Transfer to harvard after freshman year?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

Hello, I will be attending UIUC starting this summer and I want to transfer to harvard if possible. I know UIUC is a good school but going to Ivy league (harvard especially) was my dream. I know it is unlikely but how unlikely does freshman from school like UIUC get transfer admission to top notch college like harvard? What does harvard look for in transfer student and will it be good to transfer after freshman year? Thank You!

2

Briefly:

The most recent data I could find was that Harvard admitted 13 transfer students out of 1486 applicants in 2011. That is an admissions rate of 0.87%. Some years (2008, 2009) they have admitted no one as a transfer!

In short, it’s really hard to get in as a transfer student.

That being said, why not apply?

I would also keep in mind, though, that it’s numerically easier to get in to many Harvard grad programs than the College. Work hard at UIUC— a good school!— and you can try again four years from now.

3

Let’s get real… you are not going to transfer to Harvard. UIUC is an excellent institution. If you go into your freshman year thinking already that you want to transfer out, you are unlikely to really commit to maximizing your opportunities while you are there. Move on.

4

@kkaneki2014: Please read the following: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/transferring-harvard-college and note what Harvard looks for in the small number of transfer students they accept

My guess is that about half of the transfer students accepted to Harvard are recruited athletes. To be one of the 6 students admitted academically, you’re going to need at least a 3.8 GPA, probably a 3.9 GPA from UIUC. You will also need fantastic recommendations from your professors. And lastly, as a transfer student, you need to explain to Admissions what academic programs Harvard offers you cannot receive at UIUC. Wanting to leave one’s current school and transfer to Harvard because it’s your dream is not a sufficient argument for admission.

5

One of my best friends at Harvard was a transfer student from Barnard.

She actually had gotten in to Harvard in high school, but decided to go to Barnard instead. She didn’t like it there.

6

Thank you so much for the good advice. I guess I will be just attending UIUC :))