<p>I need some direction! Should I apply as a transfer student or as an undergraduate? My situation is somewhat unique and was wondering what direction I should take. I only went 1 year to high school. I got all A's and after that, because of my father's work requiring him to move the family, instead of starting at a new high school I started taking college courses instead. The college I have been attending is a very good liberal arts college (US News lists it in the top 50). I have finished my first year there with 28 credits and a GPA of 3.8. I took Calculus I & II, French I & II, Two Writing courses, and a History course and a Philosophy course. I am already registered for next year. I would like to go to Harvard as that has always been a goal of mine. So the question, next fall should I submit a regular application or should I submit an application for transfer? I never took the SATs and at this point dont know if I should. I can get excellent references from several of my college professors. Do I stand a better chance applying for transfer or should I just try the regular application process and just note that I would be willing to give up my college credits and start over as a freshman if accepted?</p>
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Once a student has completed one year of full-time study at a single college or university, he or she ordinarily may apply to Harvard only as a transfer student.
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<p>Thank you for your reply. I have visted the link and still not sure what to do. I am not considered a full time student at college only part time. I can/could apply for full time status after I completed 18 credit hours. I did not do that. So this fall I will continue to stay under the radar of full time status. Having reviewed the link on the one hand it implies I should apply as a transfer student and on the other it suggests applying as a freshman.
I suppose the big question is in what pool would I have a better chance. If it is to apply as a freshman, do I or should I take the SAT's.</p>
<p>I'd call the admissions office. Give a short description of your situation to whomever picks up the phone, and ask if you can talk to your regional representative if possible. The question isn't really what pool would you have a better chance in, it's what pool do you belong in. The freshman admit pool is probably "easier" percentage wise than the transfer pool, but if you don't qualify for admission as a freshman you're not going to have any luck.</p>
<p>If for whatever reason you have no luck when you call the admissions office, PM me.</p>
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<p>I never took the SATs and at this point dont know if I should.</p>
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<p>Transfer applicants have to take them too, so if you want to apply, you don't have a choice (unless you want to substitute the ACT).</p>
<p>I finally called the admissions office and having explained my situation was told that their postion would be to view my application as a freshmen rather then as a transfer student. I guess on the one hand that could be a benefit. The percentage of admits to apps is nearly twice that as to transfer (about 4%). Also, I could apply this year or even next year. Since they basically view me as a high school student, if I applied this year that would equal my junior year in hs. The negative side to all this is that if I were accepted, I would not recieve any credit for all the courses I had taken. That hurts when you consider I would have completed Calculus I & II, French I & II, Chemistry, Biology, as well as other similiar Harvard courses. The college I attend now may not have the Harvard name but having had the opportunity to visit H and sit in on some of the courses I have taken, I can't say that H is more demanding. In fact one of the courses at H, having reviewed the syllabus was not nearly as good as the one I took. It could be difficult to give up two or three years worth of work for the H name but who knows. Guess I will have to wait and see which way the wind finally blows.</p>
<p>Look at it this way- if you were in high school, you would have had to have taken challenging AP classes as well, and you wouldn't receive any credit that many other schools accept (AP credit, that is).</p>
<p>EAS. Yes your right on that note, except they were not AP courses and they were/are college courses that all count towards a degree. AP courses are not as challenging as the same course in college. I refer to Calculus I & II as an example. I suppose I could double up on courses If I were to go to H as the retaking would serve more or less as just a refreher which should not be that demanding.</p>
<p>Scooter:</p>
<p>Lots of students go to Harvard or similar colleges after taking many college courses for which they will not receive credit. This includes the kind of courses you have listed. That does not mean they have to repeat the same courses. It means that they can take more advanced courses. If you wish to receive credit for Calc1&II, you can always take the BC Calc exam. Ditto for French and for History. You'll need 4 AP scores of 5 to receive Advanced Standing.
By the way, Harvard is rather generous about AS. There are plenty of LACs that do not offer the option, period.</p>
<p>marite..yes you are right. I suppose I could/should take the AP's for the courses that I have/will complete at the college I'm at now. It is still the thought that instead of completing my BA in four years, if I were accepted and and go to H it will mean more like 6 or 7 (combined).</p>
<p>One nice thought about attending H would be that I would probably really enjoy the college atmosphere/life, which now I don't really have the opportunity to do. I don't live on campus so I just show up for my classes and usually leave at the end of the day.</p>
<p>My S has 9 college courses and 6 APs. He will not receive credit for his college courses but his APs qualify him for Advanced Standing. I have every expectation that he will want to stay all four years. There are too many wonderful courses he can take above and beyond those he has already taken.</p>
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It is still the thought that instead of completing my BA in four years, if I were accepted and and go to H it will mean more like 6 or 7 (combined).
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<p>scooter- you are supposed to be a junior in HS, right? Even if Harvard or another school makes you enter as a freshman, you'll still be getting your BA 2 years earlier than if you'd completed HS.</p>
<p>marite- The majority of students at Harvard are eligible for advanced standing, but only about 50 take it per class. So your son is definately in the majority! I know one girl who did this, and she stayed on for a 4th yr (would have been her r yr) to get a master's degree.</p>
<p>Yes, I agree. It's just the thought of the additional years plus adding on the years for Law School. But I suppose the four years or so at H would be great.</p>