<p>I'm a high school senior and I have to make my decision pretty soon. Although I got into schools I loved (ie Smith and Brandeis), they aren't particularly affordable because they don't offer merit aid. I would have to take about $50,000 in debt out for both of them, which is more than I want to.</p>
<p>As it stands, my options are Mount Holyoke College (only ~$2,000 in debt per year), Bryn Mawr College (I haven't heard back, but they told me they would match Mount Holyoke) and UMass Amherst (0 debt). These are okay schools, but I've changed a lot over my senior year and I don't think they are great fits anymore.</p>
<p>I wouldn't mind taking out ~$25,000 in debt, so I was thinking of transferring after 2 years to Tufts (dream school), Smith, Brandeis, or somewhere similar. When I met with the financial aid office at Smith and Brandeis, they said I would get the same aid as a transfer as I am getting now. Since I'd be spending half the time there, my debt would be cut in half and much more manageable.</p>
<p>So, my question is, is it easier/better to transfer from a big state school like UMass or from a small LAC (if it matters at all)? Obviously your transcript is the most important part of a transfer application, but if I hypothetically excelled at UMass or BMC/MHC, which would be more impressive to colleges? Sorry if this post is unclear, I'm totally exhausted from accepted students days, so I'll be happy to clarify anything :) Thanks!</p>
<p>You may want to consider which of the four year schools would be a better fit (academically and otherwise) if you stayed there for all four years.</p>
<p>You mean out of MHC, BMC, and UMass? Yeah… I REALLY don’t want to stay any of those places for 4 years unless there are absolutely no other options whatsoever.</p>
<p>??</p>
<p>how will you afford the school that you transfer to? Transfers don’t get significant merit awards.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids, I explained in the third paragraph of my post</p>
<p>edit: if it’s still unclear i can explain later (i am leaving the house now)</p>
<p>Re: #4</p>
<p>Apparently, the OP is basing it on need-aid only (and probably did not get merit scholarships), the schools said that they would give the same need aid per year to transfers as freshmen, and the OP could afford two years at the target schools but not four years at the target schools.</p>
<p>Re: #3</p>
<p>If you really do not want to stay at any of the schools for four years, find out from the target schools if the source school matters for transfer admissions. If it does not, go to the least expensive one in terms of net cost after financial aid. You might as well throw community college into the mix if it is less expensive and if your transfer target schools accept transfers from community colleges on a reasonably equal basis as those from four year schools.</p>
<p>But you really should reconsider whether there is a possibility that you will like one of the four year schools enough to at least find it acceptable to stay for four years. In this case, academic suitability should at least be considered.</p>
<p>thanks ucbalumnus! I will definitely check with my schools. I’m not interested in community college because my parents can afford UMass no problem, which is definitely preferable to a CC. And you’re right, I will compare academics between them more to see which would be best.</p>
<p>What makes Smith worth paying so much more than Mount Holyoke or Bryn Mawr (even for 2 years)? These schools are all rather similar.</p>
<p>I think you are making a mistake to enter a school with the idea of transferring after two years. It will prevent you from investing in relationships with other students and faculty. You lose a lot of momentum by ending those relationships you do develop, because juniors in the school you transfer into will already have a group of friends and long-standing relationships with faculty. If you are planning to go to grad school, it could be very hard to apply as a senior because you won’t have had sufficient time to develop the relationships with faculty. Be forewarned too that transferring in is much harder than being accepted in as a freshman - there are many fewer slots and you will have to have top grades and a compelling reason to transfer so you aren’t perceived as the kind of person who always thinks the grass is greener elsewhere. </p>
<p>It’s easier to transfer after one year in that the ‘sunk costs’ are lower and you have time to catch up before senior year. That said, you have several really good options, and as tk observed, Bryn Mawr and Holyoke are comparable to Smith. Of course, you can always approach Smith with the offers you got from Bryn Mawr and Holyoke, and explain that Smith is your first choice - can they match the aid? Some schools will do that to compete with peer institutions.</p>
<p>LOL. MHC and BMC are “OK” but you’re willing to auction the farm for Smith, Brandeis and Tufts?? Did you actually read what you wrote?</p>