How can I be admitted to an Ivy League school as a transfer student?

Question

How can I get into Penn, Dartmouth, or Columbia (or UChicago) to study economics? I will be a transfer student. What can I do to get the best possible chances? Suggestions? Experience? Thanks!

Answer 1

You have to be outstanding on all counts, since most of these schools admit only a few transfer students every year. It is harder to get in to them as a transfer student than it is as a freshman, and that is hard enough!

Answer 2

There's not just one way. It depends on which universities and programs you're hoping to get accepted to. So, that first thing to do is make a list of your top choices, and then contact each school's admissions officer or and ask if which are the criteria most valued there for transfer students. You'll be surprised by how much info some of them will share.

Answer 3

1. Have a high GPA (obviously).
2. Take serious courses in different fields (i.e. no film classes or only econ courses; make sure you take at least a math course and an English composition course).
3. Be active in extracurricular activities at your current college.
4. Research the schools in depth and come up with reasons for attending them other than "I'll have a more prestigious name on my diploma".

And keep in mind that your high school record must be very strong; they won't overlook it just because you've completed some college.

Good luck.

Answer 4

well...if you have great SAT scores..awesome GPA (in High School & of course in college)..killer essay...great recommendations..lots of ECs..you'll probably get in there..

but of course..not everyone has all of those things..

I suggest you to search the posts in College Confidential. They have many posts about transfering to those colleges on case-by-case. You'll know a lot from there!

Good luck!