Transfering to Ivy and Ivy Caliber Schools

Transfer Students
1

Do I have a chance to transfer to HYP/Columbia/Penn/Cornell/Caltech/MIT/Stanford/Duke/Chicago/CMU?
Got rejected/waitlisted from all of these schools during this application cycle (probably due to a combination of my grades and essays).
Should I apply once I enter college or should I wait a year?
Intended major: Math and/or CS (still deciding)

HS Stats:
GPA: 3.7 UW by the end of senior year (4.1 weighted)
ACT: 35
SAT Subject Tests: 800 Math 2, 800 Physics, 800 Chem
EC’s: I thought they were impressive. Not giving them out for privacy reasons.

Courses I plan to take during the first year in college:
1st semester: Real Analysis 1, Intermediate Macro Econ, Data Structures, Required writing class
2nd semester: Intermediate Micro Econ, Artificial Intelligence, Biology 1, Real Analysis 2, Graph Theory

I plan to get a 4.0 GPA (I am very confident that this gpa is possible)

2

What will those schools give you that your first school cannot? You will have to answer this in your apps. “Prestige” doesn’t count as a valid reason.

3

@bodangles I already have valid reasons. I very clearly understand the transfer admissions process. I want to know where I have a shot of transferring to and if I should wait a year or not.

4

If you apply as a sophomore transfer, that means you will only have one semester’s worth of college grades. This will mean that your high school grades and stats will be a big influence on your application. If you got rejected this application cycle, not sure one semester of college will change anything, not to mention transfer admission is harder. HYP, MIT, and Stanford are next to impossible to transfer to.

5

What makes you certain you will get a 4.0 freshman year? Will you be attending a community college.

Cornell would be the only transfer target that may be a match, but since they rejected you this year it may still be a reach.

6

@TomSrOfBoston My grades were low during high school due to various responsibilities I had at home, which I won’t have while I’m away for college. I will not be attending a community college. I will be attending a state school.

7

You might stand a chance as a sophomore transfer to Cornell, but you likely will be rejected again by all the other schools.

8

Any suggestions on how I should improve my standing beside staying for another academic year and applying as a junior transfer?

9

Will I stand a chance at any of those schools besides Cornell if I decide to apply during my sophomore year?

10

Sorry for bumping, but I’m looking for answers and some advice as to what I should do.

11

Advice: Don’t fixate on Ivy Leagues and equivalents. They’re extremely competitive and unlikely because just like for freshman admission, they reject tons of perfect incredible students for transfer. It’s basically the luck of the draw.

12

My advice is that your 1st year course load is extremely difficult. Real analysis is known to be one of the tough math class. if you can ace that along with tough econ course like intermediate Macroeconomics, you may have a chance to Cornell.

13

What is wrong with your current school for math and CS?

14

Cornell is the best shot as they take the most transfers, GPA will need to be high, 3.8+

15

Fixating on transferring before you even start college is a bad idea, in many ways. Adjust your attitude, see how things go, THEN consider a transfer. If you already have your sights set on schools that already rejected you, the results are not likely to be favorable.

16

The exception is if you start at a community college. Agree that students starting at four year schools should do so with the intent of graduating from the same school.

17

If you think you can get a 4.0 at your current college, then you should consider graduating at your current school with a high GPA. Top GPA and strong LSAT score can get you into top 10 law school and even top 5. MBA would be easier.