<p>Being competitive for grades is different from - and IMO, totally orthogonal to - competing for grades. I was not competitive for grades in college. Most students in my college also were not. In fact, the learning was really my primary goal. I was very satisfied with a B in class if I felt I had acquired the knowledge I needed and wanted from the class.</p>
<p>What’s more crucial is that your college is not AACSB-accredited and that you feel your classes are easier than high school. And if you really want to take Arabic, it’s an issue that your college doesn’t have it.</p>
<p>I don’t get your parents’ deal. If you graduate debt-free from your current school, is the deal that they will pay for you to spend that year and a half in the Middle East? Spending the time there won’t be as meaningful if you don’t know the language - at least having the basics to build a foundation upon. Is it possible for them to take that money and spend it on Mizzou instead? Transferring to Grinnell might not be feasible - they don’t have a lot of transfer spots and their transfer funding may not be that great - but if you are in-state for Mizzou, that may be affordable for your family, and you might be able to finance your own year in the Middle East (maybe with a Fulbright or comparable fellowship).</p>
<p>I disagree that neither Grinnell nor Mizzou will help you get your foot in the door for finance. Some finance jobs - Wall Street ones at prestigious banks - are competitive and prestigious, but even at those jobs Grinnell would be the upper-crust kind of school from which a student could come. But aside from that there are a lot of finance jobs that aren’t on Wall Street and are just with regular firms.</p>
<p>See if the following colleges are still accepting transfer applications and offer financial aid to transfers - they offer Arabic and/or are AACSB accredited. If they no longer accept applications or no longer have FA, you can decide between applying for Fall 2014 to another college from the list or waiting one more year at your current college.
The following probably would require applying for Spring 2015 or Fall 2015: Barnard, GWU, Georgetown, Middlebury, WashU, UMinnesota, American U, Emory, Northeastern, URochester, Vanderbilt.
Those may still be open: Gettysburg, Geneseo*, U Utah, RIT, Denison, Hobart&WilliamSmith, DePaul.
- great choice by the way: relatively cheap even OOS, honors college, Arabic, AACSB accredited.</p>
<p>Your current college does not meet your needs and is unlikely to get you to a good job.
Be aware that a business degree is often seen as a “vocational” degree if it’s not from a top20Bschool, in that students are asked to read less, write fewer pages, etc. Economics + applied math may be a better choice with more versatile professional options.</p>
<p>juilett: The way my school’s study abroad program was presented is that if I studied abroad through ISEP Exchange, I would pay my school’s tuition. Financial aid and other scholarships apply. In the fall, my bill to attend my current college is roughly $400 (for the semester). If I studied abroad, I would have to pay for my housing, meals, transportation and other living expenses. My school also awards grants and helps students find additional scholarships. </p>
<p>I have been working with a transfer coordinator at Mizzou and she informed me of a girl who just graduated with a finance degree and she got a job with Goldman Sachs. I know that anything is possible, but only very few people get those kinds of jobs. </p>
<p>I also would rather work in Washington, D.C. I know that probably sounds really strange, but surely I could find a good job. </p>
<p>I’m determined to save at least $10,000 by this time next year. I don’t want to be more than $20,000 in debt. </p>
<p>I’m also kind of questioning Grinnell. Its economics program doesn’t offer as many courses as I thought it would. I’m not sure that taking 8 courses is going to make me competitive. At least at Mizzou, I can take Security Analysis, Financial Futures and Options, etc. </p>
<p>MYOS1634: I really don’t want to have to spend too much money on application fees. From what I’ve heard about the College of William and Mary, it seems like a good fit for me because it’s closer to D.C. than I currently am and it has a business school, so I wouldn’t have to switch to Economics. </p>
<p>I’ll look into Geneseo because I have heard good things about it. </p>
<p>You have provided a lot of useful information, however, you have not mentioned the name of your college.
How do you know that it is not living upto its reputation? People on here might have experience with your current college that might actually help you stay and graduate there, than transferring to another college that might offer less than what you are hoping for.
On the aspect of Grinnell, its reputation is Internationally solidified. The only schools in that area that ranks like it does are: U Chicago, Northwestern, Carlton and Washington University St. Louis. Off-course Grinnell is a Liberal Arts College not college of Business, which makes it even more interesting as it has more to offer than just business and economics.
Finally, “WHO DOES NOT WANT TO GRADUATE DEBT FREE?”. The Arabic language can be learned anywhere, personally, tutor, local community colleges, study abroad for a semester/year etc. Landing at a Top firm job after graduation is never a guarantee from any college.
So, think carefully, compare the cost, your FIT & BALANCE, then go from there.
Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Coco2018: I go to Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO. I haven’t known anyone who has graduated with a finance degree and has not ended up working as a teller. </p>
<p>I would prefer to be as close to D.C. as possible, so what colleges should I look into? I’m hoping to spend at most $15,000 per year. </p>
<p>Chelsea, I’m the same struggle about debt…it’s so difficult. what is the cost of attendance difference between Mizzou and MSSU (winging the abbreviation) </p>
<p>@trying2leave For me, the cost of attending MSSU is about $400 (per semester). I don’t really know how much attending Mizzou will be. I know that tuition is around $9400. I’ll have to live off campus, so the total cost will probably be around $16,000 (per year). According to Mizzou’s net price calculator, I should qualify for about $7,500 in grants. </p>
<p>Besides Mizzou, I’m applying to Grinnell College and the University of Richmond. </p>
<p>Oh wow. That’s really a deal. U of R is a great college, I don’t know how it is for you in particular, but it is very hard to transfer into and the money is scarce. A good friend of mine wanted to transfer from Wake to U of R and was denied with a 3.7 GPA…he had been waitlisted the year before and wanted to try again.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about Grinnell, but it’s great too. Since you’re in MO, (family in KCMO) have you considered Truman?</p>