Just like in first-year admissions, getting into a top-tier college as a transfer is competitive. Top colleges can be very selective when it comes to transfers. But that doesn’t mean that you should be discouraged. Going with a plan and being organized will help you get into an elite transfer school. And we are happy to share our top 4 tips to make a first-rate transfer obtainable.
Have the grades (and scores)
Calling this a tip feels a little unfair, but it’s more of a reality. Having perfect or near-perfect grades and scores is a huge factor when it comes to transferring to a top-tier school. Just like in the first-year admission process, top-tier colleges can be very selective when it comes to GPAs and test scores. Doing a little research into class statics might help you here. For example, this year, Yale’s 25th to 75th percentiles for the ACT was 33-35. Look for schools where you fall into their range. Having great grades is important. Make sure you have your transcripts and scores ready to submit. Having them ready and organized beforehand will save you a headache later.
Make a targeted list
Being in the right score range for a school is only one of the factors. You should try to select schools that have an academic niche that your current school doesn’t offer. Let’s say you are at Middlebury and want to study criminology. They don’t have a criminology major. So if you apply as a transfer to UPenn who does have a criminology program, it’s easy to explain why transferring is important for your education. This is the ideal. It won’t be as clear cut for every student but this is the best way to make a case for why you should transfer. Your reason for transferring should always have to do with academics. Niches can be about majors, programs, research goals, etc. but they need to show that you are taking your academic education seriously and you have specific academic goals. You will most likely have to do some research into what programs top schools offer to make a structured list.
Think of your social reasons
While academics have to come first they aren’t everything. Imagine you are in an interview and someone asks, “why do you want to transfer?” The first sentence out of your mouth should have something to do with an academic program but after that, it’s totally appropriate to expound on why you weren’t happy at your first college. There are a lot of social factors that can make you feel less than stellar about your college, but you should be careful which you chose to answer this question. For example “no good parties” doesn’t sound as good as “I want to go to a school with robust extracurriculars.” Colleges take pride in having students that participate outside of class in extracurriculars so it’s a safe place to start. Think of what you want socially from a college experience and what you aren’t getting at your current school. One big caveat though, make sure that the school you are transferring to actually has what you want socially. Saying you weren’t happy at a small school and then trying to transfer to Dartmouth won’t make sense.
Write a killer essay
Transfer applications come with their own writing supplements. You will need to write well-researched and interesting essays to really stand out. Most schools will have an essay that asks you why you want to go to their college and/or why you want to transfer. Be ready to answer questions like this. While each school is different, there is a lot of overlap. Start looking into what colleges ask for. We have a ton of essay-specific tips on our site so don’t be shy, click around. Be ready to draft and make sure that your essays are well written and engaging whatever the questions may be.
Getting into a top transfer school isn’t guaranteed. These schools can be extremely competitive for transfers, but having a plan and putting your best foot forward will help. Start early. Get organized. And be ready to put in the work. We know it can sound scary, but we are always here to help if you need us.
Don’t know where to start, contact us here.