help a transfer student pick out colleges?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I really need help finding colleges to apply for transfer next year. I don't like my current college- its the same place I went to high school; plus my dad teaches there. Its just not right for me. </p>

<p>Anyway, I've tried to format my list to colleges that I will be applying to, but I haven't had a lot of luck. Can you help me?</p>

<p>Here's what I want:</p>

<p>I. Great financial aid for transfers. I need a school where I won't be paying more than $5000 after financial aid, scholarships, i.e. per year. My parents are retiring in a year or two, so I don't want to overwhelm them. </p>

<p>II. Good academics and enrichment opportunities. I don't think my school has a lot of opportunities to help students get involved, and classes are difficult to get into, even though we only have around 7000 undergrads total. I want to consider schools that are at least above average in those departments. </p>

<p>III. A diverse student body. I don't like the fact that in the college I am attending, over 90% of the matriculating students are from Tennessee, and over 85% are white and southern. I am originally from Maryland, and I really miss the diversity I had in those early school days there. I am also very liberal, so a northeastern college/university would be a big plus, but not a necessity. Size isn't really a problem as long as its not way too small, like under 200 students per year.</p>

<p>I've looked at the ivy league schools, and I am interested in several. But I also know that they are very selective. I've also looked at A LOT of great LACs, but they also accept very few transfers- any suggestions? (I'd list of all of my LACs I am interested in, but the list is very overwhelming). </p>

<p>Also, I need help finding safeties- these are the only ones I have so far, but I feel like they're limiting.</p>

<p>University of Maryland- CP (I don't know if they accept honors program transfers or not, but if they do- I will probably apply)
University of Tennesee-Knoxville (Honors) <em>Last resort school</em></p>

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<p>5k a year makes me think of College of the Ozarks since it has free tuition and only costs 5k/year in room and board. However if you’re looking at Ivy League schools, I don’t think the academics there are on par, not to mention it’s a Christian school, which, if you’re not a Christian, is a minus for a school.</p>

<p>I don’t know of any schools that have “great” financial aid for transfers. There are a few schools that have special transfer scholarships, but I’d say most schools give out less aid, particularly merit, to transfers. Your best bet is to find a school that meets your entire demonstrated financial need without using loans - I wasn’t even aware that there were schools that did this until I started looking to transfer last year. Most of these schools do not use your EFC need number from your FASFSA - they compute it themselves using their own formula and additional information, like College Board’s CSS Profile.</p>

<p>Google “Schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need” to start finding some online lists.</p>

<p>I think many of the Ivy Leagues are on that list, but some, like Brown admit on a “need-aware” basis for transfers - which goes back to what I was saying about schools having less opportunities for scholarships for transfers.</p>

<p>I think if you posted your stats like GPA and High School stuff if you have less than 60 semester hours/90 Quarter hours (colleges will most likely look at your high school performance, too, if you haven’t earned enough college credit), then we could better help you find some safety schools.</p>

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<p>I am going to be applying for sophomore status for fall of 2010.
3.1 unweighted high school/3.9 weighted (top 15% of my high school class)
26 ACT
and for college- lets say I made a 3.5 GPA first semester.</p>

<p>I qualify for the $4000 a year HOPE scholarship. Its only for Tennessee schools only. I wonder if it is in anyway possible that it can be transferable to other colleges in other states somewhere.</p>

<p>I googled your link and I found wake forest. But it turns out, that although they are need-blind, and they meet 100% of need- a lot of it is with loans.</p>

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<p>Unfortunately your stats (HS and college) are not high enough to lead colleges out of state to give you much financial aid. You will be better off looking in-state where you can still get a discount. It also looks as though you haven’t even started in college yet and you “already know” you don’t like it. Give the school a chance. Once you’ve submerged yourself in classes and have made friends, you may like it.</p>

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<p>I don’t think you have a right to judge me or my situation- especially since you don’t know me personally. I realize how tough it is to transfer, but I am not really happy. I don’t like where I live. It just dreary for me. </p>

<p>Any UM-CP transfers with advice? I am really interested in the school.</p>

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<p>Try this link to get you started:</p>

<p>[CSLF</a> : IF : Colleges That Meet Financial Aid Need](<a href=“http://www.cslf.com/investinyourfuture/payingforcollege/collegesthatmeetneed.htm]CSLF”>http://www.cslf.com/investinyourfuture/payingforcollege/collegesthatmeetneed.htm)</p>

<p>Wake Forest isn’t one of the schools I was talking about, since, as you pointed out, they cover “need” with loans.</p>

<p>I wonder if it is in anyway possible that it can be transferable to other colleges in other states somewhere.</p>

<p>–</p>

<p>I doubt it. Florida has Bight Futures and other states have similar incentives but the point of all those programs is to keep the intelligence in-state - they just spent a bunch of money educating you for 12 years and they don’t want other states recruiting you… it kind of defeats their purpose if you go OOS.</p>

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<p>bumppp (10 char)</p>

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<p>Erin’s Dad is right, and he isn’t judging you. The fact that you are unhappy in TN won’t matter for transfer admissions. There is very limited financial aid for transfer students, and your grades and test scores do not lend themselves to merit awards. Ivies cover 100% of need as they determine it, but you are not a competitive applicant with your grades and test scores. The HOPE money doesn’t transfer to other states, so your best bet is to find a TN school. In terms of overall costs, you probably need to find a TN public school you can live with. I know the responses you’ve gotten aren’t what you want to hear, but it is better for you to know the facts of your situation, so you can figure out a viable option for completing your education.</p>