Help Narrowing Down Choices

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello everyone. </p>

<p>I have been perusing the forums on this website for a while as a means to gain some advice about transferring schools. I attended Loyola Chicago for my freshman year, and, after a gap year, will be transferring to another school for the fall of 2015. I was wondering what sort of issues with credits, if any, would arise in transferring from a Jesuit institution to a school such as U-Dub or UT Austin. Would those schools look at Loyola as being a “lesser institution,” thereby rendering my first year null and void? How is Loyola Chicago viewed as far as the rigor of their programs? I haven’t been able to find a terribly great amount of information regarding that, or, more specifically, the strength of their Religion and Biology programs. </p>

<p>As far as how I did at Loyola, I am not yet certain about my final grades for the year, but I know that it was at least a 3.5, as I made the Dean’s list for the 2013-2014 academic year. I don’t suppose that means much, but I think it's probably somewhat decent. I participated in a fair amount of extra-curriculars, and worked a full-time job. And, during my gap year, I am planning on teaching English abroad and interning at a church. Although the church isn’t the area I would like to work in, will its relation to my field of study be advantageous as I fill out transfer applications? </p>

<p>I have quite a large list of schools I am interested in as far as transferring goes, and some help narrowing it down would be much appreciated. I have some schools I feel wouldn’t be too terribly difficult to, at the very least, be waitlisted for, and some “reach” schools. I am aware of the increased difficulty of admission for transfer students. I am somewhat familiar with the reputation of their departments, but I would greatly appreciate some insight into the strength of their Religion and Biology programs, as well as reputation and placement in graduates school, as that is something that has eluded me. Disregarding price, which schools do you see as being stronger in Religion and Biology than the others listed? In no particular order:
University of Washington
UT Austin
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
CU-Boulder
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of Wisconsin, Madison
University of Georgia
University of Florida
University of Vermont, Burlington
University of Missouri </p>

<p>Fordham University
Santa Clara University
Spring Hill College
Grinnell College
Whitman College
Sewanee, the University of the South</p>

<p>As far as what I would consider the “reach” schools go, I have been considering:
University of Michigan
Pomona College
Reed College
Davidson College
Bates College
Emory University, at which I have a legacy by way of my father. </p>

<p>I appreciate any advice. </p>

2

<p>Are your parents willing to pay for all those schools? Up to $60K/year? </p>

3

<p>why are you leaving loyola?</p>

<p>what are your parents saying about pay the costs for a new school</p>

4

<p>The public schools won’t be as big of an issue because, should I decide where I want to attend, I will move out there, establish residence, and then start school so I will be eligible for in-state tuition. I am more seriously considering the public schools due to the cost. But, I figured I should apply to some liberal arts schools, if for nothing more than variety, but also to see what sort of financial aid they would be willing to give. </p>

<p>I am leaving Loyola for a few reasons, one of them being the expense. I was awarded their best financial aid package, and it barely makes a dent in the total cost for next year. Loyola’s tuition is going up, and, before scholarships are factored into it, the total cost for the College of Arts and Sciences was $67,000 for next year. Although I am grateful for the opportunity to go to college, Loyola, and an undergraduate degree from anywhere for that matter, simply isn’t worth that much money. To me anyways. I suppose my other main reason for leaving the university is I just did not enjoy it there. It seemed like another year of high school, and, although I did enjoy some of my professors, the courses and the departments seemed a bit boring. Compared to the religion departments at other schools, Loyola’s seemed to lack diversity in their offerings. </p>

<p>So, if it is acceptable to you, disregarding cost, what have you heard about some of the schools? I attempted to sort of group them, so, perhaps you could answer for each group. Whatever is most convenient for you. </p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>You can’t just do this in most states.</p>

6

<p>I’ve spoken to some admissions advisors about it, and they said it wouldn’t be an issue. But, even still, I will be able to afford the out-of-state tuition. However, if it’s alright, could we discuss the schools and their departments rather than the cost? The cost will be for me to handle later on, but the strength and reputation of the departments, placements in grad school, etcetera, is what I would like to receive input about. How do they compare to each other? Are there other schools you have heard of that you think would be stronger?</p>

