What Are My Chances At Transferring To These Schools?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I was recently accepted to schools like Columbia and Stanford, but none of my top choices gave me enough financial aid. Unfortunately, I’m in a position where I think I need to attend a UC this year in order to save money. I wish I had applied to a broader range of private schools, and ones that would be more likely to offer aid.</p>

<p>Having said that, I am looking at transferring to certain schools for my sophomore year of college (I will be starting my freshman year this fall). </p>

<p>The schools that I am looking at are:</p>

<p>Boston College
Boston University
Brown University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Georgetown University
Harvard University
Johns Hopkins University
New York University
Northwestern University
Pomona College
Rice University
Stanford University
Tufts University
University of Chicago
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
USC
Yale University</p>

<p>I want to narrow down my list, but I don't want to make the same mistake I did this year of just picking top schools and either getting wait-listed or getting in and not getting money. So, I was wondering what schools are most likely going to accept me as a transfer. I appreciate constructive criticism, but please don't take out angry emotions about not getting in on me. I would fully appreciate what honest and truthful information I can be given.</p>

<p>I also wanted to know if I should take the SAT again and whether transfer schools look at SAT IIs. And do they put more of an emphasis on high school GPA and work or first year of college GPA/work?</p>

<p>H.S. GPA: 3.66 (unweighted), 4.1-4.2 (weighted)
SAT: V: 700, M: 640, W: 680 (1340/2020) – I’m planning on taking it again… should I?
SAT IIs: Lit: 680, math IC: 650, math IIc: 520, Biology: 500 (I know most of these are poor; I did not study or prepare at all)</p>

<p>I did 3 years of varsity and JV swimming, was school president for two years, did all of the honors clubs and whatnot, have great recommendations, officer positions, a lot of extracurriculars, and job internships, merit scholarships coming up… </p>

<p>I will be attending either UCSD or UCLA this year. How good are my chances?</p>

2

<p>It really depends on your college gpa as well. I know that as a sophmore transfer your high school grades will be weighed heavier than a junior transfer would. It's always a crapshoot with the elite schools you've mentioned like Penn, Yale, etc. But I think schools like USC, Tufts, Northwetern, etc. are all doable. Just work hard your freshman year if you don't like it. But maybe it's the case you'll like it wherever you go to school</p>

3

<p>Thanks a lot. Your help really makes getting through this process easier. </p>

<p>I also wanted to know if I should take the SAT again and whether transfer schools look at SAT IIs.</p>

4

<p>NYU won't take SATs after a high school is complete. Some of the other schools may not accept them as well. That considered, your scores were pretty good and I would not consider retaking them. Put more focus into college GPAs, getting to know your professors, being involved (including work experience), and making sure the schools want you.</p>

<p>If you transfer during your Freshman year, high school grades and SATs will still be important. If you wait to apply after you have one FULL year of college officially completed with around 30 credits, your previous stats will be much less important (but still considered).</p>

<p>All that being said, NYU has craptastic financial aid and is extremely expensive. Although bad financial aid does not deter all of us ;)</p>

5

<p>On NYU's website, it says: "Students who are currently completing the first semester of their freshman year at a college or university are not eligible to apply for spring transfer admission to the College of Arts and Science."</p>

<p>So does that mean I can't transfer in for the spring semester? Because ianjt said that I could transfer in during Freshman year, but apparently not... </p>

<p>yeah, the financial aid thing makes it less likely that i'll apply there. </p>

<p>does anyone know if any of the schools on my list will allow students to transfer in during the freshman year of college?</p>

6

<p>Also, about college GPA, everyone keeps saying that you can't transfer into a top school without a perfect 4.0 in college... what is wrong with a 3.7-3.9??</p>

7

<p>With a freshman retention rate of about 98% at Pomona, there just aren't that many spots open for sophomore transfers. For instance, according to their common data set <a href="http://www.pomona.edu/institutionalresearch/collegedata/docs/ComDateSet.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.pomona.edu/institutionalresearch/collegedata/docs/ComDateSet.pdf&lt;/a> , Pomona received 178 transfer applications and accepted only 14 (acceptance rate 7.9%) in 2006. Might want to concentrate your efforts elsewhere.</p>

