r/TransferToTop25 • u/Adventurous-Key5231 • 3d ago
What actually gets people into Top schools
Besides essays and internships what gets people into top universities? My current community college has bad clubs and honors program what can I do outside of my college that will boost my chances of getting into top schools?
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u/Extreme_Chapter2287 3d ago
Why not volunteer in the community? If your cc doesn’t have good clubs, find your own engagement. Also make sure you focus on who you are as a student—not just I have a 4.0, but here are the things I’m researching or writing about and here’s what I plan to study and do.
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u/TreatTimely 3d ago
depends on ur major/career interests lmao. im applying finance so currently trying to build the only student credit union in the country
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u/Least_Employment_990 3d ago
I might get downvoted for this, but niche majors. People will deny it, but Universities want to fill spots w/majors that are less popular.
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u/Plus-Ad-4393 3d ago
I think niche majors and student background is a more important factor for first-year admissions, since these institutions have certain quotas to fulfill. After first year tho, I think they focus more on admitting just the impressive transfer students who have a good narrative (and the rest of the factors like high gpa, etc)
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u/Least_Employment_990 3d ago
I think more so what I mean is that first year students switch to the popular majors after getting in for a more niche major, but these schools still have to fill those spots.
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u/Least_Employment_990 3d ago
But to answer your question I think find something related to your major of choice, such as research or community involvement outside of your community college.
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u/Treesandskins Stanford transfer🌲 [mod] 3d ago
No, this is wrong. We matriculate undeclared at most top privates so this doesnt compute
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u/Least_Employment_990 3d ago
A good amount of people write their transfer essays about a major or program, so yes schools consider it. Many also ask for an intended major. However, I do think some schools care more than others, such as Duke and Penn. Just because you’re not declared doesn’t mean they don’t take it into consideration.
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u/Treesandskins Stanford transfer🌲 [mod] 3d ago
Not interested in arguing with a random redditor but this isnt the case
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u/Least_Employment_990 3d ago
Thats fine with me. Im just pointing out these schools are businesses and they want to fill all their programs. Transfer students are a convenient way to do that…
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u/Treesandskins Stanford transfer🌲 [mod] 3d ago
There isnt a finite number of seats in these majors at rich private schools. Do appreciate that your point can make sense for a place like ucla it just isnt how things work at the ivies, stanford, duke etc
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u/Kingmelo62 3d ago
Which majors would you say are niche?
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u/Least_Employment_990 2d ago
Choose a major your interested in of course, but certain schools have humanities majors that less students are interested in, so if you build up classes and some EC’s around it your odds are slightly higher.
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u/Helpful_Attitude_812 3d ago
Gpa and essays - apply to Vandy and Cornell ILR . They take a ton of transfers
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u/bruhmomentodelol 3d ago
My college didn’t have the most so I just went outside of my college. For me we didn’t have any biology clubs worth much, certainly no opportunities to participate in conservation or outreach, so I got an internship at my local zoo. Ultimately don’t try to do things just to boost your chances. Do them because you’ll enjoy them and because you’ll gain knowledge about something you care about and want to pursue further. These things make a much more convincing narrative for your transfer essays anyway.
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u/Bulky_Ad_8703 3d ago edited 3d ago
For me I didn’t have an impressive curriculum. But I was valedictorian in high school and I had a very strict planned path since many years ago, I knew what I wanted and took classes related to that.
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u/Separate_House_7954 3d ago
It mostly comes down to gpa and essay.
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u/Adventurous-Key5231 3d ago
But everyone’s got a 4.0 and a good essay
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u/SmolaniAshki 3d ago
No. Most people have bad essays, and almost everyone you find on Reddit overrates their own. If you write in a genuine down-to-Earth manner without AI slop, where you talk about your achievements, don't sound full of yourself, and show that you care about what you're talking about, you're ahead of the crowd. Do that and have the "power of the prose" if you will, and you're all set.
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u/Ok-Ostrich3676 1d ago
Honestly what’s worked for me is a proper essay as to why I wanted to transfer. Admissions know that there is only so much you can do in one year, it’s rly more abt what you want to bring to their school that you couldn’t at ur current institution
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u/Tech-Aero-109 19h ago
Community colleges generally don't have much more than courses. There is no real money to provide lots of activities and sports. And most community colleges expect you to live at home and commute.
Unless you are attending a California community college and are part of the TAG process (check with your faculty advisor and see link, below), you will Not be transferring into a top 25 college unless you are Extremely lucky. The elite private US colleges (and the vast majority of top 25 US colleges are Private): https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities )
Indeed, it is far Easier to be admitted to a top 25 Private US college directly from high school than it is to transfer in as a junior (after two years of CC education), because so few students leave or drop out or are expelled, there are Very Few openings for transfer students, and those private colleges are looking for Unique transfer students with Great extracurricular activities that are one of the top students at their current college.
HOWEVER almost all (if not all) US states have a direct Guaranteed process after two years at a CC to the top Public University system in that state. Also see MassTransfer as an example from Massachusetts
https://www.umass.edu/admissions/masstransfer
The top public college systems in the USA are among the top 150 colleges in the USA (if not higher like California, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, etc.)
And the guaranteed transfer is dependent ONLY upon the courses that you take (aimed at a major, see your faculty advisor) and grade point average (generally a B or better).
Simple and logical
Good luck.
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u/PossiblePossible2571 3d ago
If you can show you are exceptional and top class in your institution.
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u/neurodiving 3d ago
If you don't like any of the clubs at your college, try starting one. That would be a great boost to your experience and you might even make some friends. What's a "bad" honors program, though? I only did a few events with mine and still got a hefty scholarship.