Harvard University accepts 0.97% transfer applicants, which is competitive. To have a shot at transferring into Harvard University, you should have a current GPA of at least 4.18 - ideally you're GPA will be around 4.35. In addition, you will need to submit standardized test scores.
What Are the Hardest Colleges to Get Into?
| College | Location | Admission Rate |
|---|
| Stanford University | Palo Alto, CA | 5.2% |
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 5.6% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | New York City, NY | 6.4% |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | 6.6% |
So how hard is it to transfer colleges? The easy answer is that it's just as difficult as applying to colleges normally, but the process is slightly different. Your college GPA and course load will be a larger factor than your high school GPA, unless you're transferring after one year.
Below, Newsweek counts down the colleges with the lowest acceptance rates in America.
- University of Chicago. 7.4%
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 7.2%
- Columbia University. 6.9%
- Yale University. 6.9%
- 4. California Institute of Technology. 6.9%
- Princeton University. 5.9%
- Stanford University. 5.4%
- Harvard University. 4.9%
Harvard accepts transfer students for fall semester entrance only; we do not admit students for the spring semester. The transfer application becomes available during the fall of the academic year.
The best time to transfer is the end of sophomore year/start of junior year. Why? If you try transferring during freshman year, the only real grades you have will be from high school, and those senior-year grades will matter—a lot. If you finished high school on a high note, then, by all means, aim to transfer earlier.
Therefore, the transfer acceptance rate for Cornell University is 17.09%. This indicates how hard it is to transfer into Cornell University. You can use the free calculator below to predict your chances of getting accepted. Cornell University accepts 18 out of every 100 transfer applicants.
You can consider Boston University, Purdue University, and Michigan State University colleges matching your academic ability, with an average GPA of accepted students at 3.7.
In 2019, Princeton University received 1429 transfer applicants. The school accepted 13 students. Therefore, the transfer acceptance rate for Princeton University is 0.91%. This indicates how hard it is to transfer into Princeton University.
What is Yale University's transfer acceptance rate? In 2019, Yale University received 1361 transfer applicants. The school accepted 24 students. Therefore, the transfer acceptance rate for Yale University is 1.76%.
See the top 10 colleges for transfer students below, and check out more rankings here.
- University of California-Los Angeles.
- University of California-Berkeley.
- Emory University.
- 4. California State University-Channel Islands.
- 5. California State University-Long Beach.
- University of California-San Diego.
When considering transferring schools, students should check their anticipated school's GPA requirements for transfer students. Because colleges typically look at applicants' college GPAs for admission, transfer students need to provide their official transcripts from any post-secondary institutions they've attended.
Can I transfer as a sophomore? Yes, many private and out-of-state universities will accept lower-division transfers. At this time, UC campuses do not, however, some CSU do.
What is the acceptance rate to Harvard?
A general rule of thumb is – file your applications at the very beginning of which ever is to be your last full term/semester before the intended transfer. If you hope to begin at the next college for the Fall term, you should be filing the application at the very beginning of the Spring term.
Look at the Ivy League Admissions Statistics for yourself. It doesn't get easier for transfer students. In fact, it only gets more difficult. While it is more difficult to gain admission as a transfer, also know that college admissions counselors at Ivy League colleges are in some ways more lenient for transfers.
MIT accepts 4.28% transfer applicants, which is competitive. To have a shot at transferring into MIT, you should have a current GPA of at least 4.17 - ideally you're GPA will be around 4.34. In addition, you will need to submit standardized test scores. The below tables show the SAT and ACT breakdown of MIT students.
Looking broadly at four-year schools across the U.S., transfer students may have slightly more difficulty getting in. According to a report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the average rate of admission for a transfer applicant is 62 percent.
While transfer students are eligible to apply with more than two years of coursework from a previous institution, note that students are required to complete at least two years of full-time enrollment at Stanford in order to attain a bachelor's degree from the university.
Follow these 9 steps for a smooth transfer between schools.
- First, assess why you want to transfer.
- Begin your college search…
- Meet with your advisor.
- Start scoping out schools.
- Check out which credits transfer.
- Have a good, long conversation about financial aid.
- Collect all components of your application.
- Apply.
After one year of college, you can often transfer to a four-year school having some academic work behind you other than your high school transcript. You should be taking the appropriate courses to make transferring easier by completing the basic core curriculum distribution required by most four-year colleges.
A 3.7 GPA is a very good GPA, especially if your school uses an unweighted scale. If you've been taking high level classes and earning a 3.7 unweighted GPA, you're in great shape and can expect to be accepted to many selective colleges.
While a 3.2 is a decent GPA, it's not significantly higher than average and will put some limits on your college search and application process. More selective schools will probably be out of reach with this GPA, but you will still have plenty of options.
3.4 is decent and should get you into a state school. Depending on the rest of your application, you have decent odds of getting into more prestigious schools as well (if you're in California, UCs in particular are known for having a lower bar for California transfer students than for freshman).
Is a 3.0 considered a "good" GPA in college? A 3.0 GPA is a "B" average. Colleges allowing a lower GPA will often require at least a "B" average in major classes.
Is a 3.5 GPA good? A 3.5 unweighted GPA means that you've earned an A- average across all of your classes. You're well above the national average for GPA and should have a solid chance of acceptance at a wide variety of colleges. 76.33% of schools have an average GPA below a 3.5.
3.8 GPA shows that you can do very well academically when you focus on your studies. Transfer students are usually required to submit the same stuff as freshmen applicants + your college transcripts, reasons for transferring, and recommendation letters from your college professors/instructors.
Admission Considerations and RequirementsThe average GPA of admitted transfer students is above 3.5 and admitted students have completed most or all major prep courses. We give highest priority to applicants from California community colleges and other UC campuses. We admit students for fall quarter only.
Is a 3.4 GPA good? A 3.4 unweighted GPA means that you've earned a high B+ average across all of your classes. Your GPA is higher than the national average of a 3.0, so you will have a good chance of being accepted to many colleges. 64.66% of schools have an average GPA below a 3.4.
Is a 2.7 GPA Good? A 2.7 GPA is noticeably lower than a 3.0 GPA, which is the national average. It's almost decent, but still a little low. Luckily, a 2.7 is certainly a GPA that can be pulled up to a solid number.
