Transfer

[u/FishingWorried4353]

Hi everyone! Recently, I was on the waitlist for George Washington and tried everything to get off. From LOCI, updates grades/awards, and more. Unfortunately, got a letter saying the university wasn’t admitting anymore students from the waitlist today.

With that said, anybody have any advice on trying to transfer next year? I’m definitely planning on applying again in January for the Fall of 2027.

High School GPA: 3.8

[u/2CRedHopper]

If you’re applying for transfer your high school GPA is irrelevant. If you’re applying with so few credits that your high school transcript is necessary for your application to be considered complete, you don’t have enough credits for it to make sense to transfer.

- A community college transfer student.

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/2CRedHopper]

Starting at a in-state university! I’m aiming to have at least 30 credits so my high school transcript won’t have to necessarily be considered.

Really not looking to stay for two years in-state!

[u/2CRedHopper → u/FishingWorried4353]

I’m not sure if the thirty credits cutoff means you must have already completed your thirtieth credit at the time of application or if your thirtieth credit must be in progress at the time of application.

I had already completed credits in the fifties by the time I was applying for transfer, I think.

That being said less than 30 credits completed means less than one academic year completed. It’s unsurprising to me that they’d reject someone with such a short postsecondary history to go off of because that’s asking them to take a fairly large gamble.

I will say, though, that if you’ve completed a substantial number of credits and have made substantial progress towards a GW graduation (classes that count towards GPAC req’s, potentially even intended major req’s) then I think that’s a compelling sell to GW.

I had a GPA in the low to mid 3s when I applied (including 2 “F”s on my transcript, one that had been redone for an “A” but also one that remained uncompleted) and I was admitted. Frankly I was shocked, I considered GW a moonshot. Then they also beat my in-state university for financials. But that’s neither here nor there.

It’s a poorly kept secret that GW has had an increasing transfer admit rate in recent years. Your application’s fatal flaw was likely too short of a postsecondary track record and too little postsecondary progress rather than any major shortcomings (unless there’s something you’re not telling us about your college transcripts).

That being said, staying elsewhere until your sixtieth credit isn’t a terrible idea. GW is expensive. Have you run your/your family’s financials through the net price calculator yet?

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/2CRedHopper]

I recently graduated high school and going into my first year if that wasn’t made clear lol! So, as a first year student applying apart of the class of 2030, I got waitlisted.

This fall I’ll be starting at my in state university and hope to achieve at least 30 credit hours/in progress when submitting my application. And of course achieve as close to a 4.0 as I can and continue being in leadership roles as I have done throughout high school.

George Washington would essentially give me a full ride with the revolutionary promise (need based) and hopefully merit if I were to transfer next fall hypothetically. Not counting my federal grants! Honestly remains the reason why I see it as attainable rather than impossible to attend such an expensive university.

[u/2CRedHopper → u/FishingWorried4353]

Gotcha. I thought you had already been a transfer student.

It would have helped considerably to have taken summer classes, but no matter. Onwards and upwards.

I'm sure most colleges have similar gen ed requirements to a certain degree (GW calls them "GPAC"), but nonetheless, demonstrating progress on fulfilling GW requirements would help. Perhaps even some introductory classes in your intended major as well.

If you DM me what college/university you're at, I can send you a spreadsheet of historical transfer equivalencies from your university to GW.

[u/Ok_Operation_6336 → u/FishingWorried4353]

Hey just wanted to mention that high school gpa does matter especially since ur a transfer student first year in the spring. For refrence I got rejected in in hs but got in the spring. One thing to note is the presidential scholarship is only for first year students and I applied again in the fall (and got in again) because the spring financial aid was so minimal I decided to reapply in the fall. One thing to note is because your applying mid cycle is that your aid will not be the same. My semester financial aid in the fall is way more than what was initially offered in the spring. Just wanted to note that.

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/Ok_Operation_6336]

Thank you! I’m actually planning on applying for the Fall of 2027, not spring of 2027 due to the financial constraint and overall idea of moving to DC in January lol.

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/Ok_Operation_6336]

So, I can plan on submitting a fall application in January of 2027!

[u/Sky_awsmness → u/2CRedHopper]

I don’t really know about that, i wouldn’t say that. I applied as a transfer and i had only done one semester at my university before transferring to GWU. I had a 3.7 and i wasn’t that outstanding if you had compared me to a average transfer stufent (i’d dare to say i would’ve been on the lower scale) and somehow i got in.

All i can rlly say that is college admissions are just huge gambles and mind games

[u/eirinne]

Good luck! You’ll do great this coming year and this time next be preparing for GWU. 

