Hi! Just wanted to start this thread for prospective transfers as the Common App just recently opened.
Here’s the university’s common data set: http://www.upenn.edu/ir/commondataset.html
The transfer acceptance rate for 2016-2017 was 9.3% as 229 of 2454 applicants were admitted.
Good luck to all and I hope this thread can be helpful 
College: California Community College
Major: Economics
GPA: 4.0 (on-track)
ECs: President of Business Club, member of Honors Club, member of Phi Theta Kappa, member of Terra club (pro-environment), internship at data logistics company, began a poker coaching business; where I coach people 1-on-1
SAT: 1440 (retaking - shooting for 1500+)
Public High school: 3.5 unweighted
Dropped out due to health reasons first semester junior year. Finished high school doing online/community college classes.
Attended a small vocational college in Oklahoma for a year after high school, where I fell in love with poker, and considered continuing to play professionally after school.
But finally made the decision to try to transfer to a 4-year instead, which I am doing now.
Extras:
Struggled with clinical depression and chronic migraines junior-senior year, which was likely due to my parents divorce too.
Struggled with coming to terms with how my public high school peers moved on to amazing universities and I did not.
I’ve lived in Europe (the Netherlands) and traveled to 30+ countries. Proficient in Dutch and French.
My father went to MIT, my mother is a Wellesley graduate.
I am applying for Sophomore transfer, and will likely apply again for junior transfer if I don’t get into any of the schools I am applying for.
Also applying to: Northwestern, UChicago, MIT, Tufts, Columbia for sophomore transfer
If I get rejected from all of them I’ll just do another year at Community college and apply to target and safety schools too.
@yiskers, Definitely try to get 1500+ on the SAT. Otherwise GPA and extracurriculars look good.
I’m not sure you want to talk about this in your app. Doesn’t seem like a compelling reason to apply to your target list of schools. You want to talk about why you want to go to these schools and not just because your friends did.
Also not really a “extra” that you would want to talk about except in your MIT app.
Really hoping to transfer to UPenn this year as a sophomore. That being said, we all know how dire the acceptance stats are lol. Here are my stats…what do you think?
Major: Economics and Creative Writing
Current School: The University of Michigan
High School GPA: 4.1 weighted, 3.82 unweighted
Rank: 12
High School Curriculum: Full IB Candidate, 4 APs, IB Diploma Received
ACT: 32 (or subscores 36E, 31M, 34R, 29S, 35W)
H.S. Extracurriculars:
Received Excellency in a Foreign Language Award, for Mandarin, at graduation (only 3 students/400 receive this)
College GPA: taking 15 credits first semester, hoping for 4.0
College Extracurriculars:
I received an endorsement by the Kelly Writers House when applying last year, hoping to receive it again (about 40 students get this from the House each year)
Race: White
Gender: Male
@ aoeuidhtns
I appreciate the advice. It can be hard to determine what is or isn’t a strength because our stories can be so rich, it can be hard to filter out all the noise.
@jed2021
Considering you’re transferring from what is already a top 40 school, you’ll definitely need to explain why you are worth the admission spot, over the majority of students attempting to transfer from lesser schools.
Yay! Thanks for commenting guys I thought this thread was going to be dead.
@yiskers @jed2021 I think you guys have great chances! Have you started your applications yet or have you been busy with schoolwork?
@jed2021 Why do you want to transfer out of UMich?
Thanks @WiseSeaweed ?
Are you applying too for next Fall?
I made last year’s thread but ended up not applying because I didn’t feel too qualified at that point. It was for the best, but with another year under my belt, I think I’ll give it a shot this time!
@yiskers Yes I’m planning on apply too!
@AGoodFloridian Yes I saw your UPenn post from last year! I’m glad you’re trying again for this year I saw your Princeton transfer post too - it’s super helpful!
Hoping to transfer into Wharton as a rising junior!
Current School: Merrimack College
Major: Mathematics-Economics/Business with a concentration in Finance
GPA: 4.0
EC’s:
Letters of Rec should be outstanding, coming from two professors, one of who is the chair of the Econ department and know quite well, the other is my marxian Econ theory professor. Supplemental letter from my academic coach who went to Penn and worked in Wharton admissions
High school: Average rural school in nowhere new hampshire
GPA: 3.2
SAT: 1820
EC’s:
Gender: Male, Race: White, Low-income
High school GPA and SAT score is dreadfully low compared to Penn applicants, but I’m hoping to explain my extenuating circumstances (living in poverty, off of food stamps, etc) in the common app or to an admissions counselor.
Best of luck to everyone that applies!
International Applicant
Current School: BITS Pilani, India(Top 10 school)(One of the most selective requiring your to write a super tough competitive exam for which people prepare for 2-4 years)
GPA: 4.0(8.9 CGPA converted)
12th Boards:96%(Top 1% in the country)
10th boards: 96%
ACT: 33 with a 36 in Math
EC’s:
-Structural Design Engineer at Hyperloop India taking part as one of the 25 teams in the SpaceX Hyperloop Design challenge, testing the pod at LA. Only team fro India and one of the two teams from Asia. Only freshman on the team.
