Do Transfer Credits affect GPA and Honors? And a FinAid Question.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia School of General Studies
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<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I'll be starting at GS in the Fall - just had my financial aid meeting. However, I've not gone for my Academic Planning Session ("APS") yet.</p>

<p>Anyway, at my financial aid meeting, the officer saw from the database that I could transfer 54 credits (they must have calculated at Admission, I haven't been to the APS yet), and so based his calculations on the assumption I'll be taking 70 credits at GS. (I just discovered at this meeting that transfer credits = less debt, yayyy!!!)</p>

<p>I've a few questions that I hope someone can answer, so I have a vague idea before I turn up at my APS:</p>

<p>[1] If you are told you are eligible for 54 transfer credits, do people usually ACTUALLY transfer all these credits? Do they say you're eligible for 54, but oh no just kidding, we're actually only gonna transfer 20 in your situation?</p>

<p>[2] Is 70 credits usually enough to cover all you need for a major + the core? Any one with any experience? Obviously I should be patient and wait for my APS for info specific to my situation, but I'd love to hear from anyone.</p>

<p>AND MOST IMPORTANTLY [3] Will my transferred credits in any way affect my Columbia GPA, honors, academic awards, etc? Does doing less than 124 credits at Columbia mean you can't get magna cum laude or whatever, etc?</p>

<p>(Either my last school - which was on another continent - was really tough, or we were all terrible students. 3.2 at my last school meant you were a "good student", no one in my entire year got higher than a 3.5 (<- dean's list), and the average grade for many of the classes was a C+/B-, etc etc. Needless to say, my transcript is littered with a healthy dose of C's and B's. I'm worried if this will affect my CU transcript.) (And yes, I can't believe I got accepted into GS with my grades either, I'm guessing my reference letter writers must have mentioned our ridiculous grading standards.)</p>

<hr>

<p>Finally, a question about Financial Aid and not being a full-time student.</p>

<p>I was told during my Financial Aid meeting that sometimes, doing 6 or 9 credits instead of 12/semester - and dragging out my time at Columbia, translates to more FAFSA loans over time, so this reduces your federal debt to private debt ratio.</p>

<p>Anyone do this? Are there any disadvantages to not being a full time student (again, same question about this affecting department/graduation honors, etc)?</p>

<p>Thanks y'all!!!</p>

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<ol>
<li><p>I think the eligibility number refers to the actual amount of credits that can and will transfer. </p></li>
<li><p>70 credits will likely be enough for a major and the core. You’re going to have to be pretty strategic about things from the start - keep the end in mind and try to tentatively plan future semesters as early as possible. </p></li>
<li><p>Your transfer credits won’t affect your Columbia GPA or academic award eligibility. This didn’t used to be the case and, for ages and ages, transfer students weren’t eligible to graduate with honors, Phi Beta Kappa, etc. </p></li>
</ol>

<hr>

<p>Financial Aid question:</p>

<p>Are you an international student? If so, you probably won’t qualify for financial aid.</p>

<p>Dragging things out comes with its own expenses and problems. First, as a part-time student, you won’t be eligible for housing. So, you’ll have to find your own apartment in New York City (typically, the move-in fee is between $10,000 to $15,000 for the broker’s fee, deposit, first and last month’s rent, etc). Second, you’ll be REALLY dragging things out. 70 credits? It’s going to take you somewhere between 5 and 6 years to do it if you’re going half-time.</p>

<p>New York City rent over the course of six years might be worse than the loans and finishing in two or three years.</p>

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<p>Yessss thank you so much hellojan! I was so excited to see that you replied!! (Your answers are constantly reliable, so it’s just really reassuring to get a reply from you, you know? Haha)</p>

<p>Thank you so very much for your replies, they’re super helpful and exactly what I needed rn. </p>

<p>(I’m an “eligible noncitizen” for FAFSA + staying with family in New York so rent shouldn’t be a problem. But thanks for ur advice! I’ll be sure to do a super careful calculation about which option makes more financial sense)</p>

<p>Thanks thanks thanks again, hellojan!!! :)</p>

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<p>As hellojan said, yes, take the full transfer. That’s the number that will count, although what exactly qualifies as fulfilling core + major requirements is a different, separate question. GS may take a class, but it may end up only counting for a general elective toward your 124. </p>

<p>If you go less than full time you’ll also receive less aid, both GS and FAFSA.</p>

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<p>Campaigner!!! :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: I feel like the two superstars of the GS threads just replied to me, haha. This is actually making my day. Thank you for your reply!!</p>

<p>@Campaigner - I don’t qualify for FAFSA aid, just FAFSA loans - would you by any chance know if this amount would be affected by the number of credits I take? I’m under the impression you can borrow a certain amount every year, up until a maximum total amount. In any case, thanks very much for your comments, that’s a very important question you raised - I might set up another meeting with financial aid to make sure. Thanks v much!!</p>

<p>:)</p>

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<p>LOL at your enthusiasm, cugs17! :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :)</p>

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<p>They will send you a grid of what credits they are accepting, and what section of the core it is being applied to, during your planning session. You are required to have around 124 credits to graduate, and I am assuming many of your transfer credits fulfill core requirements. Once you have your planning session, you will know if 70 credits will be enough.</p>