidate

18

I think academic rigor is a good transfer reason to list. And your grades show that you’re capable of high level work, so that’s another plus for you.

But also show each school that you know what it offers. Don’t just say you want to major in “international relations” or “public policy.” Go into more detail. Cite a class or a field that interests you in particular. Specify a particular professor or program, or a specific strength that the school offers. The more concrete you can be the more the ad com will see you succeeding at their campus. And that’s what you want them to do.

19

Given your intended major and seeming preference for an urban school, I’d give serious consideration to George Washington University. Their transfer acceptance rate is surprisingly high compared to their peer schools (somewhere between 40% and 50%), and they’re ranked among the top 10 schools for undergraduate study of international relations by Foreign Policy magazine. You could also still take courses at Georgetown through the DC area coalition.

You’re an excellent transfer candidate for any of the schools already on your list, and if you follow @katliamom’s advice I very much like your chances of getting one or more acceptances.

Still, GWU would be an excellent “safety” just in case being impeccably qualified is not enough for the more selective schools on your list this year. Transfer admissions at top schools are very subject to variances in applicant pool and retention rates, so the acceptance rates may fluctuate more than freshman admission rates do.

When you use the word “loathe” about your current school, I have a hard time imagining you being genuinely content to continue there. Broaden your options, just a little, to avoid spending two more years in a state of loathing.

20

Thanks @katliamom and @DreamSchlDropout.

@DreamSchlDropout, you make excellent points. I’ll consider applying to GWU.