Fall 2017 Transfer

Not sure if anyone will see this, but I could really use some help.

I’m currently in my second semester at a Western New York community college. I’m trying to transfer out, but need to have some options. I got accepted as a transfer to Tulane, Bucknell, Villanova, and Penn State last semester (Spring 2017) but those were sort of back ups. I was waitlisted at Cornell my senior year of high school. I really want to go to a bigger city, or at least a prestigious school, so Columbia is really at the forefront of my mind, I’m just not sure if I even have a remote chance.

Stats:
High school GPA: 3.9
SAT: 1820
ACT: 28
Current college GPA: 4.0
Other: NYS EMT, Honors Program, waiting on admission letter from Phi Theta Kappa
Income bracket: Low. Like, extremely low.

I realize that any of the Ivies are a long shot, but if someone has any suggestions for schools that are transfer friendly and that may be less of a dream, I am open to it. Looking to major in International Affairs and Political Science.

I would appreciate any and all tips. I just want to get started on my real education, and I have absolutely no resources at my school.

Thank you in advance!

What hooks do you have? Tulane’s middle 50% SAT is 1950-2150 and it’s middle 50% ACT is 30-33, so you’re already doing extremely well. If your hooks are really that good you have a shot at some other schools with even stricter admissions. Congratulations in any event!

@NJDad68 Thank you for your reply and congratulations. I appreciate both. I don’t feel as though I have a prominent hook, but I like to think that I wrote great essays and had strong recommendations from teachers, along with a department chair. I tried to focus on how community college is an asset rather than a detriment and how focused I am on my future.

Your opinion - do you think that I should apply to Columbia, or would it be a waste?

Well, on principle I am loathe to tell you that applying anywhere is a “waste.” Instead, I will mention two facts that I think are relevant: (1) there is well respected research showing that the people who have the best outcomes from college, in terms of grades and career success, are not just those people who attended highly selective schools, but rather also includes those students who had the confidence to apply to highly selective schools. Chew on that a bit. Better yet, find the research on the web. Second, Tulane and, to a slightly lesser extent, Bucknell and PennState, are already highly selective in the whole scheme of things, (And Villanova is working on it!). You have been accepted to a school that consists mainly of students from the top 6 to 8% of al test takers. Chew on that also, and give yourself the luxury of feeling centered and feeling good about yourself. After you do that, apply to Columbia. What the hell!

So something worth mentioning - if your income bracket is very low that means your EFC is very low right? A lot of schools provide much worse financial aid to transfer students than to freshman.

@NJDad68 This has given me a lot to think about. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to me! My main concern with Tulane was just how far away it was from home (18 hours), which is why I ultimately decided to pass on its offer. I live in an area where the entire graduating class either goes to one of two schools, both state and within 30 minutes away, community college, or the workforce, so when I was deviating from that, I had little to no help or advice. Same goes for the community college I ended up in, so this is a help for someone who has high, probably too high, expectations but no guidance.

@philbegas Yes, this is why I included it. I had a few schools that I planned to go to at the end of high school but they were all unrealistic because they would not give enough financial aid, and my mother and I can contribute nothing. Now, it’s even worse. I’m getting worried, because it seems like it would have been better to take off a semester or two and reapply as a freshman rather than having some college credits like I do now. Any advice? I can’t even get any private loans without a cosigner, I don’t have anyone to cosign for me.

Well there’s a few things worth mentioning. If college affordability is a pressing issue then you should add some schools to your list that give good merit aid packages for transfer students.

Also I have 2 questions. How many units have you taken? What state is your residency in?

@philbegas Can you suggest some? I picked Tulane originally because I know that they will, but finding others (especially closer to home) seem to be difficult.

I currently have 24 credits. I will have 40 at the end of this semester. My state of residency is New York, but I also have residency in New Jersey (we still own a house there, I went to school there until junior year.)

For reference, I live in upstate New York.

Oh nice, my girlfriend’s grandma lives up there somewhere.

Schools that I’ve looked at in the past that give a good amount of merit aid to transfers were:
Suffolk, Hofstra, UW-Bothell. Perhaps some of the private schools would be able to give enough need-based aid where you could survive off of the federal loan (5500 a yr I think?)

U of Alabama has really been trying to make their school affordable to attract better students there
http://scholarships.ua.edu/transfer/

In addition of course, there’s all of the state schools. The SUNY and CUNY systems, and then Rowan, TCNJ, Rutgers.