<p>I’m going to be attending UC Riverside this fall as an incoming freshman, however, I’m a bit disappointed that I didn’t get into a more prestigious university. I know “prestige” isn’t everything, but I feel like it is important, and I know I’d probably get a better education at a more prestigious university.</p>
<p>With that said, what are my odds for being able to transfer somewhere like Brown, Dartmouth, or Stanford if I maintained fantastic grades (like, as close to a 4.0 as possible)? Is it still unlikely just because the university I’m currently at isn’t ranked so highly? What are some great universities that aren’t insanely difficult to transfer to? </p>
<p>Do you think it would be a good idea to do as well as I possibly can this next year, and send applications in to a whole bunch of nice universities?</p>
<p>If attending UCR is a reflection of your high school grades and scores, you’ll probably need more than a year to build a resume that will get you into the schools you list.</p>
<p>How are your SATs? If not good make sure to take them again. My friend who got into Brown as a transfer did research in an area Brown is know for at her current college. She then contacted the Brown department and they supported her transfer. Try a strategy like that.</p>
<p>I hate to be a downer, but you should understand that it is generally much more difficult to gain admission to an elite school as a transfer student than as a freshman. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try–but go in with realistic expectations.</p>
<p>Brown, Dartmouth, and Stanford are hard to transfer to. However, if you are simply looking for prestige, you should consider Cornell and Penn. Both of these schools have transfer admissions rates in the teens.</p>
<p>I think your chances of fetting into an Ivy with a 1900 are nearly non-existent, unless there are some special circumstances, like noone in your family has ever gone to college or something like that.</p>
<p>You have to have a strong high school record or a high SAT + college GPA for places like Stanford, brown, and dartmouth. Your best bet is going to be WashU, Gtown, Rice, Northwestern, and Emory all of which are transfer friendly. I would advise retaking the SAT, however.</p>
Brown’s and Dartmouth’s transfer admission rates are 8-9%, and Penn’s is 14% (higher, but still pretty low). Cornell’s overall transfer admissions rate is about 29%, but that may include the “guaranteed” transfers that Cornell grants as a kind of deferred admissions during the freshman admissions process (can’t tell from the collegeboard.com site–the Cornell site may be more specific).</p>
<p>OP,
You should go to the Transfer Students forum and read the 2008 Results thread as well as the individual threads for the schools you’re interested in. In addition, to find out what is considered for transfer admissions, read the sticky thread at the top: Transfer Admissions 101.</p>
<p>A 3.6 hs gpa and 1900 are going to be just about impossible as a sop transfer at B, D & S, even if you pull a 4.0 at UCR. The reason is that you will only have finished 1 qt/sem when you apply, so your hs record and test scores will count for much more than your college gpa. Excellent LORs from profs that know you well and a good reason for wanting to transfer are going to be very important too. S accepted about 20 transfers this year, about 15 of which were from CCs or non-traditional students, so that meant about 5 kids from 4-yr schools got in. D also had very few openings due to limited space caused by high yields in recent years, and don’t forget that Brown is need aware for transfers. </p>
<p>It’s also pretty hard mentally to enter your new college with the mindset of transferring immediately. It has an impact on your ability to make friends and make the most of your freshman year.</p>
<p>I totally agree. People with 2250, 4.0 HS, and 4.0 college GPAs don’t get into these schools, a 1900 makes it almost impossible.</p>
<p>The Gtown, Rice, WashUs of the world are much more forgiving. You’ll still need to improve your SAT to the 2100 range, however. Quite frankly, your best bet is probably to get a 4.0 at UCR and try and get into UCLA or UCB as a transfer.</p>
<p>Why not wait it out at UCR, graduate, and go on to a prestigious university for your graduate degree (if on is desired). To be honest, UCR isn’t that bad of a school.</p>
<p>Do not plan on an immediate transfer. Your best bet would be to attend UCR for 2 whole years and attain a 3.7-4.0 GPA and then apply for a transfer, if you still see the need for one. After 2 years your SAT and high school GPA no longer are much of a consideration.</p>
<p>Sadly, I agree with jmanco49. It’s such a huge hassle, and the probability of success is ludicrously low. I’ve been considering what it would be like if I transferred into Yale after my first year, but then I realized its silly and unrealistic. And, that I’m already very, very happy with my choice.
I’d think that it should only become an option when one is absolutely miserable at the college to which one is enrolled.</p>
<p>I completely disagree. Transfers to top schools are incredibly lucky. they assimilate very well socially, they get all the benefits of the degree including alumni networks and strong grad/ job placement, and they likely have a strong average GPA due to coming from an easier school. I transferred from a place I liked (Columbia) to a place I loved (Dartmouth) and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. You only get to go to college once.</p>
<p>I agree with slipper1234. My neighbor’s daughter transferred from an average school (average ACT = 28) to Yale after her sophomore year, and now she has opportunities that wouldn’t be available if she didn’t transfer.</p>