Hi
I am currently studying Chemical Engineering in Denmark at a technical university. I have just started my 2nd semester and I am considering transferring to the US at one of the top universities. Thus, I have a lot of questions regarding this.
I want to apply as for the first year, starting the same degree program from the beginning. The experience that I had during this semester, at a chemical engineering program, made me understand that I truly like studying that, even though I wasn’t so sure before.
So my questions are:
Will this first-year experience in Denmark influence my chances of getting accepted?
Do I still need to pass the SAT test in order to apply? (In my first semester, I already passed the Chemistry and Calculus course which included all the topics present in the SAT exam and even more).
I have a Cambridge english advanced CAE test passed, with a C1 level (with which I applied to the danish university as my bachelor is in english). Can I still use it to apply for a US university or it is strictly accepted only the TOEFL test? Wouldn’t the fact that I already studied a year in english confirm that I have got the needed level of language?
Should I attach, together with my application, my 1st-semester grades (or 1st-year grades, depending on the situation) in university together with the high school exam grades?
Can I attach a recommendation letter from one of the teachers from university?
Can I write an email to the university asking if I can have a late application, as the deadline (1st of January) already has passed? I would like to apply now, for the autumn 2018 semester, but it wouldn’t be a problem to start after another year (autumn 2019).
If considering applying as a transfer student directly for the 2nd year, or 3rd year, will I have to pass some exams to validate my grades?
You cannot “start from the beginning.” You HAVE TO apply as a transfer student since you are in fact a university student now. Lying on your application (should that tempt you) can result in expulsion from your university and even retroactive diploma cancellation.
Each university will have its own transfer policies and requests, and that includes whether or not you have to take TOEFL, your transcripts, letters of recommendation – and how many credits they will award you from your current school.
Finally – are you aware how much universities cost in the US? It could be in the $50,000 per year range since there is little if any financial aid for an international transfer student.
I didn’t know that I am not allowed to start from the beginning. Thank you. Yes, I have made a research about the costs and financial aid. I still want to give it a try, although I need more information on how a transfer may occur.
The funny thing about transferring into an American university is that an admission offer as a transfer student does not guarantee that you would be granted any credits for your prior coursework. That evaluation often happens after you made a commitment to attend.
The registrar may ask for additional information about your prior courses, such as syllabi, to decide if / how many credits to award you. A separate decision may be made by each department about whether your prior coursework is enough to exempt you from certain requirements. Some departments have a placement exam for that purposes, others take a “let’s try and see how you do in the more advanced course” approach. Universities also differ in how they treat grades from other institutions. Your American transcript may:
show the transfer credits with a pass/fail designation only
show the course names and original grades, but not count them into your US GPA
show the course names and a US grade and count them into your US GPA
Yes, it will affect your chances because you will no longer be considered a freshman applicant but a transfer applicant. (International transfers have far less financial aid, scholarships and any other source of funding available for international students, in addition to that your chances of getting into become smaller)
Each university has its own policy towards admission requirements, for example, MIT requires you to take the SAT plus 2 subject tests even if you are a transfer.
Again, each university will ask you for one thing or another, I sincerely haven't seen such exam as an acceptable test for american universities. You can still try to ask them to waive such requirement if the qualifications that you are talking about fulfill them.
High-school transcripts don't matter for transfer students if I'm not wrong.
You will have to ask your professors to do it since it is usually a requirement for transfer students.
I sincerely think it is way too late now to ask for that, and if you didn't have all the necessary tests and documents done by now the chances of being allowed to apply later may be nil. (you don't lose anything by emailing nonetheless)
Each university will consider your credits in their own way, refer to B@r!um's comment.
Keep in mind that international tranfers may be extremely hard at top universities that even graduate school would be easier to attain in comparison. It’s still worth to try so don’t discard transfering if you still plan to do it. (just a personal opinion)
I guess you are unfamiliar with the application periods for American universities. They get hundreds of thousands of applications world-wide for a small fraction of spaces available for international students at these schools. There has to be a hard deadline in order to review and decide on the following years’ classes. And, no, you can’t restart. You are no longer a freshman candidate.
Some universities have rolling admissions, but these schools are typically aren’t targeted by international applicants.
Consider paying $60K per year at the most sought-after universities.