<p>Annika, yes, I’m able to afford the schools listed. Otherwise, why would I list them? lol.</p>
<p>I was just doing due diligence. There are many students who spend all their efforts trying to get admitted into a dream school and then experience the shock of realizing the FA offer is so low that they have to decline their admission. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth follows. </p>
<p>I don’t know for certain, but it sounds like you have not experienced opening up a FA offer from an expensive private school–thus it is at least reasonable to give you a heads up. The questions that at least start the process are A) what is your EFC? B) How much per year have your parents pledged to you that they can reasonably and willingly pay in cash resources toward your college expenses? C) What is the average FA offer for a student with your EFC and other family assets and would all the numbers add up?</p>
<p>Like augustus1 pointed out, NYU is terrible with FA. Every year there are a handful of students who come to the forums and wail about how they got in only to discover that they can’t afford it (and usually ask where they can borrow the “gap”…often 15K - 30K in unsecured, non co-signed private loans–only to wail even more when they realize these kinds of loans do not exist).</p>
<p>@eyetog : i’m coming from almost the exact situation as you, haha.</p>
<p>Are you instate for UVA?since you’re gonna transfer from a VA CC (I’m assuming) then you should.take a look at your CC’s articulation agreements with UVA,VTech and W &M. You can get a guaranteed transfer to those schools if you maintain above a certain GPA .</p>
<p>eastafrobeauty, I have a feeling you probably know what area I live in and what CC I’m going to, hahaha. Yeah, the CC I’m going to does have guaranteed transfer programs to UVA, W&M and VT, but they require that you get a degree in something really obscure.</p>
<p>mcfuggie, I think that’s what it’s coming down to…</p>
<p>Annika, got it. No hard feelings there are students out there that have made mistakes and you were just ensuring that I wouldn’t do something do something similar.</p>
<p>shrinkrap, way to make me look like a rich </p>
<p>I can pay full price, but only because I’m paying dirt cheap tuition at a CC for two years. I wouldn’t be able to handle NYU for four years but two years wouldn’t be that bad.</p>
<p>Even so, UVA and W&M are beginning to look like great choices, because who doesn’t like attending an awesome college while reaping the benefits of in-state tuition? I would loooove to go somewhere like NYU, don’t get me wrong…</p>
<p>@shrinkrap/eyetog:What I meant by “I’m coming from almost the exact situation as eyetog” was that we both have low gpas & big dreams. I guess the only difference would be that I’m poor and he’s supposedly rich, haha.</p>
<p>@eyetog:I think you live in NOVA?? cause I have a friend that goes to a NOVA CC now so i know they have agreements with those colleges I used to live in NOVA[DC metro area] too when I was younger ( I want to move back so badly!) uggh.</p>
<p>Next year when I start college I have a goal of getting a 3.7+ gpa and getting really involved. I just hope that both of us will finish strong and get into the school of our dreams! I am DETERMINED to put my HS gpa behind me and make something better of myself.</p>
<p>P.S. when you choose schools, you should pick ones that are a good fit or you— what programs they offer for your major/is it strong for you major, location,campus,security social fit etc. Don’t choose one based on prestige. Just pick one based off of where you think you’d be the happiest at :)</p>
<p>“Yeah, the CC I’m going to does have guaranteed transfer programs to UVA, W&M and VT, but they require that you get a degree in something really obscure.”</p>
<p>The UVA guaranteed admissions agreement has no bearing on your major, as long as it’s in the College of Arts & Sciences (which includes “Politics, Philosophy, and Law” and “Political and Social Thought”). Or, there is a separate GAA agreement for the Engineering school, but that’s not really relevant.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about your SATs. You have to submit them, but they really won’t hold much weight after a couple years at CC.</p>
<p>guys, I’m not rich! Hahaha. I hate that word, it’s terrible. Even if I may be, I hate the how it’s associated with being bratty or boastful.</p>
<p>All I’m saying is, if I’m only attending a school I love for two years, say NYU, I’ll be spending ≈100k instead of ≈200k. I personally see that as a pretty huge bargain; even so, W&M for two years would cost the same amount as a semester at NYU, which is a pretty huge difference (and quite frankly, probably the decision I’ll make, since they offer study abroad programs with St. Andrews). Honestly I have no idea. Right now my interest in attending Harvard is beginning to grow on me at a tremendously exponential rate;
While everyone may or may not be aware, in Fall of 2009 13 out of 600 people were admitted into the University. That means about 50 people fight for one spot, making your chances of attending about two percent (given that you’re just as competent as everyone else). However, I just recently discovered that six (SIX) out of the 13 applicants chosen were recruited as athletes. Just a few months back I began crew and now I’m SO intent on doing this for the next couple of years, as well; luckily I actually really enjoy the sport so this turns out to be a lovely circumstance. I can hear people skeptically laughing at me at the moment, but hell, why not give it a chance? </p>
<p>^The Harvard transfer results for the fall of '11 were released two days ago. 12 admits out of 1500 applicants. I think 6 again were athletes. It’s pretty ridiculous.</p>
<p>just so you know, you also miss out on 2 years of teh college experience. so yes, you’re only paying 1/2 price, but you also missed out on 2 years of friends, traveling, experiences, girls etc. and its hard as a junior to establish lots of friends since you will be older</p>
<p>“@shrinkrap/eyetog:What I meant by “I’m coming from almost the exact situation as eyetog” was that we both have low gpas & big dreams. I guess the only difference would be that I’m poor and he’s supposedly rich, haha.”</p>
<p>I wouldn’t use the words rich or poor, and I wasn’t implying anything about anyones character. I was just mentioning to eastafro, whom I had followed with interest for some time, that being able to pay, opens some doors. </p>
<p>I’m not talking about “top schools”, but many privates will be able to look beyond the numbers, but do not meet need. </p>
<p>Also, I know OP said he does not want to consider schools easier to get into (with higher admit rates), and this is another way the two of you may be different.</p>
<p>I think you were hoping the Russian/Iranian thing was going to be a huge advantage, but it isn’t. The U.S. is full of immigrants, some from the outer reaches of the Congo, many who just learned to speak English, and they have sky high stats. If your family has a great deal of money, there are many schools that require only a pulse and a trust fund, I would look into these schools. As far as the ones you listed, unless you can throw a football or hit a three pointer…not a chance.
