freshman interested in transfer options

Transfer Students
1

<p>In about a week I am starting college at a top 20 private university. I won't get into all the details, because it is extremely complicated to explain and would be too time-consuming you all to read, but basically during my senior year of high school and this summer a lot of life changing things have happened, and my ability to afford the college I'm starting is questionable. I have some money saved for college. I worked all summer and during my senior year and will continue to do so all of college. I have received a couple small merit scholarships and am taking on an unsubsidized stafford loan for my freshman year. My parents originally said they would help cover the cost by paying a fixed amount each year (and that's where the problem lies), and the little left over I would cover with whatever loans I could get. My parents recently got divorced, and I live with my dad who lost his job several months ago. It looks like my dad will be having trouble making his contribution, and my mom seems to be having second thoughts about helping with the cost. My appeals for more financial aid were rejected, and I was basically accused of lying about my financial situation. </p>

<p>The problem: I don't qualify for much financial aid, because it looks like I have access to more money than I actually do. I can manage two years at the school I'm currently enrolled in with manageable debt, but after that it is all up in the air, and I want to look into my options now. I need to find colleges that give merit scholarships/are affordable for transfer students.</p>

<p>I realize that it is my fault for picking such an expensive school, but my life was in an extremely different place when I was applying for colleges. Money wasn't that big of an issue then. I would like to go on to graduate school someday but right now plan on taking time off after undergrad to work and get my debt under control. I don't have a specific major picked out, but I'm looking into something in the business field.</p>

<p>I am a National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar, and a Presidential Scholar candidate. I graduated with a 4.0 gpa unweighted (4.7 weighted) number 2 in my class. I got a 2250 on the SAT: 780 math, 770 reading, 700 writing. On the SAT IIs I got 790 on math 2c, 770 on US history, and 750 on literature. I was involved in a several activities in high school including youth group, choir, volunteering at a nursing home and at a library, freshman mentoring, Girls State, and engineering camp. </p>

<p>I've tried researching which schools give scholarships to transfer students, and I haven't found much. What colleges should I look into? When should I begin the application process? Is there anything I should do other than keep up my GPA at the college I'm currently starting?</p>

<p>I'm new to this site so I would appreciate any advice or if someone would at least direct me to a post that covers this topic. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>First, my sympathies.You are expected to sort out a big mess on your own. That said the following is only my opinion and advice. Feel free to disregard. You’ve waited too long (in denial about the reality of your situation?) to really make good decisions at this point. The most prudent path would you to go to your local cc and transfer as a junior to the best in-state university for your major. This will require you to swallow your pride. Your parents cannot be counted on to contribute financially anytime soon. You cannot count on them to be able to co-sign any loans. You lost your credibility in getting any loans on your own. You may not be able to work and keep your grades up at your expensive school. Give yourself some breathing room by living at home, working, saving money and getting stellar grades. The bigger goal is getting into grad school.</p>

3

<p>there are high-ranked privates, like cornell, that will meet your demonstrated need. putting that your dad lost his job and explaining that your mother will not help you out will be noticed. my bf’s parents don’t talk to him at all and he’s been on his own since the day high school ended. his need was met entirely, and he has a great FA package (at cornell). there are threads about schools that give good aid, so search that and start making a list of schools you’d want to apply to. williams college also has tremendous amounts of money to give (my family friend who’s daughter was looking at williams talked to the dean and he told her that they have more money than they know what to do with)</p>

4

<p>It’s very hard to find merit scholarships for transfer students, because colleges don’t need to report statistics for incoming transfers for the rankings. The only merit scholarships for transfer students that I know of are from Phi Theta Kappa, a community college honor society. </p>

<p>Thus, I would strongly encourage you to consider working for a year, and applying for next fall to schools where you can receive merit aid. See this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/63770-best-schools-give-most-merit-based-aid.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/63770-best-schools-give-most-merit-based-aid.html&lt;/a&gt; and this one:<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/63770-best-schools-give-most-merit-based-aid.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/63770-best-schools-give-most-merit-based-aid.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>I would take a gap year and reapply to schools with generous merit aid. Most of these schools give all the aid to incoming freshmen and not to transfers.</p>