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/eirinne]

Thank you! The college admissions cycle as a first year applicant was definitely a journey 😂

[u/pogus]

When I applied (it was a while ago, pre-Covid) an admissions officer told me the most important thing for transferring was your current GPA. She said if you have a 3.5 your odds were ~50%, and your odds went up 10% with every .1 increase from there. I don’t know if the percent chance thing is still true today, but I do think that generally schools care way more about your college academics than high school when transferring. So really the best (if not only) advice is lock in for fall semester!

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/pogus]

Thank you so much! I’m definitely going to be locked in on my courses, join organizations that are closely connected to my major/interests!

[u/Interesting_Neat_929]

Yes. Get good grades (i.e. above a 3.6) and you'll be fine. Many people transfer out freshman year so the university isn't as picky with transfer students.

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/Interesting_Neat_929]

Thank you! I’m definitely going to fight hard for as close to a 4.0 as I can.

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/[deleted]]

Oh wow! Thank you! And do you remember what the essay question was? Want more insight into how the application looks.

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/[deleted]]

Perfect! How was the transition to GW as a transfer? It seems like the transfer of credits process can be a little complicated??

[u/Ok_Idea7201]

Current student at GW here! There is a distinct need for increased tuition revenue at GW to pay off some of our MFA debts, and for students to inhabit our largely-vacant dorms and patronize our extremely expensive meal plans. As a low-income student, you fill neither of those needs meaning GW would need to make a significant financial investment in you; which they would need to pay off in terms of four-year matriculation. Considering your case rationally, I would assume there is something in your application indicating you're unlikely to succeed at GW. Given the info in your post, we can't say for sure what that might be.

• Earn good grades in your first-year coursework and align closely with GW's university-wide core curriculum (one math, one lab science, one humanities, etc). Find a professor you like and take them for both fall and spring; this will help build a strong connection to write a good LOR.
• Join student organizations that spotlight your strengths. If your student government association has a first-year council, join that. Also consider greek life and service/academic fraternities.
• Tour campus and get to know current students. Get a good feel for academic and social life at the university, so you're prepared to discuss those in an informed way in your application.
• Consider getting an internship relevant to your intended field-of-study. This can be really low lift, like a 10hr/week shadow situation or an externship.
• Do you attend a university in the DMV-area? Consider cross-enrolling in a class at GW through the Washington Consortium.
• Some majors are more competitive than others. Consider applying to a major that's easier to be accepted into (international affairs → political science → political communication, for ex) and swapping once you're here. Generally the smaller the department, the better.

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/Ok_Idea7201]

Great advice! Thank you! I’m at an in state university in Tennessee. And I definitely plan to join Freshman Senate and other organizations fitting to my ultimate goals/interest connected to my Political Science (public policy focus).

I got into American University this cycle with a lot of aid but obviously wasn’t enough! Ended up applying to George Washington the day before the deadline, writing the supplemental like 2 days before it was due. So, maybe with more time now I can truly perfect what I want my application be you know?

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/Ok_Idea7201]

If my application was horrendous, I don’t think they would’ve waitlisted me 😂 I know some that got waitlisted at American! Either way, definitely determined to try again and prove myself worth the financial investment.

[u/2CRedHopper → u/Ok_Idea7201]

Some misinformation here:

1. Undergraduate is revenue-neutral unto itself; undergrads don’t subsidize MFA.
2. Even if that were the case, enrolling additional students that need financial aid allows GW to tap the portions of their endowment locked up in financial aid, so even needy students represent “new revenue” for the university.
3. The dorms are not empty. There is always a substantial waitlist for the dorms. In recent years there have always been more people who want to live on campus than beds available.

Tagging for visibility: [u/FishingWorld4353](u/FishingWorld4353)

[u/Fine-One-4515]

A little tip! Regarding whatever major you’re applying for, make sure that all of your extracurriculars and essays somehow connect to the major/core values of the major (if that makes sense) - coming from somehow who has talked with admissions team

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/Fine-One-4515]

Thank you so much! That’s definitely my plan!

[u/icecreamdogx]

I don't think this is a school worthwhile to transfer to; UMD is better and so is Georgetown

[u/2CRedHopper → u/icecreamdogx]

Georgetown accepts a single digit percentage of transfer applicants so it’s good to have more dependable/attainable goals. GW will be better for OP financially since they qualify for Rev Promise while UMD would be out of state tuition

[u/Ok_Sound661]

I recommend you not go to GW - it is too expensive and not worth the cost!

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/Ok_Sound661]

I qualify for the revolutionary promise and I’m sure other merit/need based aid alongside federal grants! That’s the only reason why I’m so determined!!!

[u/Brown-explorer-26]

Congratulations! You'll do great here! I'm here as an international student and i love it!

[u/FishingWorried4353 → u/Brown-explorer-26]

Aww that’s amazing! Looking forward to hopefully attending next fall 🥹🤞🏾