8

<p>Certain other schools within NYU accept for Freshman transfers, you have to look on the site for that. There is nothing wrong with a 3.7 if your grades are weighted. A 3.7 is hard to achieve and maintain, I don't know who told you that you need a 4.0 to get in...</p>

9

<p>did you try to appeal your financial aid package at columbia/stanford/etc? I've heard of people calling and saying "Hey, University X is offering me this much money. Can you match that?" and sometimes the school says yes.</p>

10

<p>Yes, I appealed all my financial aid packages. Columbia clearly stated that they don't consider other schools' offers as a basis of changing their aid packages. Stanford offered a small grant on top (which surprised me) but it doesn't nearly begin to cover their tuition. </p>

<p>By the way, someone's mother on another thread said she didn't believe I could get in. Well, I want to clarify that that is an insult to how hard I have worked in my life. I DID get in, and I'm not going to fight it beyond this point. The end of that.</p>

<p>Also, do colleges weigh their grades? I thought everything was on a 4.0 scale...</p>

11

<p>+/- systems usually. An A- only counts for 3.6-3.7 points and an A+ only counts for a 4.0.</p>

<p>So, if you're like me and get ONE A-, you can never have a 4.0 again. It's stupid in a sense but then again, everyone realizes that that is how it goes and an A- GPA (typical GPA for accepted transfers) is a 3.7.</p>

12

<p>They Do That In College, Too??
I Thought That Was Only In High School!</p>

13

<p>My guess is that if you got into Columbia and Stanford now, if you maintain your good academics at whichever UC you go to, you can probably get into most of the schools on your list.</p>

<p>And yes, you cannot have a 4.0 in college unless you go to a very easy one. Welcome to the real world, kids ;)</p>

14

<p>But do they really grade an A- as lower? I didn't know this kind of thing happened in college, too.</p>

15

<p>Yup. +/- system...</p>

16

<p>You certainly did beat the odds if you are a non hooked candidate who got into Columbia and Stanford with your stats. As they are 100% need meet schools, they have determined that your need is lower than you believe it is. That will not change if your parent's have the same income and assets next year.</p>

<p>Transferring to these schools is harder to do than to get in as a freshman. UCs, with their weeder classes are not easy places to get high GPAs.</p>

<p>Have you run all the numbers with your parents? Is there any way to finance one of those schools. UCs are usually not generous with aid so while they're cheaper, kids often end up with more loans.</p>

17

<p>I do have hooks. I want to be more specific, but I don't want to give a lot away in terms of identity. I'm a little cautious b/c I've been robbed already. At UC Davis, mind you all who are going there in the fall. </p>

<p>UCSD has offered me scholarships and, yes, I've run through the options. My mother might quit her job and we've had some changes financially which will become more significant over the next year than they are now. I'm hoping these changes will be reflected.</p>

<p>But, as of now, I submitted my SIR to UCSD. </p>

<p>I know transferring is difficult, but if I apply to many, I'm sure I'll get into a few. </p>

<p>Has anyone heard about the most recent transfer data for the schools? I have information from College Board, but I don't know how recent it is.</p>

18

<p>I'm gonna bump this. i have lots of questions. </p>

<p>DOES ANYONE know about the most recent transfer data (acceptance rates, etc.) for these schools? I know college board info, but that's it:</p>

<p>Boston College
Boston University
Brown University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Georgetown University
Harvard University
Johns Hopkins University
New York University
Northwestern University
Pomona College
Rice University
Stanford University
Tufts University
University of Chicago
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
USC
Yale University</p>

19

<p>I'm just really worried that I'll end up spending a good deal of money on all these schools and filling out the forms... and that my GPA will drop, and it'll be hard to get awards and recognition at the new school, or that I won't like.</p>

<p>I just need more information.</p>

20

<p>Has anyone here transferred from a UC to a private school their sophomore year?</p>