<p>I know waiting a year must sound harsh at this point, but in my opinion, given that you look to be a strong candidate for merit aid, this may be your best option.</p>

6

<p>Thank you all for responding so quickly! It really means a lot. I’m currently planning on attending this university for at minimum the next semester, because like I’m sure you’ve all noted, it’s a little late at this point for me to change my mind. I’ve already got my plane ticket, am packed, and have begun to pay my expenses via a payment plan. I honestly just found out about my mother’s involvement (or more specifically her possible lack of involvement) within the last few days. Staying home and working isn’t really an option, because we are going to sell the house. I’m currently in the process of getting rid of basically everything I’m not taking to college with me. My dad is currently looking for work all over the country. I already explained to the college my circumstances, but I guess financial aid isn’t being too giving since nearly everyone is having financial problems right now.</p>

<p>I guess what I really need to know is are there any schools that offer good packages for transfer students, or are there any decent cheap colleges in general?</p>

7

<p>Please understand that once you are considered a transfer student there is very little money! (I know this from personal experience). It’s still cheaper to cancel your plane ticket then have to borrow all that $$ for your last two years. You might be able to defer entry to your current school. If classes haven’t started, you should be able to get your money back. Financial aid is also based off of last year’s information, so you might have better luck for fall 2010 using this year’s numbers. Good financial packages for transfers, are generally not merit based. </p>

<p>If you can’t live at home, perhaps you could do AmeriCorps or Willing Workers on Organic Farms. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

8

<p>atlas_shrugged- Your friends here at CC can understand why you are ready to board that plane and fly away from all your troubles. However, none of us thinks it is a financially wise idea to do so. As stated above, a transfer student has limited options and little monies available to them. Please reconsider the options of taking a year off to work full time and reapplying as a freshman for 2010 with different numbers for your FASFA or working and going to your local cc in with plans to transfer for your junior year. Since you will be essentially homeless, you need to find a relative or family friend to live with. You need to stay in the state you are currently living to take advantage of in state tuition. At best, you can attend Expensive University for one year maybe two with big debt. Then you are high and dry. Money is tight for your parents and loans are scarce to finish your last 2 years at Expensive U. You cannot realistically expect to get a job out of UG to cover living expenses and chip away at the considerable debt you will incur paying for 2 years of full freight Expensive U. No one wants to tell you that doing the easy thing (going to Expensive U) is your worst option at this time. So sorry. Just trying to help…</p>

9

<p>I think you should schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor from your school and explain your situation. They may not award you immediately with more aid but they may provide some helpful advice. Also, you should send in another FAFSA which will probably indicate a lower EFC due to the changes in your financial situation. I remember reading from the FAFSA website that if there is a change in your situation, you can submit another FAFSA that would accurately calculate an EFC that addresses your different circumstances. The college may then award you more money in subsequent years. Also if you do exceptionally your first two years of college, you can transfer to a great college that meets 100% of need. But definitely talk to your school’s counselor. They most likely will know more than the people of CC. I really don’t think you need to halt going to college altogether as some are suggesting.</p>

10

<p>I can’t even imagine what you must be feeling at this point. Things have definitely changed, but I guess you have to adapt to your situation and not the other way around. Like everyone else here, I would suggest deferring and going to a community college at this point… If you decide the CC route, try to take more general classes (as those are the easiest to transfer). </p>

<p>Also, if you haven’t considered it already, try to see if you can possibly graduate early. You may still be able to afford your college if you take a significant amount of community college or state university courses outside. Those classes are significantly cheaper than private schools and if you really really work hard, you may be able to get enough credits to graduate early and reduce your debt.</p>

<p>At my local CC, I believe that you can take a max of two classes per semester, I don’t know if that is universal. But if you live close enough to other colleges, you can maybe take even more by taking one more there and commuting a lot. Try to look into surrounding colleges that you will have access to. Ask questions about the credits and their transferability. </p>

<p>You are a smart person to be able to get into a top 20 school. They chose you because they were confident in your skills to succeed in life. There is always a way - good luck.</p>