<p>hello everyone, this is my first time posting here.</p>
<p>i am a student at a good out of state public school. i came here on a small academic scholarship after being rejected from my top choice. my parents urged me to go the CC route, and then transfer into my top choice, or even the cheap in-state flagship. however, with no guaranteed admissions through transfer, i figured my best choice would be to go to a school that had name recognition, and the fact that i didn't really want to miss out on the social experience that freshmen get. i also wanted the college experience, get away from my parents, meet new people, and have fun, which i am loving so far.</p>
<p>the school is great. it has the major i want. it is in a good location. i am being challenged here and i am getting a solid education. the degree will get me to where i want to go in life. its a great school, i am very happy with my decision. my parents love the school, have come down for visits, bought apparel, and car decals. they love talking to friends about where i am going and say so with a proud look on their face.</p>
<p>the problem is the cost. my efc isn't very high (not low enough for a pell grant though), and my parents are paying double the EFC to send me here. they have always told me that money isn't a problem, and have even sent me some money when i've needed it down here. however, having parents nearing their 60s, knowing that they are close to retirement, and the sole income of my family being employed, then laid off, then employed, then laid off, then employed, i don't feel like i should be going here.</p>
<p>i'm looking into transferring. problem is, my gpa is only looking like a 3.19 because of a C in a class i'm taking, and i have a W on my transcript. i was a solid student in high school. i had a A- average and test score of a 29 act.</p>
<p>when i made a transfer list, i thought of what i liked in my current school. actually, the one thing i liked about it - the big school sports. i never was a big fan of my high school athletics, but attending a football game with tens of thousands of rowdy fans is amazing, and tailgating is like no other. i also thought of what i needed - a bit of an upgrade in terms of the student body. really, i'm not one who thinks people are dumb because of test scores, nor do i believe that a GPA is an indicator of how smart you are. but i'm sick of having 'discussions' with people who don't even do the readings and then when asked to analyze spend a minute going "ummmmmmmm", who think that chicago is a state, and talk monotone and read off their paper when the teacher asks to 'limit your notes' while giving a speech.</p>
<p>so i came up with this criteria - school that i have good financial aid chances at, or even a chance for a transfer scholarship, as well as a solid academic reputation (a degree that will carry weight out of the current state, or is at least a feeder into the major markets of that state), and good sports (no, not ivy league or division II sports). here's schools that i found:</p>
<p>virginia - reach
north carolina - reach
texas a&m - match (looking to get the transfer scholarship)
arizona - safety (looking to get the wildcat excellence award)</p>
<p>i'm open to suggestions/comments on the schools listed. i also have my in-state school as a backup.</p>
<p>another note: i have a poor GPA after this semester, but next semester, i have taken a bit of a light load, and it should be near a 3.6 at semesters end. should i wait and apply for spring 2008 rather than fall 2007?</p>