<p>Hey-
I am currently a freshman geology student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo(CSU). Because of budget cuts that are looming and a terrible graduation rate, i may want to transfer in the fall to a private college in CA or the surrounding states. The financial aid has to be very good for me to leave here, though.
I have a 3.95 college GPA. I will have completed 50+ quarter units by the end of this spring.
Would i have any chance at GOOD financial aid at the following? My parents make decent money, so i wouldn't get low income status.(i don't remember what its called)<br>
-Saint Mary's College of CA
-Gonzaga
-USD
-University of Portland
-Seattle U
-Loyola Marymount<br>
-Occidental
-Anywhere else worth applying? </p>
<p>Need-based financial aid is based on income and assets - NOT GPA - even if the schools you list offer good financial aid to transfers, with a “decent income” you may or may not qualify for that aid. You might want to do some EFC calculators to see if you would even qualify for aid.</p>
<p>So most private colleges don’t give merit based aid to transfer students? I though my abnormal gpa was my only chance to get some good financial aid! I was hoping to apply to lower tier privates in order to get some aid money. No, i dont think i qualify for much by the EFC calculations.
I know Saint Mary’s has a $10,000 scholarship that is for transfer students that have 3.5+ gpa’s. This isn’t normal?</p>
<p>There tend to be fewer merit scholarships for transfer applicants than freshmen. Yes, St. Mary’s offers a transfer merit scholarship of $10,000. Bear in mind that St. Mary’s (and most other California privates) has a cost of attendance of ~$50,000/year, so a $10,000 scholarship leaves you with $40,000 to cover - which is about twice what one year at Cal Poly costs for in-state.</p>
<p>So:</p>
<p>five years at Cal Poly = ~$100,000</p>
<p>While one year at Cal Poly ($20,000) plus three years at a private even with a $10,000/year scholarship (~$40,000 X 3 = $120,000) comes to $140,000. </p>
<p>So financially you would be better off staying at Cal Poly even if it does take you five years to graduate. You could probably do it in four (~$80,000 total for four years) if you get some classes out of the way at a community college in summer and save another $20,000.</p>
<p>Stay at Cal Poly. It will be cheaper in the long run even if you have to fo a 5th year.</p>
<p>None of those schools give much aid for transfer students. You’d end up paying a lot more there. You say that your parents make decent money. That suggests a highish EFC. Those schools rely heavily on aid. You will likely only get loans. </p>
<p>SLO is very reasonably priced. I have a relative there. It is VERY possible to graduate in 4 years (or maybe an extra quarter) if you pick your classes carefully. it’s not necessary to go the full 5 years. </p>
<p>You can improve your chances of graduating on time if you take a summer class or two at a local Cal State or CC over the summer…make sure you pick classes that will work in your major.</p>
<p>In-state tuition and fees: $6,480<br>
Room and board: $9,992 </p>
<h2>Books and supplies: $1,674 </h2>
<p>Direct costs…about $18k per year…there’s no way that transferring to a private is going to be cheaper for you, even if you graduate sooner.</p>
<p>While your GPA is very good, it’s not “abnormal.” </p>
<p>The $10k scholarship that St. Mary’s offers is unusual and is really more of a tuition discount incentive. That is really all you’d get from that school except for a loan.</p>
<p>Out-of-state tuition and fees: $35,430
Room and board: $12,350 </p>
<h2>Books and supplies: $1,512 </h2>
<p>Direct costs…about…$50k per year…so even with a $10k scholarship, you’d still have to pay $40k per year. How would that be cheaper?</p>
<p>I also doubt that St. mary’s would have a better geology program than SLO</p>
<p>Most schools reserve their aid and scholarships for incoming freshmen because getting the best incoming freshmen class affects their ranking. </p>
<p>You can try and apply to some of these schools “just to see,” but assume that they will NOT work out and continue at SLO as if you will be returning in the fall. Sign up for housing, for classes, etc, at SLO for next fall.</p>
<p>Check each colleges website for scholarship opportunities. Some colleges have departmental scholarships, but do read them carefully to be sure you will qualify coming into the college as a transfer. You could also “connect” with your admissions person at each college to explore what might be available for aid and how the classes you have taken so far will be viewed etc. </p>