<p>I was wondering if anyone can list some of the top university choices for transfer students in terms of financial coverage/aid. Do universities allocate their financial aid evenly between transfers and freshmen? Are they generally less responsive to transfer students?</p>
<p>paloma,
It varies with the school. Some of the highly endowed schools like HYP have the same guidelines for transfer as freshman students. In contrast, Brown states that it gives transfers less FA support. I'm assuming that this is the case for most schools since FA is usually given on a rolling basis and there will be less around for transfers who are accepted after freshman applicants.</p>
<p>Now, that is for the first year of the transfer, I'm assuming that in subsequent years transfers are treated the same as other students....Andale what do you think about this??</p>
<p>My guess is that a small private school with a limited budget for financial aid would, as entomom said, start to run out. On the other hand, schools on the all needs met list like HYPS, UVA, UNC, Chicago, etc. would probably give you the same 100% demonstrated need as they would a freshman.</p>
<p>I don't have a lot of first-hand knowledge re need-based aid for transfers. However, I have seen a number of schools indicate that aid is less available for transfers than for freshmen. And some which pledge 100% of need for freshmen do NOT do so for transfers.</p>
<p>I have also seen schools with policies that, if you did not have need-based aid in your first year as a transfer, that you will not/will be highly unlikely to receive it later. </p>
<p>Merit aid is, I think almost everyone knows, EXTREMELY rare for transfers. Some schools well known for great merit aid have stated policies of offering none to transfers. My S received merit aid to 3 of 4 schools as a freshman. He applied to one of those for transfer and was not offered any. Since it wasn't his first choice, we didn't go to them to see whether they might reconsider. He was offered merit aid to a medium-small private U where he had never applied before. It was a fairly small amount; but I don't know that one can generalize about who might give it. Depends on how you fit what they want, I suppose. Remember that aid is not something they "spend," it is a discount off list price, in most instances. Still a budget consideration, but in a kind of odd way.</p>
<p>Forewarned is forearmed: If need-based/merit aid is important for any transfer student, check this out carefully and thoroughly for each and every school you are considering.</p>
<p>Does this factor into their admissions decisions? As in do they factor in a student's ability to pay tuition?</p>
<p>Washington University in St. Louis has merit aid available for transfers. I did not apply for but received one of their scholarships (20k) last year. My EFC is high (30k).</p>
<p>brand_182,
WUSTL is about the only top 25 school I've seen that gives transfer merit scholarships. Do you have any hooks that would have made them particularly interested in you...URM, recruited athlete, low income, etc.?</p>