current freshman at t15 LAC looking at sophomore spring or junior fall transfer for better social fit, larger undergrad population, and more class options. top choice Brown but also considering Northwestern, Dartmouth, UPenn, Duke, Georgetown, etc. Rejected from Brown for first-year admission. Waitlisted from Northwestern, Dartmouth last year as well.
high school gpa: 3.9high
college gpa: 3.85 (will try to get it to 3.9x when applying).
decent/ordinary ECs and full pay
ACT 35. Sorry I should have been more clear. I want to remain at an institution where academics are a priority, while finding a school with more of a party culture.
Also, I am currently attending a HWC and I would like to be in a co-ed environment.
Brown’s party culture is pretty lame, to be honest. Yes on the academics, no on the partying. Students are involved in the arts- both on campus and in Providence, volunteering, sports/outdoors, etc. But you won’t find the kind of party culture that’s present at many other schools so just fair warning.
What do you want to study and where are you finding your current college lacking intellectually? Start there…. the best transfer applications are about the intellectual environment and the academics. “Gee, she wants more partying- let’s let THIS one in even though we rejected her already, amirite?” said no adcom ever…..
I see - so they’re only a high priority at schools US News ranks highly ?
So you want out of Smith, Vassar, Wellesley or Barnard ? My point remains - academics are a focus most everywhere and many publics and privates have Honors Colleges to boot.
My son and daughter both got their butts kicked - 1) an engineer at an SEC public and he had stats like yours or higher. They have amongst the most NMFs, if not the most. And the other at a regional publicly where she was in a sub group of Honors.
You named great schools but there are far more where academics are prioritized - whether it’s an Emory or UGA, a Pitt or Villanova, a Bing or Syracuse, ETC.
My point stands.
If you want what you say, expand your list or you might not have any options.
And your statement is - I don’t want to say ridiculous but ridiculous ? Why don’t you apply to Harvard - where most are given As.
Don’t conflate rank with rigor or academic prioritization vs other schools.
Apply to your list but have assured schools to hit.
Give you more context - Penn admitted 145 of 4521 applicants, Duke 92 of 2285.
Is Tulane any less academic? They let in 510 of 849. Wake - 151 of 421. W&M 440 of 963. Pitt - strong in most every area - 1142 of 2528.
There are many, many, many GREAT schools and truth is you don’t know the academic strength of any school. You know the U.S. News ranking.
Take your shot but be honest with what you seek because your list would be a lot wider based on your rationale.
These are tough schools to transfer into.
To me this does seem valid. The world is a co-ed environment.
Does the school that you are currently attending have an exchange program with other schools in the area? As one example students at Wellesley College are allowed to take classes at MIT, and I think most likely at Brandeis and Babson if I am remembering correctly. Wellesley used to allow cross registration at Harvard but I am not sure whether this is still true.
To me the chances of getting accepted as a transfer student to any of “Brown, Northwestern, Dartmouth, UPenn, Duke, Georgetown“ are relatively low. If you are sure that you want to transfer, you might need to apply to some universities that are easier to get into. You have strong academics and there are lots of very good universities that you could transfer to.
Also, generally if you give us more information you might get more useful advice. As examples, we do not know your budget, your major, or what you hope to accomplish in university (and yes the last point might be hard to answer).
I think applying to transfer to schools that you were previously not accepted makes those schools very unlikely.
Cornell and Vanderbilt, while still reachy, are more transfer friendly than some of the other schools you listed.
If you are part of a consortium, are you going to apply to transfer to one of the co-ed schools that are part of your consortium?
Full pay - so that’s where a BU (34%), Tulane (60%), U Miami (53%), Binghamton (45%), Villanova (43%), Wake 36%- etc. there’s schools that prize full pay.
What you don’t know - a BU or Miami - what % are guaranteed transfer from the year prior.
No one ever said schools like these don’t prioritize academics.
I was thinking Cornell, but knowing like BU and Miami, they have guaranteed transfer to boost the rate. Their rate is 9.2% so what is it without the guaranteed transfer ?
Vandy is 22.2%. They are need blind but no merit possible. But it’s reasonable for sure.
The need aware schools will love the full pay. Wake, Miami, Tufts, Rochester…but the last two won’t have the social life. Not sure if OP wants smaller or a certain geography but USC at 22% is another possibility.
If they want smaller, in addition to W&M, Richmond at 46% is a great name as is Bucknell (21%) - would give OP the heft they desire as well as party and spirit. Note while both are LACs, UR is a heavy b school presence and Bucknell has both business and engineering - but both are larger, allegedly LACs.
Another that would be a home run with a world class rep, with the party and sports - SMU - 77%.
So many great schools for OP, in addition to the ones she listed.
In my opinion, you have a decent chance at Northwestern, U Penn and Georgetown. But, if seeking a more social environment, Vanderbilt University might be a better option.
Your reasons for applying as a transfer applicant are reasonable.
There will be more social interaction between males and females at a co-ed university, but the party scene for an upperclassman (junior or senior) will be less pronounced than it might have been for an incoming freshman or sophomore.
Your list of target schools is understandable.
P.S. Wanting more of a social environment is a valid reason for transferring from a single sex school.
NU, Dartmouth, Penn, and Duke only take fall transfers. The longer you wait to transfer the less important your HS record will be in the admission decision. Full pay will be an advantage at all these schools. You might consider NU ED, if that ends up being your top choice.
If you are certain you want to transfer I would add some schools with more reasonable admit rates. What major are you looking at?
For your essays you will have to come up with reasons you want to transfer from your current school. Wanting a co-ed environment is a fine reason, wanting more of a social campus/party culture is not. Most of the essays should focus on why the new school is a better fit and how you will engage when on campus. What are your college ECs now?
Instead of transferring you might also consider studying abroad for junior year. Good luck.
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Go big or go home. If you want a co-ed experience and parties, pick something completely different. Not just a minor incremental change within the same caste of schools. San Diego State, Arizona State, Florida State - if you are up to the challenge of balancing academic with a “robust” social life.