Help me understand and evaluate my current situation? (I want to transfer)...

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So I guess to start off with some background info...</p>

<p>I'm a freshman at Trinity College in CT. I got accepted here and chose to go here because it was the best school I got into and they paid just about my entire way. I only pay $3,000 a year in loans. For a school that cost 55 grand...not too shabby at all haha. I got accepted to Emerson, Syracuse, Marist, BU, and a few SUNY schools, but chose to go here instead. </p>

<p>But the thing is...I'm really unhappy here, and I've had to put up with a lot of BS and terrible people here, and I'm sick of it. And I don't think it's a good school or city for my interests. So I figure it's time to go somewhere where I can better fit in. I just can't see myself here for another 3 years. </p>

<p>When I got accepted here, I had about a 25 ACT and an 87 average. First generation minority student. My biggest thing going for me was not my numbers, but it was a pretty bomb essay and a fantastic resume which I continue to build on (not to sound over-confident here haha), that I attribute to me getting into the schools I got into.</p>

<p>Now how are things going on the collegiate level here?</p>

<p>Well I won't BS it or sugarcoat it....I screwed up big time my first semester. It was a very rough period and tough adjustment. I got a 2.2 <______________<</p>

<p>It was a slap in the face, and it woke me up. This semester I've been doing much better. And I'm also taking classes that I actually love. It's still pretty tough, but I don't expect to get anything less than a B in any of my 5 classes. Hopefully at year's end I can bump up to a 2.6 at the very least. I'm a creative writing and film major, by the way. With a minor in music perhaps. </p>

<p>So where do I stand in the transfer world? I know if I leave Trinity I stand to lose a substantial amount of money and downgrade a lot when it comes to reputation and even academic quality. But I rather be happy in all honesty. All I want to do is pursue my love of film, writing, and start a hard rock band. Maybe even with a few like-minded people. Too much to ask for?</p>

<p>I haven't looked into transfering at all. Where would I go? Do I even have a chance of getting into a school like SUNY Purchase, or am I screwed by my first semester grades? How much more money, or less, would I be paying? When would I be starting life at a new school?</p>

<p>Any words of advice, wisdom, and encouragement are greatly appreciated <3</p>

2

<p>Also some of the schools I’m thinking of…</p>

<p>SUNY Purchase
Clark University
Hampshire
Emerson (again… >_>)
Skidmore
New Paltz
Wesleyan
Bard</p>

<p>Roughly ranked in order I probably have a shot at. What needs to be done, and where do I have a solid chance for? My top choices are Emerson, Purchase, New Paltz, in that order. But I certainly wouldn’t mind the other schools as long as I got in haha…and it seems like they’d all give me a solid financial aid package. </p>

<p>If it helps, I am doing very well in my Creative Writing and Advanced Filmmaking courses this semester, and am working on a couple of stories and more importantly, a big short film to be sent out to film festivals and such.</p>

3

<p>You should try posting this in the Transfer Students Forum for more ideas.</p>

<p>Your grades will be a barrier if you try to transfer this year. Since you have very specific interests in writing and film, you might be best off to approach those departments at the colleges/universities that you are interested in, and find out whether you are a viable applicant. Sometimes individual faculty members have a bit of pull with admissions.</p>

<p>You aren’t going to get that kind of aid package anywhere else. Especially as a transfer student with a not-so-good first year of college. Sit down with your parents, and talk about the money. Figure out how you can pay for the rest of your education if you leave Trinity.</p>

4

<p>*You aren’t going to get that kind of aid package anywhere else. Especially as a transfer student with a not-so-good first year of college. Sit down with your parents, and talk about the money. Figure out how you can pay for the rest of your education if you leave Trinity. *</p>

<p>Unless your parents are going to pay for all/nearly all of your college costs if you transfer, you won’t be able afford to transfer. Transfer students don’t usually get good aid…and especially for those without stellar stats. </p>

<p>Schools offer these great money packages to incoming freshmen so that they can get the best freshmen class that they can because it helps with rankings. They don’t have that incentive for transfer students.</p>

<p>If your parents will pay for wherever you go, then you may have some options. </p>

<p>However, if your parents can’t pay, then you’ll either need to stay where you are or commute from home to a local public.</p>

<p>I think that you need to try to make your present school work for you. I don’t know you, but let me offer you this… A year ago, another frosh at another school had the same complaints as you and put in for a transfer. Guess what? He’s more unhappy at his new school. After speaking to a counselor, he now realizes that the problem was/is “him”…and not any school. He finally came to terms with the fact that he wasn’t friendly, he was staying in his dorm room too much, he wasn’t going out of his way to participate in any activities or clubs, etc.</p>

<p>can you get a part-time job at or near your school? That will provide opportunities to find new friends and be a distraction.</p>

<p>*How much more money, or less, would I be paying? *</p>

<p>Well, unless you go to a CC or commute to a local public, you’ll likely have to pay a LOT more.</p>

<p>*and it seems like they’d all give me a solid financial aid package.
*</p>

<p>Not likely as a transfer student.</p>

5

<p>I’d say to stay another year at your current school and get your gpa up. With a 2.6 I don’t think you will get into any of the schools on your list. I know New Paltz requires a 2.75 for some majors and a 3.0 for others as the minimum gpa to be considered for a transfer applicant. If you work hard and get your gpa up, you will have a lot more options.</p>

6

<p>I’ll admit that my first reaction to your post was, “Is this some sort of joke?”. You want to discuss the repercussions of transferring from a good school where you have essentially a free ride after one admittedly lousy semester?!?</p>

<p>To your questions…</p>

<p>Chances at transfer - Lousy. That admit rates at most colleges are lower for transfers than for freshman. Throw in your poor performance so far and it’s hard to see any of your projected schools taking a chance on you.</p>

<p>Cost Impact - That’s easy. Take the cost of attendance at your new school and subtract the $3,000/year you currently pay, that will be the cost increase. I can’t imagine your transfer school coming up with anything close to the type of package you have now. Also, I’m a bit surprised that Trinity doesn’t have some sort of minimum performance level necessary to keep your financial aid package.</p>

<p>Now for the tough love…</p>

<p>Why do you even want to go to college? Last year you were able to parlay your 1st-generation-URM status-“Bomb” essay into a free ride to college. You then proceeded to butcher your chance and now think your best/only option is to go somewhere else. Here’s a news flash for you, if all you want to do is write stories, make films and play in a hard rock band you’re going to have similar academic problems at any school you attend. Put bluntly, you come across as spoiled and immature. Changing the “where” you go to college isn’t going to answer the “why” you want to be there. My advice is to stick where you are and figure out what you want; we all make our own happiness, thinking that it’s magically waiting for you at some other college is childish.</p>

<p>P.S. A writing tip. When you use the word “but” after a phrase it effectively negates the point made in the phrase, e.g. “I really like Trinity, but…” Using “haha” as an adjective/adverb/verb does the same thing, it refutes what was written before it and reinforces the original emotion, e.g., “…not to sound over-confident here haha”.</p>