<p><a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=517797[/url]”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=517797</a></p>
<p>As a transfer student this pass year, I am of course disappointed. I liked our transfer class size. I?m guessing they?re hovering around 35 to 40 this year?so spring transfers can probably expect less of a community.</p>
<p>Like i previously said, transfers have been reduced.</p>
<p>ouch…</p>
<p>‘“It is obviously a much smaller pool numerically, and there are more people who applied who perhaps shouldn’t have applied,” added Fitzsimmons.’</p>
<p>Story of my life… ;P</p>
<p>Good luck everyone.</p>
<p>Actually, it’s a funny thing that you highlighted that quote; some of my transfer friends here are literally outraged…</p>
<p>so…around 40-50 will be accepted now, right, that’s unfortunate.</p>
<p>any word on what the breakdown of the admitted students will be in terms of incoming sophomores and juniors? Half and half? Is the applicant pool like that too?</p>
<p>Honestly I don’t know the answer to that question.</p>
<p>WindCloud, what was the approximate breakdown of transfers entering your year?</p>
<p>By the way, your transfer friends shouldn’t be too outraged because if they got in then they were people who definitely should have applied…</p>
<p>Well, we understand that admissions decisions are the responsibility of the administration; we admit that the decision to decrease the number of transfers is a decision that in fact will have little impact on current transfers. What I should have pointed out was that the indignation resulted from one of Dean Fitzsimmon’s quotes: </p>
<p>“It is obviously a much smaller pool numerically, and there are more people who applied who perhaps shouldn’t have applied,” added Fitzsimmons. </p>
<p>Some transfers (not all though…and some are rather vocal in their opposition) believe that Fitzsimmons should clarify what he said because some took it as an insult. I personally don’t think he intended it to be so, considering his second-in-command was a transfer student herself. But some students were (rightly or wrongly) upset by it.</p>
<p>Does that mean they’re going to take 40 more people from the RD pool this year?</p>
<p>Probably more than just 40 more RD’s, because their yield isn’t quite 100%…though I really don’t know at all.</p>
<p>So instead of a about 5% acceptance its gonna be 2-3% for transfers? I just read that % somewhere not totally sure if its accurate. So your chances of acceptance got from not good to not good :S</p>
<p>haha, that means none of you guys here will get in!!</p>
<p>It’s Harvard, we, mere mortals, have no chance</p>
<p>haha…that’s what i thought last year. Dont give up hope.</p>
<p>maybe your friends take things too seriously?</p>
<p>That’s possible. I’m not personally offended in anyway nor do I think the change in policy (probably temporary anyway) will affect me in any significant way (if at all). However, I strongly believe that a larger transfer class is better than a smaller transfer class. For one thing (if slightly selfish), it makes the transition into a new environment easier. Yale, which only takes 20 or so transfers, is notorious for the difficulty in assimilation. I’m sure if you are a generally likable person, eventually you will find a niche at any school (or most schools at least save a few I’m not going to name). But, with a bigger group, it certainly makes it easier. That’s my personal opinion. Some people believe a smaller transfer class leads to more cohesion and a more tight-knit community. Who’s to say that’s wrong? </p>
<p>Many transfer are also hoping to make some noise (with this opportunity) about the constant changes in transfer advising in the past several years. They decided to change the structure of the program at the beginning of the school year and inexplicably, decided to change it again in the middle of the year. We’re looking for some answers to that. That’s all.</p>
<p>Princeton doesn’t take any transfers. I think THAT policy needs revisiting…</p>
<p>Wow, I wish I could have back the hours I worked on my application.</p>
<p>How is Harvard with credits transferring from other institutions? Do most transfer students graduate in four years? Do most students transfer after sophomore year at their respective institutions? Also, are most transfers from the Massachusetts area, and from private universities? I attend a public university in the South and was wondering about the prevalence of students like myself as Harvard transfers. One last question: How are transfer students at Harvard treated?</p>