Transfering To A More Prestigious College

Transfer Students
1

I would appreciate some advice on how to successfully transfer from the University of Iowa to a more prestigious college. I have two plans in mind: 1.) to transfer to Stanford University and 2.) to transfer to a more prestigious college to complete my undergrad studies and then move to Stanford University to complete my post-grad studies.

I am unsure of whether colleges will still look at my high school records when I apply as a transfer student. So, I am currently exploring extracurricular activities, internship and work-study opportunities, and project ideas at the school I will be attending as an incoming freshman this year: the University of Iowa.

A.) Here’s some info about me:
-I want to double-major in computer science and art.
-I may take computer science classes at the University of Iowa, if there’s still room available.
-My highest level of math is Pre-Calculus, while my highest level of science is Chemistry.
-Many of the electives I chose are science classes.
-The only computer course I took is Intermediate Microsoft Applications.

High School Courses and Grades:
My high school GPA is a 3.94 on a 4.00-scale.
a. Freshman
----Religious studies: 91
----Language and Literature: 90
----Geography: 92
----French 1: 92
----Honors Algebra: 91
----Biology: 96
----Principles of Biomedical Science: 90
b. Sophomore
----Religious studies: 97
----American Literature: 92
----Honors World History: 94
----French 2: 90
----Honors Geometry: 91
----Human Body Systems: 91
----Physical Education/Health: 99
c. Junior
----Religious studies: 97
----Creative writing: 97
----Honors British Literature: 91
----Honors United States History: 92
----Honors Algebra 2: 89
----Honors Chemistry: 91
----Medical Interventions: 91
----Art: 97
d. Senior (only 1st semester)
----Religious studies: 96
----Honors English: 93
----Criminal Justice Online Course: 99
----Honors United States Government: 93
----Honors Pre-Calculus: 93
----Biomedical Interventions: 92
----Forensic Science: 95
----Introduction to Epidemiology: 98
----Art: 97

Honors and Awards:
-National Honor Society, grades 11-12
-National Art Honor Society, grade 12
-National French Honor Society, grades 10-12

Enrichment Activities
-FBI Teen Academy, grade 10
-SAGES Mini-Medical School, grade 10
-UCLA Design Media Art Camp, grade 11
-DC3 Cyber Crime Case Challenge, grade 10

Clubs
-Vice president and co-founder of the STEM Club, grade 12
-Member of the Robotics Club, grades 9 and 12
-Member of the It’s Academic team, grades 9-12
-President and co-founder of the Asian Culture Club, grades 11-12

B.) If I can’t transfer into Stanford, I would at least like to attend one of these other colleges for my undergrad studies:

-Georgia Institute of Technology
-University of Illinois - Urbana, Champaign
-University of Rochester
-Pennsylvania State University
-California Institute of Technology
-Massachusetts Institute of Technology
-Columbia University

From there, I want try to apply to Stanford for my post-grad studies.

2

I don’t know the reason for your obsession with Stanford, but you can’t “plan” to attend Stanford, either as an undergrad or as a grad student. All you can do is plan to apply . . . and you’d better have a back-up plan in case that doesn’t work out.

And I have to say that I don’t think much of anyone who hasn’t even started attending College X, but already knows that College X isn’t good enough for him or her. I would strongly suggest that you focus on making the most you can of the school to which you were admitted. Just sayin’ - if you really were a Stanford, MIT, or CalTech caliber student, you’d flourish wherever you go to school.

By the way, who’s paying for the expensive transfer school you’re so busy dreaming about?

3

Yeah you don’t have a shot at any of the schools maybe, -Pennsylvania State University

4

What you should know, is that for Penn, Columbia, CalTech, MIT and Stanford, their rate of admission for transfers is tethered to attrition. With attrition at less than 3%, it is highly competitive for the few seats they have open. Stats wise is is probably much more difficult to transfer in, then to gain regular admission–in some instances about 2%. Most accepted transfers are not only imminently qualified, but also transferring because the new school offers a program and/or major not offered at the original institution. I am not trying to be overly cynical, but it is a very steep uphill climb to, at least the schools, I have mentioned.

5

Hi dodgersmom,

Thank you for your concern and your comments.

I never said anything about attending Stanford in my original post because, as you said, I do not know whether I will definitely go there.

Also, I did mention how I am going to make the most of my time at UI. Because I know that there are so many opportunities for students pursuing a computer science major, I am happy about attending Iowa.

The main reason why I want to attend better universities in general is because I want more doors to be open for me. I really want to get the best computer science education I possibly can.

