Transferring to a top university from a lower university or a Community college?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I am soon to graduate from HS, and my grades are simply not there to apply directly to a top university (I'm wanting to go to MIT). So I originally thought I had to go to a CC in order to get my grades up and even stand a chance. But my stepdad today mentioned that if I got a good enough SAT score, I could get into a more lenient university like V-tech or JMU. His logic is that if I go to one of those colleges for 2 years and then apply to MIT, they [MIT] will be more impressed with a student transferring from a university rather than a community college.</p>

<p>I thought this was the most appropriate section for such problems, but if it isn't, please move it.</p>

2

<p>MIT has a 6% transfer acceptance rate...good luck with that...</p>

3

<p>dude, get a 2300+ on the SAT's and get a 4.0 at vtech, and you're in. </p>

<p>if you want something SO bad, nothing will stop you, trust me.</p>

4

<p>There's more to it than that. I believe on the website it says you need classes in biology, chemistry, and physics before applying (maybe calculus too). I'm not quite sure though. I just know that MIT has science requirements for transfer students.</p>

<p>Do you think you won't be able to get a good GPA at one of the schools you mentioned above?</p>

5

<p>Ok, maybe I didn't clarify. I know I need good SAT scores, a good GPA, and the appropriate classes for MIT. But I wanted to know if I will have a higher chance of acceptance if I transferred from a university or a community college, regardless of my performance. Of course the assumption here is that if I get a good SAT score, they [any lower tier university] may accept me despite my poor high school GPA.</p>

<p>I think the answer is obvious: they won't care as long as you have good grades and the appropriate classes, but my stepdad believes otherwise and I would like to know if there are actually differences in the acceptance rate between a community college and university student who wanted to transfer to a top university.</p>

6

<p>Yes, you will have a better chance from a better college.</p>

7

<p>I asked about this too a little while back. I want to transfer to a top school as well and wanted to know if a community college was better or a state school. I only asked this because A) community college was cheaper and I thought I'd save money that way and B) I noticed that some top university's tend to accept good community college transfers (i.e Standford). I ended up going to a state school though instead of a community college because I figured that if I didn't get into the top university as a transfer I would already have a good state school that I was in. You can always transfer to Vtech or JMU if you don't get into M.I.T from a community college as well if things turn out that way.</p>

8

<p>In this situation, yes a state school would look better for your resume and prepare you better for MIT.</p>

9

<p>Well, the thing I just realized is that I have not taken any AP or Honors classes in all of HS. And also I am only able to get a standard diploma. I have not taken any elective classes that are relevant to what I want to do.</p>

<p>I also feel that my knowledge of foundation math and geometry is close-to nonexistent. I wanted to take a couple summer classes at Blue Ridge as it should be a lot cheaper, and I can get free transportation there.</p>

10

<p>You have not taken any honors/AP courses at all? That will come back to haunt you.</p>

11

<p>I think you might want to find another school, because MIT isn't happening...</p>

12

<p>How do you know that? I technically have a chance if I do good at a community college.</p>

13

<p>You never took honors courses in high school? You admittedly don't have a great GPA? What you've done in your academic career doesn't fit well with the type of students MIT accepts. I have to question your motivation.</p>

14

<p>No AP courses and you say you have no existing experience in fundamental math and you expect to get into MIT? It's an engineering and technological school filled with geniuses that finish calc 4 in the 10th grade. You might want to heed diontechristmas's advice and get some realistic expectations. Yes you technically have a chance, but it's slim and I wouldn't put all of my faith into it.</p>

15

<p>Isn't that one of the reasons community colleges exist?</p>

<p>And I didn't say I had no experience in fundamental math, I said I wanted to take a summer class on it to make sure I know Algebra enough so I can get into calculus in Blue Ridge</p>

16

<p>"No AP courses and you say you have no existing experience in fundamental math and you expect to get into MIT?"</p>

<p>Good Lord, can you point out where I said this anywhere in the thread? Seriously.</p>

17

<p>But you cant just slack off and not take AP's in HS and then kick it in in community college and expect to get into top schools.</p>

18

<p>I also never said that. I asked if I "kick it" in another university, will I have a "higher" chance of getting in than if I "kicked it" in a CC.</p>

<p>I assumed that a community college could be considered a high school for people who want a second chance, and if I got good grades, took AP classes, the appropriate classes for the career I want to go into, the appropriate electives, and a good SAT score, then MIT would give me at least an equal chance to a person who did all those things directly in high school.</p>

<p>But if the answer is "hell no", then I apologize.</p>

19

<p>It depends on which school you are transferring to, but I doubt it really would factor in at all.</p>

20

<p>do you realize how many kids apply to MIT each year for 4.0 GPAS and 2300+ on their SATS and get rejected?</p>