Transferring to Stanford

Transfer Students
1

Hi everyone!

I’m a first year sophomore at my local Community College. In high school, academically, I was just a little above average. Although I took almost every AP offered, I usually performed about average in these classes. Because of this, I never received any 5s. But I’m focused now. At my CC I’m regularly finishing number 1 in my courses. I’m currently sprinting through my second semester, as a president of a decently sized club and as an active member in my community. A kid my age in one of my poli sci classes has been talking about transferring to Stanford for a while. I never really considered it as an option, but the more he talks about it, the more realistic it sounds. I was wondering if I should even bother applying to Stanford as a transfer?

HIGH SCHOOL
GPA:
2.9 uw, 3.6 w. (my Freshman year of HS, I almost flunked out. I was getting mostly As by my Sophomore year).
SAT:
1650 (OH I know. I’ll definitley retake it).
AP:
United States History: 4
English Language: 3
United States Government: 4
Macroeconomics: 4
Environmental Science: 3 (self-studied)
Psychology: 4
Physics 1: 3
Statistics: 4
Chemistry: 1
Human Geography: 2

COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Fall 2015 (15):
A: International Relations
A: United States Government and Politics
A: English 1C: Critical Thinking and Composition
A: Western Civilization 1
A: Introduction to Theater

Spring 2016 (18.5):
Comparative Politics
Social & Political Philosophy
Introduction to Logic
Elementary Spanish 1
Biological Anthropology
Improvisational Comedy

Extra Curricular Activities:
Last semester, I took notes for students w/disabilities.
President of a Political Science/Current Affairs club.
Was the head of the writing department at my summer camp. I led 4 creative writing activity blocks every day for three months.
I’m in my local Cal-State’s fraternity.
Debate Team.

This summer, I’ll be in Israel for three weeks; hopefully spend six weeks in Washington DC in an internship my Government prof. recommended me for; I’ll be in the Amazon for two weeks, doing some research on the ecology; and hopefully, I’ll be at Burning Man (lol).

I also applied to UCLA, Berkeley, UCSD, and UCSB because with my AP units, I’m a sophomore. It’s common for first-year sophomore applicants with high GPAs to be accepted into these schools. It’s looking good for me.

If next year I’m at UCLA, got a 4.0 in all of my CC classes, have the extra curriculars that I’m doing this summer, and am performing well at LA (As/A-s), should I apply to Stanford? Would they even look at me? Considering that I’ll technically be a “Junior” (even though I’ll only be a second year?).

2

You can apply but the number of transfer students accepted is very small.

3

It will depend on your essays and future test scores. However, there isn’t anything incredibly distinctive about the post; anyone can do those ECs.

4

@okon2122 planning and hosting a Ted Talk at my college, or presenting a CC research project at Berkeley in two months. If I did either/both of those things, would they substantially help?

5

@solostish Yes those would help immensely. Especially the research.

6

Realistically – not happening. Admission rates are lower for transfers than freshman. The admission rate for transfers is under 2%. They review your high school transcropt, and you have to provide test scores. Even if you retest, it is really impossible. Put your attention on whatever college (if any) you are admitted to this year and going well there.

7

Hey @solostish as someone who’s thinking about transferring to Stanford as well, I was wondering if you were successful or not, so that I can sort of understand what kinds of things I’d need to do next year in college if I decide to transfer.

8

Even top transfer students with elite statistics from ivy league schools don’t get into Stanford. Unless you have an amazing story, your stats are way below for Stanford