Although it is quite expensive to pay for transfer applications and UI’s tuition and fees, my family and I will be working hard to pay it off. I have already compiled a list of scholarships to apply to as an undergrad student, as well as internship and work-study opportunities to apply for.

6

UPDATE:

Before I decided to attend UI, I applied to several other schools and got rejected from all of them. My guidance counselor and I believe that when I reported my GPA in the college applications, there may have been some confusion about my high school GPA. (My school goes by a 4.50 unweighted GPA scale and a 5.00 weighted GPA scale.)

We discovered this issue after I got accepted into UI. When I viewed my online student profile, my GPA was recalculated to be a 3.45 unweighted GPA on a 4.00-scale. After sharing my doubts about my recalculated GPA to my admissions counselor and guidance counselor, I was lucky enough to have my GPA changed to a 3.94 GPA on a 4.00-scale.

There may have been other factors as to why I was not accepted into the other schools I applied to. But knowing that I have accomplished so much in high school, I am confident in my ability to do well in UI.

7

Hi atuckertransfer,

I am interested to know why you think that I may not have a chance at PennState University.
Although I have not taken any high level math courses (e.x. statistics), I have classmates who took similar courses and will be attending the university this year.

8

Hi boolaHI,

Thank you for your comment.

It is true that the transfer acceptance rate is extremely low for competitive and selective colleges, but I am determined to hold onto hope and look for opportunities at UI.

9

UPDATE:

Personally, I think that there is nothing wrong with pursuing a better university (especially when there are other universities out there with better computer science programs). But if I fail to transfer or get accepted as a post-grad student in one of the colleges listed above, I am still okay with completing my post-grad studies at UI.

10

I don’t see test scores listed.

In any case, you have a shot at transferring to the state schools on your list if your college GPA is 4.0 or close to it.

11

The mistake that naive students make, is in assuming that the prestige factor will open doors. If you plan on transferring to Stanford, you have to hope that someone drops out and that your statistics beat out everyone else. Not a good plan if you are not a star athlete or internationally famous; won’t happen. As for graduate school, your GRE has to be stellar and exceptional for many of the grad schools programs, not just the elite schools.

My husband went to Stanford.

He got into his job because of his undergrad and graduate GPA’s.

He has been at the same company for 30 years. He doesn’t think it’s opened any doors for him because most of his colleagues, in other companies, have no idea that he went to Stanford. He has a great work ethic and is naturally gifted (can do iterations of “x to the nth power” calculations in his head), which makes him a really good expert in his field, but “door openings” haven’t really occurred since starting his job.

My kids were legacies and didn’t get in, but they did get waitlisted to Stanford. The eldest went to the SUNY schools in NY and did well in their EECS system. The companies were drawn to her resume for her GPA. She’s doing really well at her company because she is a natural in Calculus, logarithms and theorems and has a strong work ethic.

12

The mistake that naive students make, is in assuming that the prestige factor will open doors. If you plan on transferring to Stanford, you have to hope that someone drops out and that your statistics beat out everyone else. Not a good plan if you are not a star athlete or internationally famous; won’t happen. As for graduate school, your GRE has to be stellar and exceptional for many of the grad schools programs, not just the elite schools.

My husband went to Stanford.

He got into his job because of his undergrad and graduate GPA’s.

He has been at the same company for 30 years. He doesn’t think it’s opened any doors for him because most of his colleagues, in other companies, have no idea that he went to Stanford. He has a great work ethic and is naturally gifted (can do iterations of “x to the nth power” calculations in his head), which makes him a really good expert in his field, but “door openings” haven’t really occurred since starting his job.

My kids were legacies and didn’t get in, but they did get waitlisted to Stanford. The eldest went to the SUNY schools in NY and did well in their EECS system. The companies were drawn to her resume for her GPA. She’s doing really well at her company because she is a natural in Calculus, logarithms and theorems and has a strong work ethic.

13

If there were incorrect assumptions in your transcripts and your GC agrees you were robbed, you would be better to take a gap year and reapply.

I wouldn’t target some of those on your list for transfer. It is much harder than getting in as a freshman. Stanford only takes 30 or so and they are usually a few from 2 years, from 4 years that have specific academic reasons for transfer (like the Russian library collection) that can’t be easily satisfied elsewhere, non traditional students that have unusual life experiences and veterans. Often they are not just good students they have something crazy extraordinary. Like last year, off top of my head as I looked it up once: one is a younger child prodigy, one is a young woman who won the 10 day, 1,000km Mongol Derby, a jazz musician and faculty member, a ranked rower, veterans with multiple tours of Afghanistan. Previously a north pole expeditioner, a national figure skater you get the picture. So unless you develop interest in a special field of CS that only Stanford and a couple other have it is not likely going to happen.