Keep in mind, almost all undergraduate educations are basically the same. And if you really intend to major in philosophy, you will be in school for the next couple of decades anyway…</p>
<p>Ok, seeing how some of the comments on here are pretty optimistic (and even though some of the others are not), I’ll be frank: you will have to make seriously EARTH-SHATTERING changes to get into one of these schools transfer. While attaining a higher GPA is one thing, going from a 2.4 weighted to 4.0 unweighted, even at a community college, is extremely difficult because it requires an extreme change in work habits. Quite simply, saying “suppose I …” is not doing it. PLUS, being recruited for athletics as a transfer student at these schools is just as difficult, if not more so, than being accepted for academics. If you are trying to get in based on your crew abilities, you’re going to need extremely solid, national-level skills and accomplishments to catch the eye of recruiters, because they really don’t look for anything else when looking at possible transfers- they can easily get the rest through normal, high-school admissions, which gives recruited athletes more eligibility anyway (as a college student you lose eligibility for each year of college you spend at the community college). Oh yeah, and getting a 2200-2300 is another whole beast in and of itself- extremely bright, motivated people do not always attain scores in this range. FINALLY, even if you do achieve all these things, you are still most likely going to be rejected- people with 2300 SAT’s, 4.0 unweighted GPA’s, and national awards/achievements in sports/arts are more often rejected than not in the regular decision alone. </p>
<p>I mean, it’s not like it’s physically impossible to get in, I’m just saying you need to be realistic; no matter what you do, your chances for Harvard, NYU, and Georgetown will be virtually zero. If you can accept that fact and move on, you’ll be much better off. There are MANY other great universities out there, and although they might not have the “#1 ranked ______ program in the country,” they are still incredible schools to attend. Buy any college guide (like the Fiske one). There are well over 300 schools that are probably worth looking at, and maybe, just maybe, one of them is for you.</p>
<p>The easiest way to transfer into an Ivy is to be an athlete that your target school really, really needs. That said, if OP is great rower, he’s going to be a great rower that hasn’t rowed in couple of years - assuming that his CC doesn’t have a crew team.</p>
<p>Also, I laughed at this comment:</p>
<p>“I’ve always acknowledged my potential to succeed and make one of my top 10 schools…”</p>
<p>How have you acknowledged it? By doing nothing? There’s a character in a Jane Austen book who say something like, “I’ve never played the piano. Though, if I did, I’d play beautifully.”</p>
<p>Something else to consider - you mentioned interest in W&M due to its study abroad program with St. Andrews. However, as a transfer you will be required to complete so many credits at <em>your</em> school (usually 60, a.k.a. 2 years). Study abroad may not be feasible. Make sure to look into their requirements.</p>
<p>^^ This. You seem to believe that all of your ambitious plans will be accomplished. Life isn’t linear and it isn’t easy. I’m neither encouraging or discouraging you to act out your plans, but I think you’re looking at it much too simplistically. </p>
<p>Please, please have a safety plan. (And do your research first.)</p>
<p>actually if you are good at rowing you will have a great chance at harvard…someone on their 2v transferd in from a state school…if you are sub 6:10 as hw or sub 6:20 i think you have a chance.</p>
<p>also make sure your 4.0 is in something CHALLENGING. getting a 4.0 with classes like intro to sociology 101 or explorations of science 101 wont wow schools. </p>
<p>you need to take classes like physics, calculus, chemistry, high level english/history to wow schools. Many other applicants to good schools will be taking classes like calc 2 calc 3 and have 4.0s in hard classes like that</p>
there are students out there that have made mistakes and you were just ensuring that I wouldn’t do something do something similar.</p>