Decision Day is May 1st.  

I’m reminded of some students (and families) who were shooting for (highly rejective) institutions and didn’t get offers.  And are looking instead to take an acceptance at a school, but with the intention of transferring later (to a “more prestigious” name school).   Years ago, a girl who was accepted at UCLA sniffed at it and immediately declared that “it wasn’t a fit for her” and wanted to explore ways to “transfer to an Ivy League school”.  That begs the question – why did she even apply to the school in the first place?  

Here is why “ trading up” isn’t necessarily a good path to pursue.

Many Highly Rejective Schools aren’t set up for transfers

Because they may be very small in size, have little or no attrition – they will have limited spots, and therefore, miniscule acceptance rates for transfers.  It isn’t impossible, but for institutions such as Stanford or MIT, the acceptance rate will often be lower than it is for 1st year students.  

Many universities will prioritize community college students for transfers

In California, the UC has a mission to enroll transfer students as ⅓ of its new students every year.  However, this intention does not really apply to students from other 4-year institutions who want to transfer to another (almost always) more selective UC campus.  Priority is given to California community college transfer applicants.  

Less mentally and emotionally prepared to make use of all the resources and opportunities at your initial campus

Coming in with the mindset that you’re only going to be here temporarily and have your eyes set on another school, a student is not as likely to make personal connections, both among students and faculty members, to take advantage of all the campus has to offer.  And that might be as good or even better than the “target” campus would be.  So there may be foregone opportunities lost in the process.  

That’s not to say one should not transfer if the campus you attend just isn’t working out for you – that happens for many students. But if you’re just looking to “trade-up” because of a prestige or brand factor from the get-go, that may or may not always work out for the better.  Remember, your future success is more about what you do when you get into a university and what you do when you get out, rather than the name on the diploma.  

Now if you have your heart set on that shining university that you weren’t admitted to initially –why not consider graduate school in the future?  That actually might be a better plus particularly if that institution prioritizes graduate or professional programs (often the case at large research universities), and where one can focus on a particular department’s offerings.  

Questions?  I am happy to advise you on your particular situations, needs and desires.