Did I limit my options prematurely?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Last November, I chanced for Berkeley at the minimum.</p>

<p>My major is Bioengineering (BioMedical Engineering) and these are my stats:</p>

<p>3.848
General Education Done
(2 English Writing, Pre-Calculus, Life Science, History, three semesters of foreign language)</p>

<p>I didn't take the SAT. I'm an older student, 26. My essay was probably an 8/10 at best. </p>

<p>The thing is, what made me more modest about applying to good schools is that my math is kind of low for transfer applicants. Washington University asks for two physics classes and by summer I'll only have one done. So basically, I applied to UCSD and Berkeley. Berkeley was a crap shoot (with only Calc 1 & 2 plus Physics 1, I don't see myself getting in even with my GPA) and San Diego was a clinch. Because I qualified for the waiver, I applied to Irvine and Davis as well but realistically I probably wasted their time with my application. </p>

<p>So now I got into UCSD's Bioengineering program, but my preliminary financial aid award is kind of sketchy.</p>

<p>I'm in Calculus right now. Is it strange to go from a Community College to UC (4 year) and then transfer to a private university out of state? Would I be better off staying at a Community College if I'm considering this? </p>

<p>The reason I ask is because some schools (Vanderbilt University, Cornell University, Case Western) have decent engineering schools, great financial aid and I hear I'd have good chances. If I can get into those schools and graduate around the same time as UCSD but without any revolving debt, I feel like it'd be worth it. </p>

<p>The reason I'm thinking of this is because I spoke to someone on the phone from Cal Grants and he discouraged me because he said that only 22,000 people receive Cal Grants. What does that mean for me if I don't get one? I'm going to have to take out $10,000 in loans a YEAR to go to UCSD? That's too much debt, I can't handle that.</p>

<p>Anyway, my question is, with my stats, would I have had good chances of getting into Vanderbilt, Case Western or Cornell? If I would, what would be the best option if I'm not happy with my financial aid at UCSD:</p>

<p>1) Go to UCSD for the first year as a transfer applicant because I can get more done there. Finish whatever classes I can that I'd need for other schools and then apply to Case Western, Cornell and Vanderbilt either for spring 2011 or Fall 2011.</p>

<p>2) Decline UCSD if the financial aid isn't that good, and stay at community college until I can apply again for next year and shoot for the above three schools.</p>

2

<p>You would get better answers in the Financial Aid or Parents’ Forum. I’d recommend re-posting it there.</p>

3

<p>I meant about my chances of getting accepted to Vanderbilt, Cornell or Case Western.</p>

4

<p>cornell’s engineering school has a 6% transfer acceptance rate. don’t know about the others.</p>

5

<p>Why do you think your FA would be better at Cornell, Vanderbilt, etc? I guess I’m confused. Have you gotten confirmation that for your EFC/profile that <em>transfer</em> financial aid would be better for you there?</p>

<p>10K out of pocket isn’t cheap – but it really isn’t all that bad for a 4year school.</p>

6

<p>$10K is double the average loan amount per year. It’s not worth it at that point.</p>

<p>OP, personally, I’d go for UCSD then attempt to transfer. It’ll probably always look better if you can do just as well at a 4-year. Perhaps there will be other sources of aid available to you by then.</p>