Chance Me - Low Income :(

Currently a freshmen at NYU and I’m thinking of applying to transfer out into Barnard, Brown, Claremont McKenna, Cornell, Emory, Hamilton, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Pomona, Swarthmore UPenn, Vanderbilt, and WashU St. Louis. I’m trying to narrow down this list. I’m trying to transfer out due to financial reasons and I’m also not trying to stay in NYC. Basically, I’m wondering which colleges I even have a chance at with acceptance and getting good finaid. I’m low income Asian female (I know that transfer colleges become need aware, sad :’(. I currently get decent aid from NYU because I am low-income so it would be impossible for me to attend if they didn’t give me some money so I’m wondering down the road if they gave me aid it’ll be somewhat generous. I’ve already asked, more like begged, NYU for more aid, with valid reasons like parents becoming unemployed but it was fruitless.

I’m currently on the premed track, but I have a very strong focus in the humanities. I’m thinking about majoring in psychology or maybe even philosophy as I remain on the premed track. I’m really interested in Vanderbilt, Barnard, and Hamilton. The west coast liberal colleges seems like something I really want, but doesn’t seem too realistic. I don’t know if I should just apply to a few colleges now and then wait another semester and apply to transfer again for Spring 2019 or Fall 2019. Will transferring further along my college career be harder?

College GPA: 3.73 (I’m in the liberal studies program so my humanities gpa is 3.90 and science 3.3 [had one science class where I got a B+ in, so A A A- and B+ chem)
Next semester will be the same old 3 humanities courses and chem.
Prestigious High School GPA: 3.45? It was a 90 on a 100 scale
ACT Test Score: 32 (34M, 30S, 30E, 34R)
SAT II: USH 710, Bio 690, Chem 630

Extracurricular Chronologically
High School:
VP of a really big community service club 4 yrs
Varsity volleyball and lacrosse team 4 yrs

I think I had a few more but I don't think it was super important

Summer internship at large nonprofit, have a LOR from my supervisor but probably not going to send that
Dental Assistant / Receptionist Job

Teacher at a summer school
Writer on my school’s medical journal, have one piece published
Executive Board Member, Marketing Committee on a Asian Interest Club
Work Study, teacher’s helper at a elementary school
Community Library Council for young adults
A lot of miscellaneous part times jobs: coffee barista, retail job, tutoring etc.

Letter of Recommendations:
1st - should be fairly good, from my writing professor. I developed a really strong relationship with him so it should be good.
2nd - a mediocre one from my chemistry recitation instructor. I don’t know if it’ll matter but she’s a clinical professor? and I think she has a strong relationship with my main lecture and lab professor so maybe I can ask for a joint rec?

I just want to know if I even stand a chance in the transfer process. The B+ in the chem really destroyed me and I honestly don’t like NYU vibe or community and I really want to get out. I have considered SUNYs but I’ll rather suck it up and stay at NYU… still I’m really not trying to if I can. I think I can pull off 3 A’s and hopefully a A but A- in chem… for next semester bringing my average up but haha nothings easy or guaranteed.

Lol I’m in a similar boat. Low-income, studied at NYU for two years, and currently doing a service year with the intent to apply to transfer next Fall. I’ve read a lot about it online and personally think if you have the time and energy to apply, you should go for it! I’ve read some stories about people beating odds and being accepted to top schools despite a low gpa / financial need / bad recs / whatever. Likewise, the schools you’re looking at are all incredibly hard to be accepted to in the first place, so you never really know!

@smartgurr Can you transfer out? Yes. Can you receive more need-based aid as a transfer student and loan less money for your degree? Yes. The problem is that the colleges you want to transfer to are EXTREMELY hard to get into as a transfer applicant, and your GPA isn’t super-competitive. Out of the list you gave, the only one I think you have a reasonable shot at is Vanderbilt.