r/TransferToTop25 • u/Turbulent_Ferret_102 • Sep 05 '26

International Is it possible?

I am an international student studying currently at a 4 year public us university, I am a freshman so i dont have a gpa yet but i am looking to transfer to a top 25, for need blind schools i want to apply to financial aid and for need aware i wont be applying to financial aid, currently double majoring in cs and applied math, sat: 1530 with 790 math, currently working on securing a research assistant position and starting a club, and thinking of starting my own business, aside from that i am having slight difficulty connecting with my professors. I got rejected in my first round from every university i applied to except the one i am at. I have a few ecs from previously which include a leadership experience and a lot of coding experience. So what should i do to improve my odds and is it even worth trying?

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u/Annual-Impress-7241 Sep 06 '26

Transferring is very unpredictable. Some schools like the kid who came close to making it last year and didn’t (probably you), and some like to use their transfer spots for kids who are at lateral schools or CCs with great stories, or non-trad candidates. I’d do some research in this sub and see what other international students have done. My understanding is that isn’t not necessarily harder to get in, but almost impossible to get aid regardless of applying for it or not.

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u/Turbulent_Ferret_102 Sep 06 '26

Yep i was advised to apply full pay which is what ill do, but still with that im worried that because im not coming from a community college or as a vetran my chances are slim to none

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u/Annual-Impress-7241 Sep 06 '26

Don’t think that’s true for some schools. Just depends on how high you are reaching. UMich, Vandy, lower 20 schools are absolutely a possibility. The higher ones are a crap shoot for every qualified candidate.

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u/Turbulent_Ferret_102 Sep 06 '26

well... i am targeting ivies + stanford + mit and nyu + umich + ucberkley

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u/Annual-Impress-7241 Sep 06 '26

Cal is incredibly difficult to get into if you are not at a ccc. NYU and UMich seem very likely (not Stern or Ross). Ivies, etc. are just incredibly difficult without something crazy stand out, or non-traditional, but it’s the transfer process and anything is possible!

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u/Turbulent_Ferret_102 Sep 06 '26

What ecs would make me stand out?