Doubts

Transfer Students
1

<p>I am beginning my second semester of freshman year at a prestigious eastern university (one of the 25 "new ivies"). However, I am not completely sure that I am happy here, and am considering transferring to another college (one that does not have quite the same reputation as the one I currently attend).</p>

<p>However, the problem is that the two colleges have comparable costs (less than $1000 difference), and the only reason I am able to attend the one I do is a scholarship.</p>

<p>My question on this matter is how merit money awarded to a transfer applicant would compare to a high school student applying for their freshman year? Would a transfer applicant be able to expect a similar offer, or would they likely receive less than they might have had they applied for freshman year, rather than transferring?</p>

2

<p>Transfers typically receive less than freshmen applicants. In fact, in every situation I've seen, financial aid and/or scholarships (if you can find one) are far less than those offered to freshmen.</p>

3

<p>Is that regardless of one's gpa, etc?</p>

4

<p>In a lot of cases, the only financial aid available for transfer students is need-based. Even then, many schools do not agree to meet 100% of your demonstrated need.</p>

5

<p>But for the cases that do, would it be likely that it would be mentioned on the college's website, or would there be somewhere else one needs to look to find out for individual cases?</p>

6

<p>if a school says they meet 100% of your demonstrated need, they will meet 100%, even if you're a transfer. That being said, it doesn't guarantee you that you'll be showered with grants instead of loans.</p>

<p>Ex:</p>

<p>school is $30k a year. They give you:</p>

<p>$25k in loans
$5k grants</p>

<p>they are meeting 100% of your need as advertised.</p>

7

<p>and if your efc is too high, you're basically left on your own?</p>

8

<p>i would think thatit depends school to school....some are pretty level with transfers, but some barely give anything...smaller schools will be more likely to give to transfers, especially beyond need based, but thats true for freshmen too...</p>

<p>side question: where are you right now? (my guess is either cornell, vandy, uva, or emory...am i right? =P) why are you leaving?</p>

9

<p>why not check out grinnell as well? The school's incredibly wealthy and gives money to practically everyone that's accepted!</p>

10

<p>Well, actually, brand, none of those. I'm currently at RPI, and would like to stay in the same area (specifically troy/schenectady).</p>

<p>As for why, it's cause I was an idiot. When I was doing my college search, I had a small list of things that I wanted in the school, but I got a pretty big scholarship from RPI (which is basically all the opposites of said list thrown together into a "prestigious" university), and threw away the list to go there, and now wish I hadn't, realizing I could be much, much happier at a less prestigious college.</p>

<p>And I'd like to stay in this area because I'm a New Englander. I was born and raised in NE, and like this area of the country, and I have friends in the Albany area that I'd still like to be near (in fact, that's probably one of the main reasons that it's a decision of RPI or transfer to the school I'm considering).</p>

<p>However, if I <em>don't</em> transfer, I know I'd be able to at least last the four years, but I just doubt that I'd actually enjoy it, and, after speaking with one of my best friends about this, I realize that if I can attend the other school, I'd enjoy it much more, and probably actually <em>enjoy</em> school for once, regardless of whether I'm challenged there or not.</p>

<p>The problem is the "can I attend the other school" part. Currently, the only reason I'm able to attend RPI is a rather large scholarship, and my parents are not willing to pay much more than they are paying now (and without them, it's hopeless), and to get the other school to the point where they'd be willing to pay for it, I'd need at least 10000-13000/year (and my family has a pretty high EFC, so need-based is more or less out of the question, even with my sibling and I both at college next year), and I really don't want to graduate with debt, if I can help it.</p>

<p>Hence, I'm trying to figure out "do I have a shot at that much money?", because if I do, I'll apply and see what happens (I don't have many extracurriculars from college, but I'd like to think my grades are good, and I've been involved in a couple activities, like scouting, for nearly my whole life). However, if I'm only being a dreamer and don't have a shot, I'd rather not turn admin/profs against me by applying for a transfer (I'd need recs from a prof and the dean of students), then not actually transferring. Unless this wouldn't make any difference. Would it?</p>

<p>I'm sorry, brand, if that is far more than you ever wanted to know, but thanks for your help.</p>

<p>-seth</p>