I think you could get accepted to Columbia GS. I don’t think the College takes transfers, but I might be mistaken.

However, there are excellent uni’s that do take more transfers.

14

@BrownParent, however, you need a break in your educational career of at least a year to be allowed to apply to Columbia GS (which doesn’t offer fin aid).

15

Hi aunt bea,

Thank you for your comment.

It was great to know that your husband got a job regardless of what college he attended. (I always thought that people have to mention the college they attended under the “Educational Background” section of their resumes.)

I have decided to change the list of colleges I can apply to, with the University of Washington as my #1 choice.

I look forward to attending the University of Iowa, and I hope to study at the University of Washington in the future (either as a transfer student or a post-grad student). After further research, I have grown to like the arts and science education at the University of Iowa, as well as the computer science education and opportunities at the University of Washington.

16

@mcttan: Yes, students typically list their colleges on the resumes, I realize you are being sarcastic, but I guess what you didn’t know is that the job recruiters came to Stanford, and specifically asked for students by name. That’s the only advantage or “open door” I have seen with both my husband and my son. Most sane people don’t have to prove or advertise that they went to an ivy.

The big corporates know who they want the first time around. If you didn’t get in the first time around, it would be doubly hard to try to transfer and wait for someone to drop out. That was my point. The interesting thing is that now, my husband wants his employees from the state schools. He says the recruited “ivy” students don’t hang around long enough and appear to always be in search for the next best thing; they come with attitudes of arrogance and self-importance. So, the hubby carefully trains his new hires from the state schools, and grooms them for long-term jobs.

17

Aunt Bea, your husband’s attitude is a puzzle. The Ivy league schools attract and admit outstanding students. S ome may be arrogant but most are probably not. Some students at non Ivy Schools may be arrogant but most are probably not. If the work environment is one that promotes its employees and which offers great career options to capable people willing to work hard, I’d think that students from Ivy League and non Ivy League students would find it appealing. If the company lacks growth potential students from Ivy League schools are unlikely to stick around. But talented employees from other schools won’t stick around either. I can’t imagine any high achieving person sticking around after being “groomed” as a “worker” with the idea that they will be long term employees with few opportunities for advancement.

Attending an Ivy League school probably does open doors. I’ve never heard someone who attended such a school denying that to be the case. People who go to other schools can open the same doors but they have to find ways to stand out. It may take a bit more effort. i’ve never heard it is all about a GPA. Schools vary too much in terms of grade inflation and what a certain GPA means. I’d certainly hire a student with a 3.3 from a school like Penn or Princeton over a 4.0 from Binghamton University because grade deflation in Penn and Princeton and grade inflation at Binghamton results in lower scores for the first two suggesting stronger skills than the perfect GPA from Binghamton. Recruiters who look only at GPA and ignore where the GPA is coming from are doing themselves and their company a disservice. Usually getting a job is more about what you can do then what GPA you have.

18

@lostaccount, you’re falling for the talent myth (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Talent_Myth), or as I call it, the “lump of talent” fallacy.

In the real world, a team of mediocre people (mediocre by whatever intelligence-based test you care to use) who worked together for 10 years can and often do whip a team of smart folks who have not worked much together before or may not even work well together.

19

@mcttan, I wasn’t talking about the cost of your transfer app’s- that’s negligible. I was talking about the cost of the schools on your list. How do you expect to pay for those out-of-state schools you’re looking at? You’d be paying OOS tuition at Penn State, Washington, Illinois - it’ll cost a fortune! The only school on your list that looks even remotely feasible is Rochester, which claims to meet full need.

If you’re not happy with Iowa, and you really believe there was a problem with your app’s then I agree with @BrownParent - don’t start at Iowa! Take a gap year and reapply as a freshman.

20

Of course Stanford would open doors. Not only the name itself, but the alumnai group, I’m sure, is extremely helpful. Also, some people will say things like “yeah you don’t have a shot,” but put that out of your mind. Seriously. There will always be people around to shoot you down, so don’t get caught in their subjectivity - stick to your own goals and perspective.
I think your attitude is good - you said that if you don’t get into those schools, you will be satisfied and look for opportunities at UI - perfect.
btw, if you do get into Stanford, I believe it is still true that if your family income is under a certain amount, you get amazing financial aid.
It might be helpful to have a conversation with admissions, and see what they say about your chances with the revised gpa vs. the submitted one. Or just dig up the admission stats and see where you fit.