I am about to start my freshman year at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Notre Dame was my initial first choice, but I didn’t get in and still have my heart set on going there. I’ve read through the transfer requirements and I have a few questions:
-There are only four classes per semester at Holy Cross. Would this have an effect on my application?
-Are SAT/ACT scores just as important in the transfer application process as they are for freshman applicants? Is anything else more or less emphasized for transfer applicants?
-Would there be a significant difference in the social/political atmosphere between HC and ND? I am very conservative and want to attend a school that isn’t overly progressive.
-Does anyone recommend anything I should or shouldn’t do in the meantime?
This is not what you want to hear, but I recommend that you start Holy Cross with the intent of staying for 4 years. If you go to a college with the intent of transferring it will stand in the way of your making meaningful friendships, getting involved on campus, etc. because mentally you will have one foot out the door before you start. Then if the transfer doesn’t work you will be stuck. Move your heart to the school that has accepted you.
If you decide to throw in a transfer application that is fine, but do the application and then put it out of your mind. From the ND website it does appear that your HS record including SAT/ACT scores remain a factor in transfer admissions. Assume it is a long-shot that you will get in and focus your energies on Holy Cross (which is a great school).
I will second what user “happy1” has said. If you begin your time at Holy Cross will the expectation of only staying a year, it will seriously limit the extent to which you will benefit from your education there. Plan to stay the 4 years. But, to answer your questions: Only having 4 classes/ semester could influence your transfer application, unless the credit hours match the base requirements. This would be something to ask an Admissions Representative. Your SAT & ACT scores will still count and be important, so keep those on hand. ND is by and far more conservative than HC, although you’ll be able to find a suitable niche at either institution. Lastly, if you’re very serious about transferring, the best thing you can do is to have a successful first year at HC and begin reaching out to the ND Admissions team as soon as you can.
Best of luck, and enjoy living in MA. It’s my home state and I’ve missed it greatly lo these many years of living in the midwest.
I created this account specifically for this question because I couldn’t believe what I was reading.While most of the factual information regarding test scores etc. was true, I found the opinion regarding your attitude towards transferring disheartening.
My story was similar to yours - I went to an university and knew that I wanted to transfer before even moving in. I attended with a mindset that made this very clear. It did not prevent me from making great friends and getting involved in various extracurriculars, if anything, it made me want to get involved more. The difference was that I told myself no matter what, I would dedicate a considerable amount of time to transfer. So while my friends were going out on the weekend, an extrovert like myself was content sitting at the university’s Starbucks and typing away on essays.
The result?
I was admitted to multiple high caliber schools, including Notre Dame, and transferred.
Make up your mind and pursue whatever goal you set for yourself. Feeble decision-making almost never leads to anything great. The college course load is difficult enough for most people; adding transferring to your list of responsibilities can kick your ass.
@JessenMM Interesting perspective, thanks for sharing. I completely understand the point of view of the first two posters - I don;t want to limit myself socially or in extracurriculars because of the prospect of transferring. I also don’t want to get my hopes up and then end up not getting in.
If you don’t mind me asking, were you rejected from ND when you first applied? Did you schedule your first year courses to fit around the ND transfer requirements? How early in the school year did you start working on your application/contacting admission officers? Do you still remain in touch with people from your first school?
Because my school only offers four courses per semester (one of which is the same for both semesters my first year, so I’d really only have seven credits), would I still stand a chance of being admitted as a transfer if I lack 3-4 credits? I could try to find a way to make these up over the summer, but if I explained the circumstances to an admissions rep, would he/she be understanding, or would they tell me I shouldn’t bother applying?
By contacting admissions now, you can make sure you are taking the right classes to transfer. Many students have their eye on ND… they will not look unfavorably upon you for not giving your current school a chance, but rather see you as someone who is committed to securing an ND education. Good luck!
Regarding the transfer acceptance rate: per the ND website, “Each year, we receive over 800 fall semester transfer applications for roughly 150 transfer openings.” Is this per class, or for for both sophomore and junior applicants? Also, does this mean they accept 150/800 applications, or do 150 of the accepted applicants actually enroll? Sorry for all the questions - thanks for the help!
@smb63097, I never previously applied to Notre Dame. I did not adjust my courses to fit ND’s requirements.
I started preparing my application about 2 months before they were due and never reached out to any admission officer from Notre Dame. In fact, I did not even know that was really a thing. Regarding contact to people from my old school, I just transferred this semester and it’s too early for me to say too much about that. I’m actively involved in an extracurricular GroupMe from my old school (complicated scenario) and have been talking on the phone with several of them multiple times a week at this point. Yet again, I’m a person that pings people (thanks Keith Ferazzi) constantly, so that doesn’t mean necessarily much.
Keep in mind, I have no formula for guaranteed success; maybe reaching out to the admissions officers would’ve made me even more competitive?
There were several things that I felt strongly about though:
Don’t bad-mouth your current school. Be grateful for what opportunities you had (or will have in this scenario)
Be determined (that should also be reflected in your writing)
Change the game. I offered a rather radical outlook on life around me and myself, something I would not even comfortably share with people I interact with intimately. (Don’t confuse this for being overly dramatic either, you’re a freshman in college, not the POTUS).
Sorry for the late response - I haven’t checked this website since my initial post.
@JessenMM Thank you so much for your response. It’s reassuring to hear this. Even though you didn’t adjust your courses to fit ND’s requirements, did you apply with any missing credits/courses? If so, how understanding and flexible were admissions? Thanks again.
I would not worry about credits/classes. If ND wants you as a student and you want to attend, that stuff will be sorted out. Worst case you can probably take some summer courses or overload a semester or two to make up any deficiency.
@smb63097 and @happy1… It actually IS important to pay attention to courses. ND students who arrive as freshman participate in a first year studies program with specific course requirements. The expectation is that transfers will arrive with all or MOST of the requirements completed. It absolutely makes sense to reach out to admissions. They will evaluate your coursework so far and make suggestions for the spring semester. smb63097 as far as your earlier question about numbers… 117 students transferred in this fall…this number is divided among the sophomore and junior classes. ND should be releasing the numbers regarding students attending this fall (freshman/transfers/men/women, etc) very soon.
@collegebound62, Thanks. As I mentioned in my original post, my school only offers four credits per semester, so I would need be three courses short at the end of my freshman year - I would need to take those either over the summer or during my first semester if possible. Would it still be important to reach out to admissions if I know exactly what courses I need to take by looking at their website?
According to http://transfer web .com/stats/transfer-acceptance-rates/#.V9IG-ZMrK1s (spaced out to avoid being censored), ND had a 37% transfer acceptance rate in fall of 2012. Is this acceptance rate relatively consistent each year?
Edit: one more thing - my school is known for having incredibly difficult academics - the average GPA is in the low 3.0 range. Obviously I will do the best I can to get as high of a GPA possible, but would admissions take this into consideration?
ok, its official. Son is a month into his freshman year at a good Div I school and says he can’t stop thinking of ND! signed up already to take ACT again. I guess we will be on here more in the coming year! His curriculum kinda got screwed up; how important is it, really, to match ND’s freshman classes?
@RangerJerry I don’t know the answer but before he goes through the trouble of studying again, someone should check to see if ND accepts standardized tests taken while in college for transfer students. The SAT/ACT are really meant for HS students.
I would also tell your son that he must assume he will be at his current school for 4 years – that it is very important that he get involved in activities, meet friends etc. Otherwise if a transfer doesn’t work out he will really be stuck. It is fine to put in a transfer application, but it would be a mistake to assume the transfer will happen. I do wish him the best.
