Decision Time is Drawing Near

Transfer Students
1

<p>*Reposted per advice in another forum. If that is against the rules, please delete other thread in the Business subforum. Thank you!</p>

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>I'm new to the community in the sense that I've never posted but old in the sense that I've lurked advice for a long while now. I'd like to ask for opinions as to what the next steps in my college progression should be, because the path I've followed so far is unconventional and application time is almost here.</p>

<p>Here is my history:
-Oregon resident
-Scored about 1780 on SAT throughout high school, maintain a 3.8 or higher GPA, always swamped myself with extra-curricular drama/sports/student government/music/community service
-Graduated high school a year early in summer 2011 through a degree program at a community college (I had the state-credit requirements accumulated throughout highschool)
-Reconsidered my music composition major ideas after a private music theory instructor advised against it
-Decided to embrace my entrepreneur tendencies (at the age of 17, I've already owned a few small-scale businesses) and pursue a business major because I like thinking that way
-Began looking at different schools that accept sophomore transfers
-Am currently enrolled in a community college commuter school</p>

<p>Here are my preferences:
-My ideal place to end up would be New York. It is a dream to go there and the idea of the city is riveting.
-Seattle is my pick number two city-wise. California would be cool but meh.
-I wouldn't die if I stayed in Portland
-I would be happy almost anywhere in the country, I'm not a picky person and am inanely optimistic
-I figure if I'm in the realm of Ivy league, why not shoot for higher-up schools?</p>

<p>Things I've currently decided:
-Taking the ACT in December
-Taking the SAT once more to see if I can boost up to at least 1850
-Get good grades and stay involved at my current campus (am in student government with credit waivers and have a job outside of school)</p>

<p>Places I'm pretty positive I'm applying to (ordered by reach, pretty sure, and safety schools) :</p>

<ol>
<li>NYU's Stern (top pick)</li>
<li>Pennsylvania's Wharton</li>
<li>Ann Arbor's Ross
____________________________</li>
<li>Babson College</li>
<li>CUNY Bernard M Baruch's Ziclkin</li>
<li>?
__________________________</li>
<li>University of Washington Seattle Campus</li>
<li>University of Oregon</li>
<li>Seattle University's Albers</li>
<li>Portland State University</li>
</ol>

<p>What do you guys think of my picks so far? Any suggestions or comments? What do you think would fit best in pick number 6? Any insider tips or tricks?</p>

<p>Thank you so much for feedback!</p>

2

<p>How old are you? Are you in your first two years of community college post-highschool or are you on your third year and beyond at community college?</p>

<p>What can you afford? Schools like NYU are unaffordable for most students, even after financial aid and student loans are figured in. Do you have the means to pay for OOS colleges?</p>

<p>I am not familiar with all of the schools on your list, but I think you did a good job with the reach/match/safety list in terms of GPA transfer issues. However, how do the schools line up in terms of affordability for you? It is a waste of time and money to apply to schools if you are fairly certain you can not afford–do you have resources?</p>

3

<p>I am 17 years old. I am in my first seasonal term of classes, and there are 4 terms offered in one year. My financial status is middle ground; I have passive streams of income that could pay for OOS public universities, like a CUNY school, with little hassle. For universities like NYU, my financial security would be a reach, just like my application chances.</p>

<p>My middle ground and safety schools take price into consideration, and some are on the list namely because of their price. I do, though, subscribe to the idea that one’s college experience has more value than a price tag; if I had an opportunity to experience more life and be poor, I’d rather do that than be only satiated to a mediocre extent whilst eating out.</p>

4

<p>For cost, NYU is known for it’s poor FA, UMichigan will be full pay OOS (ca. 50k/yr) and Penn has good FA but is dependent on how much your parents qualify for.</p>

<p>I’m not familiar with Babson & CUNY.</p>

5

<p>Ross is extremely hard to get into as a transfer. Its better if you did 1 year at UM LSA and then applied into Ross.</p>

6

<p>Also something to note: Wharton’s acceptance rate is extremely low (last I heard around two or three percent). Just thought you should know.</p>

7

<p>Thank you for the responses all,
I’m well aware of the inanely low acceptance rates at these top tier schools. They are most definitely reach schools and are almost out of reach. I’m most optimistic toward Baruch at CUNY, because frankly it is 10s of thousands of dollars cheaper and undergrad prestige is almost irrelevant unless you’re trying to get into Wallstreet.</p>