Other special factors (first generation to college, legacy, athlete, etc.): Started college (full time) at 14, will graduate at 18. the caveat of this is that I do not have my GED or a high school diploma/transcripts. HOWEVER, every school on this list approved my case and the lack of transcripts/graduation will not be an issue.
Intended Major(s) Psychology
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: n/a
Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): n/a
College GPA (for transfers): 3.73
Class Rank: n/a
ACT/SAT Scores: not submitting (I got a 1200 when I was 13, never took it again lol)
Coursework (AP/IB/Dual Enrollment classes, AP/IB scores for high school; also include level of math and foreign language reached and any unusual academic electives; for transfers, describe your college courses and preparation for your intended major(s)) Currently taking experimental psych and statistics, and have completed all gen-eds for my school alongside a few other major requirements.
Awards
Not sure what this means, so assuming I don’t have any…? Extracurriculars (Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)
Not many as unfortunately I’ve had to work 30ish hours a week, not leaving me much free time.
Waitressing job (as aforementioned)
RHA president
Psychology TA
Internship with tech startup
Postion on campus to facilitate interfaith dialogue Essays/LORs/Other (Optionally, guess how strong these are and include any other relevant information or circumstances.)
I think my essays are quite strong. No letter of rec submitted for James Madison University or College of William and Mary due to time constraints, but every other school has 3-4 letters.
I did mention my part-time job and my unique early entrance into college on my essays. Cost Constraints / Budget (High school students: please get a budget from your parents and use the Net Price Calculators on the web sites of colleges of interest.)
FAFSA for this year not completed so I can’t say, but recently COVID resulted in country relocation/job loss of one parent Schools (List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if a scholarship is necessary for affordability, indicate that you are aiming for a scholarship and use the scholarship chance to estimate it into the appropriate group below)
Safety (certain admission and affordability)
James Madison University
Likely (would be possible, but very unlikely or surprising, for it not to admit or be affordable)
UCI
Match
UCSC
UCSD
Reach
Emory
Vanderbilt
William and Mary
Stanford (just applying out of curiousity, not expecting acceptance at all)
By the way, the early college I’m in is PEG at Mary Baldwin University. I’ll have 60 credits at the end of spring semester. I’m not dual enrolled.
Early colleges (at least like the one I’m in) allow you to enter as a freshman so you are able to get freshmen scholarships. You also get your high school diploma when you complete the program. Is that how yours works?
Transfers by major | University of California can help you with transfer admission GPA ranges and admission rates at UCs. For psychology, it looks like your college GPA is in the upper part of the middle 50% range for admits for the three UCs you listed.
You may need to clarify your residency status – if your parents recently moved to California, the one year waiting period may result in not getting California residency until that waiting period is up.
I’m looking to transfer for the ability to have a wider range of courses and a stronger psych program as MBU lacks in these areas. Additionally, it’s not a research university so i have no chance of undergraduate research.
Yes, they’ve lived there 20 years and have not moved. i live there when i’m not at college. i did all my elementary and middle school there. i’m a resident
Most transfers receive limited merit aid. Did the financial aid offices at these universities tell you that you would be eligible for a lot of merit aid? That’s news to me. You should post a list of those schools on this site.
We’ve always experienced students complaining of lack of aid for transfers. The best financial aid is usually reserved for entering freshman.
For the UCs, you’ll be paying in-State fees.
Merit scholarships for the UC‘s are very competitive and are usually very, very small. Assume from $2-5k. Remember that these are public universities that have limited budgets from public tax dollars.
Also remember that psychology is a very popular major at the UC’s, so it is impacted at some of the universities. That means too many applicants for a small amount of seats.
Have you figured out your college budget and what your parents will pay to attend these schools?
Yeah, that’s why I mainly applied to UCs and OOS private schools. I’m applying to other scholarships, alongside work-study and personal contribution from off-campus work (and of course student loans) alongside parental contribution. My college budget is 25k and below, and any financial aid calculator I’ve tried based on my finances (parents aren’t homeowners, one is unemployed, no retirement plans, no assets/savings) put me within that range (excluding WM; in retrospect I shouldn’t have applied.) JMU is pricier but, again, the main reason I’m applying is transferability and hope for financial aid - if it’s cheaper than the amount I currently pay, then I’ll go, but if im unable to afford it then obviously I can’t
The UCs and Emory are my most financially feasible choices.
The net price calculators are set up for incoming freshmen in the vast majority of cases. Did the ones you used ask what year you will be when you enter the college? If not…assume that the net prices you are seeing are for incoming freshmen, not transfer students.
Need-based aid is based on your income. If there are schools that are telling you that you would receive scholarships, I’m assuming it would be need-based aid because of your unemployed parent. That would make more sense, but again transfers are at the bottom of the list.
Merit based aid looks at grades and extracurricular activities and it’s very competitive. It doesn’t look at your income or your assets.
The California State universities and the UC’s would be within your budget.
To increase your number of affordable choices, I would add these to your list:
UC Riverside
Cal State Long Beach
Cal State Fullerton
The California state schools are generally excellent, so aim for one with a strong Psychology department that is affordable.
I don’t have a clue how to chance transfer students, so I have no guess as to your odds of getting into various highly selective schools. I do know it is difficult to get the cost of spendy schools down all the way to within budget for transfer students — hence the recommendation to add some more in-state public options.
That’s why the UCs are my top choices.
Emory does meet 100% of demonstrated need for domestic applicants, which is (one of the many reasons) why I’m applying. I’m aware I wouldn’t get merit but their need based aid seems to be great.
I can’t really apply to any of those because their deadline has passed. Unfortunately I didn’t even consider the cal states until after the deadline. Do you have any more suggestions for California public schools that aren’t cal states or UCs?
There are only two public school university systems in California: the Cal States and the UC’s.
The rest of the public schools would be the community colleges.
You could try to apply to some of the private universities however the cost can be prohibitive. The private schools do tend to have more alumni donors and bigger money chests than the Public universities.
