How to transfer into an Ivy League or other top university.

Hello. My name is Dave Wtorkowski (tor-COW-ski). I'm a Dartmouth College graduate and a full-time college admissions coach. For over 10 years, I've been providing strategic insight and advice on how to navigate the difficult college application process to help ambitious, high-achieving students get into the Ivy League and other top-tier universities. I help students build their candidacy while they're still in high school, prep for the SAT, and craft the strongest possible college applications with a compelling personal narrative and one-of-a-kind essays. Before returning to academia, I was a professional writer, editor and script doctor in Hollywood, and a creative Vice President at Disney.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Transfer introduction
00:28 When is the best time to transfer
01:09 Where to transfer for the best acceptance rates
03:30 How to maximize your chances of getting in
05:29 Commonly Asked Questions

[melindayuan]

I transferred to Columbia after my freshman year. Best decision i’ve ever made! Thanks for making this video. When I was going through the process I remember there being very little information on transfer applications.

[thiagogregory]

I'm going to a top CC and plan to transfer to a VERY competitive ivy league school. Not even because of the prestige (I didn't apply to it as a hs student), but because it genuinely is the institution that matches my needs and wants the MOST, by far. It mostly accepts veterans and LAC students though. My "unique" story compared to other transfer students is that I'm a US citizen that was born and raised abroad (dual citizenship), and took a "forced" gap year (father didn't cosign loans) and ended up exploring Europe instead.

[sarvarbektogayev]

Thanks for your valuable responses . 👍

[viewfromthehillswift]

Ivy, shmivy. Stanford, UChicago, MIT, Caltech all offer an education at least equal to the best of the Ivies and superior to the rest of the Ivies.

[godfridahzulu]

My son is an international student from an African country he wants to transfer to an ivy league university from an hbcu where he has a full ride scholarship . Is it possible

[CesarMartinez-slur]

For recommendations letters would it be ideal to ask a teacher that teach your intended major?
I want to major in econ but my it does not fit into my schedule so i would have to take it online. Would colleges think it looks bad that i took my intended major course online when i transfer and could that affect my recommendation letters? Thank you!

[CreativeSarahWay]

i dont think i'll make it my freshmen grades are just terrible with C's and B's and very few A's

[Ghhhbv]

Very good information Sir !! Very short and covered almost 100 % . Thanks you very much .

[novarl.]

Do these acceptance rates also apply if I will attend a 4 year (Case Western Reserve University) but I want to transfer to a more prestigious 4 year like the universities you listed? I am currently a HS senior and I am weighing my options. Thank you!

[terrisa]

What about if you went to an HBCU? And you want to transfer mean I currently have a 4.0 and I’ve been active on campus but I wanted to transfer my sophomore year. After my spring semester

[vminarecrackheads]

Do ivy leagues provides full financial aid to international transfer students

[nadatadan]

Thank you for the excellent video; I found it incredibly insightful.

I’m currently a freshman at a four-year university, but I’m considering transferring since this wasn’t my first-choice school. My high school grade wasn't the best, so I’m thinking of applying for a transfer in Spring 2026, after I get high GPA for a year.
Do you think it’s possible for me to apply for a transfer in Spring 2025 instead?

[kelvindezhili]

guys, is it real? that transfer students has a higher acceptance rate than first year students to these school, because I am planning to go to a community college, if this is real, then I am definitely going, I am an international students by the way

[gumupgamer]

If i go to a community or 4 year college for a year, when I transfer, do i enter as the following grade? ex. If I apply as a freshman will i get in as a sophomore?

[kelvindezhili]

the rate are for transfer students from community college?

[iphone.charger]

I'm currently a highschool senior from American Samoa. I applied for UC Davis and got in but today was decision day and I decided to decline my offer because they were very stingy with giving me institutional aid after having to constantly beg for it. My mom was very disappointed with my decision to attend community college first and apply to the UC's or other institutions later. I found your video very reassuring and helpful. I want to major in Biology (or a related field) to become a dermatologist later on. Could I have some advice on what you would if you were in my position?

[trilliger]

Active duty military here, im currently entrolled at UMPI as they are very flexible when it comes non traditional student. Im debating whether to get an associates and try to get into an Ivy League to finish up my bachelors or getting a bachelors and applying to an IVY league for my masters. In your opinion what gives me a better of getting into an IVY league?

[suryansh]

I'm also applying as a transfer student for my sophomore year at some us universities. But upon applying, I came to know that they require some kind of college report (Behavioural Conduct) from my previous university. So for that, is there any particular form which I need to get it filled by some official from my previous university or am I required to just request my previous university officials to mail about my behavioural conduct to the universities in which I'm applying?

[bicyclehealer]

Can I get a rating on my chances at a university in the upper echelon?
4.0 GPA from the #1 CC in my state
Honor Society
Eagle Scout
Active leadership in a variety of clubs
8+ prof. recommendations
Graduating with an Associate's in Arts at 18
Anthropology/Archaeology major
Transferring into Junior Year

How am I looking to a school with a transfer acceptance rate from NYU (~40%) to Harvard (~1%)?
Thanks.

[Undercover-fizu]

Can I apply to transfer even after a two-year gap before attending my current university as a freshman? I have valid reasons for both of those years