<p>I'll be a freshman this fall at Suffolk University in Boston (majoring in biology) but I really want to transfer to a better school like Stanford. Assuming I get just about all A's, do lab work outside of class, and maybe join a few clubs, could I get in with around a 3.5 UW, 4.0 W, a lousy 1830 SAT, Very good SAT II's, 1 AP, and Extensive Work + Volunteer Experience? Thanks everyone.</p>
<p>Stanford has about a 1 - 2 % transfer acceptance rate. This translates to about 20 - 25 students per year.</p>
<p>If you dig around on the Stanford website in the transfer section you can find the average range of transfer student SAT/ACT scores. You don’t need perfect SAT/ACT scores to get in. </p>
<p>The reality is that with only a 1 - 2 % chance of getting in, you need to be something a bit more interesting than a 4.0 college transfer who has joined a few clubs. From what I can tell from the actual Stanford transfer students I have met in person and a few anecdotal stories, Stanford digs through the pile of transfer applicants looking for very interesting life stories, achievements, etc. </p>
<p>So, to really “chance” someone for Stanford, assuming a person has a reasonable set of college grades and a reasonable SAT/ACT score (which is probably most the applicant pool), you need to put out there what makes you special or stand out from a crowd. What makes you an applicant that would get the admins excited about the possibility of adding you to their campus?</p>
<p>However, based on the limited info you have shared above, it seems unlikely you’d get into Stanford. I would suggest you research a larger group of colleges for transfer options because Stanford is unlikely OR do something in the next 6 months that you can put on your app that will blow the minds of the admissions committee.</p>
<p>And remember, even with students with perfect applications and a “hook” – many will be turned away from Stanford.</p>
<p>In my opinion, if you’re looking to transfer to Stanford, MIT etc (2% acceptance rates) you need to ask yourself “What is unique and outstanding about me?” If you can’t answer right away, you probably stand very little chance. They can fill their transfer quota with 2300+ SAT/3.7+ GPA applicants and then some; you need to really stand out and catch the reviewers eye.</p>
<p>Nothing stands out from what you’ve posted. The fact that you’re thinking of joining a couple of clubs for the sake of showing Stanford signifies there really isn’t a “spark” within your application. Not to mention that your high school credentials are subpar for Stanford… Above all, everything you have mentioned are hypothetical: all A’s, lab work…</p>
<p>If you want to transfer to a “better” school, there are many options aside from Stanford. Don’t get caught up just in one school, because chances are impossible to none for EVERYONE, just purely based on numbers.</p>
<p>I knew it :(…Thanks anyways guys.</p>
<p>Why the obsession with Stanford?</p>
<p>It really didn’t have to be Stanford, perhaps I’ll look into schools where I’d be more competitive such as the University of Washington which has a very good biology program.</p>
<p>Are you a WA resident? Just asking because there are many schools with excellent bio programs and with WA states fiscal situation, they are not likely to give much FA to OOS students.</p>
<p>No, unfortunately I’m not a WA resident. If I were to receive an average to good FA package from UW I would still most likely owe around $30,000 a year after grants, something I can’t afford (even with loans). How well is the UC system considering FA to OOS students?</p>
<p>Terrible, and likely even worse now with their fiscal crisis. In general states are not able to be generous with OOS students. The one exception I’ve heard of is Virginia which apparently does give good FA to OOSers.</p>