<p>I have heard that Yale and Harvard are pretty strict about unit or credit counts not being over a certain amount as a transfer applicant. According to most California Community College’s the limit is 60 units. I will be applying to Brown and Dartmouth as a Transfer applicant (Yes I know what the percentage is for my chances of getting in!). I have been searching to try and find if either school has a limit of 60 units as a transfer applicant as well? Or do they accept you if are over this amount? If they do, would they prefer if you did not?
I will go ahead and paste what I have successfully found to answer my question, and hopefully someone can help explain:</p>
<p>On Dartmouth Site:</p>
<p>Q. Is it better to apply as an entering sophomore or as a junior? Does Dartmouth have a preference?</p>
<p>A. Regardless of how many credits an applicant has earned before coming to Dartmouth, the admissions selection process for transfer students is the same. Since Dartmouth enrolls very few new transfer students each year, the College does not seek to enroll a specific number of new transfers into any one class year. </p>
<p>I also found this under “Evaluating Transfer Applications”:
An applicant’s year of graduation or the number of credits completed before enrolling at Dartmouth will not have an impact on the outcome of an application. Because Dartmouth enrolls such a small number of new transfer students each year, the Admissions Committee does not need to balance the numbers of students entering as new sophomores or juniors.</p>
<p>As for Brown I was unable to find anything relating to this…</p>
<p>Brown does not use units of that sort, so this is a hard question to answer. Under no circumstances can you transfer more than 2 years of credit, but it’s unclear if that just means you must be enrolled for 4 full semesters or if, in addition to the 4 semester requirement, they won’t give transfer credit anything beyond 2 years of your first institution. Typically, 2 years at Brown are the equivalent of 60-64 credit hours elsewhere, FWIW.</p>
<p>It sure was confusing for me to figure out as well. But seeing that it’s no more than 2 years worth, or a certain amount of hours, perhaps 60-64, would they reject your application for being over that certain amount? Or would they frown upon that, (lessening your chances)?.</p>
<p>I’m only asking because so far I am not over, but I have my classes planned out for the next two semesters and there are a few classes my counselor is advising me to take as extra, (Philosophy and another History class). She says they will be beneficial towards my major, English. However, I have asked her this question and she does not quite answer it. She will by saying, “USC is strict about their unit amount, but LMU is not”. Mind you I am at a Community College so I will be transferring. What I have told her is I want to go to a private college, Brown or Dartmouth, if I cannot I will apply to USC and LMU. So I take her words to mean, good luck!</p>
<p>So does anybody have any advice as to what I should do? Take the extra courses to help acquire more knowledge for my major, or not risk it? Seeing as how my chances are so low as is, I will do anything that will make me a greater candidate.</p>
<p>I’m applying as a transfer and I have a question about financial aid. I know transfer admission to Brown is need aware, but as somebody who could possibly get a small amount of aid (although still be able to pay for Brown without it), and as someone applying for aid primarily in case something happens in the future (like a parent losing a job) that would make aid necessary, is this going to greatly affect my chances at admission?</p>
<p>If anyone was ever curious as to the question I asked, I have found the answer. To my knowledge the units system is mostly used in Community Colleges, such as California. If you plan to transfer to a majority of private colleges, 60 units is the max. This is crucial for Ivy league universities. </p>
<p>Keep your units below a 60 count and you can apply!
Once you have applied they will then determine which units to grant credit to. </p>
<p>In regards to cfln93 question, because Brown is need-aware with transfer students, your decision to apply for financial aid does affect your chances of admission. However, do not worry so much, your great amount of work will speak for itself.</p>