-Part of the Debating club/ Car racing team/ SAE BAJA team and wall street club on campus
I will be applying for Aid. Anyone willing to chance me? TIA
Wow. Looks like some awesome people are applying this year. I hope you all get selected 
I currently attend Rutgers University in New Jersey and live in the Honors College
High School Statistics:
Freshman Year:
English Honors:A
Algebra 2 Honors:A
Spanish 4 Honors: A
US History Honors: A
Biology Honors: A
Mythology: A
Gym: A
Sophomore Year:
English Honors: A-
Precalculus Honors:A
Spanish 5 Honors: A-
World History Honors: A
Chemistry Honors: A-
Electives: A or A+
Gym: A
Junior Year:
AP Calculus BC: A
AP US History: A-
AP English I: A
AP Macroeconomics: A
AP Spanish:A
Physics Honors: A-
International Business and Politics Honors: A
Senior Year Final:
Calculus 3H: B+
AP Art History: A-
AP English II: B+
AP Physics: B+
AP Statistics: B+
AP Government: A
SAT: 1540, 22 on Essay
SAT II: 790 on Chem, 800 on Math II
Extracurricular: Model UN Officer- 8 Awards, FBLA Officer- Euro Challenge Finalist, Math Honors Society President, International Cultures Club President, American Legion Jersey Boys State, Cross Country Two Years
Volunteering: Relay for Life: Indian Cultural Society, Sunrise Assisted Living (Senior Retirement Home)
Walk in with 43 Credits from AP Exams
First Semester College:
Linear Algebra: A
Introduction to Abstract Algebra( Mathematical Reasoning)- B
Multivariable Calculus: B+
Management Skills: A
Honors Forum: A
Introduction to Computer Science: A
Classes next semester:
Introduction to Probability Theory:
Introduction to Management Honors:
Differential Equations:
Mandatory Honors Seminar:
Money, Banking, and Finance:
Clubs: Investment Banking Club, Quantitative Finance Club, Valuations Club, Equity Analyst at Student Managed Fund, Student Assembly, IMMUNA (Model UN) Chair
Plans: Join a fraternity, do a Co-op internship with pharmaceuticals.
Assuming I can get all As my mid-second semester, write a convincing essay, and get solid professor recommendations, what are my chances? I know I did poorly in two math courses, but I still have a 3.75.
Hi all! I’m applying to UPenn for fall of 2018. I technically applied as a first year because I don’t have enough college credits to be a transfer yet (more on that later). I’m trying to transfer because I have been repeatedly harassed by Bowdoin students and the administration did not care about me. It was torture to live with the people tormenting you in such a small, well-connected place. Life and college are too short to spend that time being unhappy. Btw I’m on medical leave now (taking 2 classes as NYU visiting student) because my fall semester was that terrible, so I worry that I’m applying from a bad position. Just wondering what y’all think my chances are…
Penn is my first choice and I said so in my apps.
Background: highly ranked public HS, suburban New Jersey
White male, two college educated parents
Major: Chemistry (so I don’t look like a premed)
Current School: Bowdoin College
High School GPA: 4.64 weighted, ~4.25 unweighted. Suburban NJ high schools offer AP everything (just putting #'s in context).
HS Rank: 4 / 350
High School Curriculum: took 7 AP courses, over 2 dozen AP offered, most core academic areas had honors section. Always took Honors or AP if it was available.
ACT: 35 (subscores 33E, 36M, 35R, 36S, 31W)
SAT Subject Tests: 790 Biology (sophomore year), 800 Chemistry (junior year), 800 Math 2 (junior year)
HS Activities:
College GPA: hoping for even mixtures of A’s and B’s, but I was probably decimated by O-chem 1. I’ll know for sure by the end of this week.
College Activities:
Best of luck to everyone going through this stressful process and maybe some of us will meet at Penn! 
Ok so I got my grades back and have a 3.68 GPA from my first semester. One step closer to (maybe…) being accepted to Penn in 3 months.
School Applying: Wharton
College: Purdue University (Honors)
Major: Business Undecided
Year: Freshman
GPA: 3.94
Classes:
Microeconomics Honors A-
The Evolution of Ideas (Required Honors Course) A
Applied Calculus I A
Introduction to Management A+
The Nature of Physics A
Elementary Psychology A
Awards:
Dean’s List
Semester Honors
Work Experience (Hook):
Vector Marketing- marketing division of CUTCO Cutlery, a line of luxury kitchen knives, cookware, utensils, and accessories, founded in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania State Representative Intern
-Assisted Representative Quinn with organizational and legislative duties
-Researched and presented on House Bill 1582 (providing aid to small local businesses)
High School: Central Bucks East (Pennsylvania Public High school)
High School GPA: 3.84 (Weighted)
SAT Score: 1380 (New)
710- Math
670- Reading
8/8- Essay
AP’s:
US History 5
Micro Economics 4
English Language and Composition 4
Statistics 4
Computer Science 3
High School EC’s:
Central Bucks High School East Football (Grades 9-12)
National Honor Society (Grades 11-12)
Central Bucks Orchestra - Cello (Grades 4-12)
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Grades 10-12)
Athletes Helping Athletes (Grades 10-12)
Key Club (Grades 11-12)
MiniTHON (Grade 12)
Leadership:
President - National Honor Society
Captain - Central Bucks High School East Varsity Football
Officer - Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Games and Recreational Coordinator for Missions Trip to Montreal
Captain - Relay For Life
Fundraising Committee Member - MiniTHON
Achievements and Awards:
Spanish Excellence Award
Central Bucks High School East Patriot Award - Trust
Sterling Limo Defensive Player of The Week for two weeks
Three Year Varsity Football Letter
AP Scholar
Extra:
White Male
Upper Middle Class
Pennsylvania Resident
Vector marketing is literally a pyramid scheme
Mostly.
Don’t know how the top business school in the country is going to look your experience in what is seen as a pyramid scheme…