Final Pick

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey, I have a very serious dilemma. I can't afford my first choice schools, so I need to come up with a backup plan that will cost significantly less than what I would have to pay going to my first choices.</p>

<p>Here are my choices. I have in state tuition for two Virginia schools, the University of Mary Washington and George Mason University. Both of these are really cheap, and I could pay for both for the four years I was in attendance. My father is retiring in two years also, so my FAFSA will register that I can't pay and give me more money (so I'll be able to transfer to UMich or Georgetown or wherever I'd like). I have a third choice of going to NoVa community college, which will not only cost 2,000 dollars, but will give me "guaranteed admission" to Georgetown University after I receive my associates degree. Those last two years I'll be getting money from FAFSA, also, so I could pay for college.</p>

<p>I'm pretty sure that I could transfer to wherever I'd like from Mary Washington or George Mason by the end of my freshman year (if I don't like the one I'm attending), except there are no guarantees, of course.</p>

<p>But in closing, all three of these options leave me with almost no debt, or at least the amount that I could easily pay off in a few years of minimum wage.</p>

<p>What I'm really worried about right now is this: I want the college experience, but I also want to graduate from a prestigious school. I know, I know, it doesn't matter, but I'm vain, and I do think that it matters in the long run, no matter how many people tell me otherwise.</p>

<p>I'm currently interested in experimental psychology and political science, so if you'd like to take that into account, please do.</p>

<p>Right now I'm leaning towards going to UMW for two years and transferring to UMich (they have the 2nd best psych program in the country and the first, Stanford, is kinda out of my reach).</p>

<p>Has anyone else been in this situation? Any recommendations?</p>

<p>Thank you for any advice, you can't imagine how much I appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>Which first-choice colleges can you not afford? Which school has higher SATs? George Mason or Mary Washington?</p>

3

<p>I don’t know, NoVa with guaranteed Georgetown sounds like a damn good deal to me. UMich and Stanford, especially Stanford, are going to be big reaches for transfers.</p>

4

<p>NoVa with guaranteed Gtown!!</p>

5

<p>Go to the guaranteed Georgetown for sure. At least I would in a split second!</p>

6

<p>Agreed with above NoVa then transfer to Georgetown.</p>

7

<p>First, make sure wherever you want to go the last 2 years guarantees to meet 100% of need. I’m pretty sure Michigan doesn’t, especially if you’re out of state, so just because you have greater need does not mean you’ll get the aid you need. </p>

<p>If Gtown meets full need for transfers, that sounds like a great deal!</p>

8

<p>I think you’d be missing out by going to community college, though…just to clarify, is it guaranteed transfer for George Mason/Mary Washington or just for coommunity college?</p>

9

<p>If I went to Mary Washington or George Mason I would be having to transfer. I really don’t want to miss out on “college” though, which is why i’m worried about NoVa. I also, well, never saw myself going there. It’s dumb of me, but it’s still a strange concept.</p>

<p>I’ll make double sure that it’s guaranteed and write back.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

10

<p>I would go to George Mason, it is a good school. Also, it is inexpensive and even with AID G’town is one of the most expensive schools in the nation you STILL might not be able to afford it.</p>

11

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<p>I wonder if that is really the case. Googling it I could only find that ‘selected’ students based on G.P.A. may transfer to Georgetown and the agreement is renewable every year. I don’t think that sounds like much of a guarantee. Further, this is only for Georgetown’s Liberal Studies program which is part of Georgetown’s Continuing Education Department. A quick look at the programs majors seemed pretty limited. I doubt that compares to a Mary Washington education. </p>

<p>Two years at a community college and then transferring out has merit but you still need to be able to really like it rather than just serving time. Otherwise, two years may feel like four. As far as transferring somewhere else, a lot of schools limit transfers after the beginning of sophomore year and many have core requirements that make graduating in 4 years rather difficult.</p>