What would it take to get into an Ivy?

Transfer Students
1

<p>As I work through my transfer applications, I can't hope but wonder what the big verdict will be next May. I know the basics - a "good" reason why you want to transfer; good scores/gpa; college prof recs; compelling essays. But what I want to know from you CC'ers is what does it REALLY take to get into an ivy as a transfer, or other selective schools ie. Stanford, University of Chicago, NYU etc. </p>

<p>Is there something extra a transfer must posess (besides the obvious) that a freshman applicant would not? How good does one's reason have to be? </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Luck (10 char)</p>

3

<p>Cliche as it sounds, you must present them a unique and sophisticated understanding of the world or human condition in your essays that makes them want you to be a part of their campus.</p>

4

<p>mindblowing ec's...not just very good ec's because everybody applying to the ivys has really good ec's...but something that is really going to make you standout from all the other applicants with 4.0s</p>

5

<p>I just found the 2006 transfer thread and was going over it. Something that kinda puzzled me were all these 3.9s and 4.0s getting rejected while 3.5s and 3.7s were getting in. I don't think any of the 3.9-4.0s (that posted) got in. And those that were accepted seemed to be exclusively in the 3.6 range.</p>

<p>Is it possible that the thinking behind the admissions team is that those with high GPAs are thriving at their current college and those with lower GPAs would actually benefit from transfering? I realize that I'm ignoring all other factors, but it's still weird I think.</p>

6

<p>If it helps....I was accepted for transfer to Cornell in 2005 with these numbers (I applied as a freshman):</p>

<p>College:
GPA: 3.85 (3.69 at the time of application...midterm report bumped it up)
EC: swim team, orchestra, research (but not at my college). Not much....but being on the swim team absorbed a disgusting amount of my time :-)</p>

<p>High School:
GPA: 3.8 (UW)
SAT: 1250
ACT: 28
EC: swim team (captain senior year), student council secretary (senior year), yearbook (editor senior year), research with a lot of publications</p>

7

<p>WaywardTrojan: no offense but that seems a little ridiculous for you to make such a statement. No admissions office anywhere that I'm aware of has stated that they look for such things in an applicant, do you have some inside information we should know about?</p>

<p>Anyways, back on topic it's pretty simple: you need to have stellar grades and EC's and a compelling reason for why you should be admitted. No one on these boards who works for admissions at these schools is going to post here or answer such a question so it just doesn't get any more specific than that.</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
Something that kinda puzzled me were all these 3.9s and 4.0s getting rejected while 3.5s and 3.7s were getting in. I don't think any of the 3.9-4.0s (that posted) got in. And those that were accepted seemed to be exclusively in the 3.6 range.</p>

<p>Is it possible that the thinking behind the admissions team is that those with high GPAs are thriving at their current college and those with lower GPAs would actually benefit from transfering?

[/quote]
The notion that you "need" a 4.0 to transfer to a highly selective institution is a construct that exists solely here on cc. A 3.6ish GPA is stellar, so someone with such a GPA is in no way inferior in ability or achievement than someone with a 4.0.</p>

<p>There is simply so much more that goes into a successful transfer application. You could compare it to freshman admissions, where those with perfect 1600 or 2400 SAT scores are not accepted and those with excellent but lesser scores are accepted.</p>

<p>This is not surprising or mysterious. It is NOT all about the numbers. Other factors, such as prof recs, essays...., are vitally important and are not represented by some stat in the applicant's profile.</p>

<p>And no, I am quite sure adcoms are not thinking - this one is thriving where s/he is so we won't admit.</p>

<p>Anyone who takes the time, as GlueEater did, to check the actual admissions results - even of just the subset of folks who participate here on cc - will see that the 4.0GPA is not the "ticket" to sure admissions and the 3.5-3.7GPA is not the harbinger of doom.</p>

<p>I try to say it all the time, but seems people still over-focus on the "perfect" GPA. </p>

<p>Bottom line: perform well in your current school. Arm yourself with a 3.5+GPA to maximize your chances. Do not worry about any GPA below 3.5. Focus on all of the other aspects of your educational experience, beyond GPA.</p>

<p>Although waywardtrojan may have overstated the case a bit, he makes the important point that your reason for transferring, and the insight about yourself/the world/your fit for the transfer school that you can show in your essays... these are important. He is exactly right, the transfer school wants to admit students who will add something to the campus community. Something which can't be measure by GPA alone.</p>

9

<p>I don't know about most Ivies, but I'm applying to Cornell from NYU and I know Cornell is all about FIT FIT FIT. They want to see that you're extremely passionate and dedicated to your choice of major, and that your EC's strongly reflect that. They seem to weight the essays/Ec's heavily and really want to know how your goals can be accomplished specifically by going to Cornell, (not a vague reason for transfer) and specifically what it is you can contribute to Cornell.</p>

10

<p>a large donation to the school from mom & dad?</p>

11

<p>jwlstn:</p>

<p>If you read and believe only what the admissions offices publish on their sites, you are at a loss. Sit down with and speak to the adcoms and they will tell you the same thing I did. I spoke to an Assistant Dean of Admissions at USC before transferring and he said precisely what I did: That the adcoms have to decide whether or not you will be a good and successful fit at the school and contribute to the campus. It is determined by your transcript and, to a lesser extent the SATs/ACTs, which all collectively indicate your likelihood for academic success. Your essays and recommendations are what illuminate the person you are and showcase what you have to bring to the community as a human being.</p>

<p>Besides, the OP did not ask for the obvious GPA/SAT information that we all know. Good grades (i.e. at least at or above 3.5), scores (i.e. at or above the school's median), and a compelling reason for transferring are givens for almost all successful applicants. The variables are the essays and recommendations, which add a new dimension to the applicant and can often make or break him/her. It is there that you can present to adcoms a unique, sincere side of yourself that numbers simply cannot reflect. It is there where the ambiguity and subjectivity lie.</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
If you read and believe only what the admissions offices publish on their sites, you are at a loss.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I agree with wayward the world over..</p>

13

<p>Hey all, </p>

<p>These are all great answers. Wayword, you're right - I was not asking about the obvious stuff - we all know that to get into ANY selective schools there are some basic things that one needs to have ie. good grades, tests scores, ECs and the like. These can be circumvented only if, one's parents donate large sums of money and have connections in the university or one is a superstar athlete. I'm asking about cases other than those two.</p>

<p>We know what a good applicant to an ivy is, heck MOST applicants are good applicants. Maybe a small percentage are applicants that really should not be applying. I spoke to a Harvard Admissions Officer who told me that maybe 90% of Harvard applicants can do the work and do well, so they pick the most unique candidates to fill those coveted seats. (Of course this is for freshman standing, as we all know Harvard suspended its transfer program this year)</p>

<p>I guess no online forum can adequately tell us about how unique one candidate is, because its all relative. If I am really good at playing the violin, but 40% of applicants put playing the violin as their top EC, of course the uniqueness of my EC is diminished - unless I have won some prestigious awards or have recognition others do not. </p>

<p>As I write my transfer application to Columbia, and wonder of my chances, I think in relative terms. How would I look at this EC or this grade in this class, from the perspective of an Admissions Officer that is viewing hundreds of applications from good applicants. It makes life slightly harder but allows for realistic goals and expectations, of courses coupled with idealistic hope as I send my app in.</p>

<p>Thanks all!</p>

14

<p>Do you think that activities that relate more to your major carry more weight? Does it really matter what you excel at? I think one should focus on a few core activities rather than a large range of activities.</p>