How is the transfer policy at Vassar? is it really hard to get in as a tranfer?
Vassar Transfer FAQs: http://admissions.vassar.edu/apply/answers/transfer.html
As far as difficulty goes, from the Common Data Set, it looks like Vassar has admitted about 30-40 out of about 280 transfer applicants each of the past few years, for an average admit rate of about 13%. For comparison, Colgate’s numbers are very similar, Amherst and Middlebury are just under 10% and Hamilton is about 20%. Keep in mind that schools like these have extremely high freshman-to-sophomore retention rates, which leave very slots for transfers. In fact, each of these end up enrolling only about 9-10 (sometimes even fewer) transfers each year.
@otisp for hamilton, do you know if that is the statistics for the fall and spring transfer admissions or just fall. It says Fall 2014 but doesn’t include statistics for spring so…
I think they only take fall transfers.
@collegemom3717 i am talking about hamilton college, which does take spring transfers
Sorry- was focusing on the Vassar part…
Vassar actually does list a spring transfer deadline date, but I couldn’t tell you for sure whether they actually accept anyone for that. Other similar colleges that list spring transfer deadlines include: Amherst, Colby, Colgate, Lafayette, Middlebury, and Oberlin. And, unfortunately the CDS doesn’t break out spring and fall transfer rates.
@otisp do you think spring transfer is easier to get in/ less competitive?
Sorry, no clue specifically about Vassar. I have read that other colleges tend to receive about 75-80% fewer apps for the spring, but the number of openings also seem to be commensurately lower. The fall v. spring transfer decision has other considerations, and Lewis & Clark put together a good page addressing the same general issues that I’ve seen mentioned elsewhere: https://college.lclark.edu/offices/admissions/transfer/spring_transfer/
@otisp this is a great insight, but i think it is say adjusting to college as a transfer student in the spring is tougher than in the fall. doesnt really go into if admission is harder or easier in the fall or spring.
i wouldn’t mind the transition in the spring as long as i get in. I would rather get in in the spring than not get in in the fall. so i dont know if i should apply this year for next fall or wait next a year and apply for spring transfer
The number of openings is so small that it is all but impossible to offer meaningful advice: there is only an opening if somebody leaves, not that many people leave, and even a small variance year on year changes the odds. There might be 3 spaces one spring and none the next. If you know that you really want to do it, go for the soonest one- sounds as if for this fall. If you are not successful, re-apply for the spring.
My daughter transferred to Vassar this year. At orientation I learned there were 5 transfer kids (ironically another of the transfers was another girl from our small town - she had gone to private high school so my daughter hadn’t met her before).
My daughter had applied to the Ivies as well and Kenyon and Colorado College. She got into Vassar and Kenyon. For HS she had a 4.5 and decent SATs. She got at least a 3.5 her freshman year at BU. (She was in the conservatory theater program at BU and transferred because she decided she wanted a more liberal arts/academic experience).
She chose Vassar over Kenyon in part because they do an excellent job specifically supporting transfer kids. The transfers are all put in the same hour (same floor, etc.) along with foreign and exchange kids. So you’re in there with a bunch of kids in the same situation as you, new but not freshman. She’s really loving it so far.
God luck.
@maillotpois congratulations to your daughter for beating the odds and getting transfer acceptances to 2 wonderful schools! Kenyon was also in S’s consideration set, but he’s never regretted choosing Vassar. It’s great to hear things are working out for her, as well.