7

<p>How old are you?</p>

<p>are you premed? what is your home state?</p>

<p>loyola’s credits will be accepted everywhere.</p>

8

<p>I don’t think that any of the UCs accept sophomore transfers. I might be wrong about that, but I inferred as much when I visited 3 of them with my son last year. How was your high school record? If you only have one year of credits, most colleges will require transcripts and test scores. Did you enter Loyola with a number of AP or IB credits, which would have given you sophomore status, and so you would be applying as a junior? Colleges like Pomona are exceedingly selective for freshman admissions, and even more so for transfers. Larger universities, and urban colleges, can be a little more flexible if they do not have to guarantee housing to upperclassmen. Every college you listed is well-respected, and I’m sure a good record at any of them will get you into good graduate programs. There should be no difficulty, per se, in transferring from a Jesuit college, provided all of your credits are transferrable. All of the state universities you listed should be very strong in Biology, as long as you don’t mind the class sizes. If you want a college where you will have more hands-on research and internship opportunities, you might want smaller schools. I would investigate transfer requirements at all of them carefully, though (see my first remarks about UCs). You might want to look at more religious-affiliated colleges. Most have strong Religion departments, even if you are not a member of their particular denomination. Look at Villanova, Holy Cross, St. John’s, Earlham, Guilford, Drew, Notre Dame, S.M.U., et al. What would be your specific area of interest in a Religion department? Obviously, some larger, wealthier colleges and universities can maintain courses in Classical Sanskrit and Aramaic, if you want to study more arcane subjects, but smaller ones are likelier to offer seminars wherein you could debate theology and exegesis. </p>

9

<p>My high school record, as far as I can remember was fine, but I will need to take a look at it again. It didn’t give me any trouble when I applied as a first-year, and I know I can write well-enough to produce good personal statements. I do have a fair amount of AP credits which I will be sending with my application. I have read the requirements for the UCs, but I will look through them again. I know there are particular courses they require transfers to have taken at their previous schools, but I can’t remember anything more than that. The colleges like Pomona aren’t my priority as far as transferring goes. I will apply to a few to see what happens, to see what sort of financial aid, if any, they’d be willing to give, and because a few professors of mine encouraged me to do so. </p>

<p>I think my main focus for now is the large state universities, both for cost and the diversity of their departments. I actually applied to a few of the religious-affiliated schools you listed the first time around. I was accepted, but I think I applied to them simply for some variety. Have you heard anything in particular about the state schools I’m looking at? </p>

10

<p>If it is at all helpful, right now, U-Dub, UT Austin, and UIUC are my favorites as far as the state schools go. </p>

11

<p>I will be 20 this fall. </p>

<p>No, I am not pre-med. My home state is Georgia. </p>

12

<p>You definitely wont become instate in Calif…strict rules.</p>

<p>why not just go to uga? do ypu qualify for Hope</p>

13

<p>I have removed the UCs from my list, for undergrad anyways. As woogzmama mentioned, and as I just checked, they do not admit transfers for second year. The reason UGA isn’t my first choice is because, from what I have read, it’s religion department isn’t terribly strong. </p>

14

<p>You nerd to realize that in-state restrictions have tightened up. The vast majority of states wont consider you instate unless your parents move, and some not even then. If UGA won’t work what otherinstate schools? </p>

15

<p>To answer your original question (excluding cost issues), Sewanee would be an excellent choice for someone interested in Biology, Religion, and English. All 3 departments are very strong. </p>

16

<p>,<<
Loyola’s tuition is going up, and, before scholarships are factored into it, the total cost for the College of Arts and Sciences was $67,000 for next year
<<<<</p>

<p>NO it isnt. right now, the COA will be about 55k for next year…wont even be close to 67k.</p>

<p>how much is your annual scholarship? </p>

<p>edited to add…for A&S, next year, your tuition will be…per semester;
Students entering Fall 2013 …$18,195.00…so about 36,500</p>

<p>the rest of the costs (room, board, etc) are NOT another 30k…no way</p>

17

<p>Yes it is. Towards the end of the Spring semester, students were emailed the Total Cost of Attendance for the 2014-2015 school year, and the total cost for me was nearly $67,000. I receive $18,000 from them, which is the greatest amount they give in a scholarship. Quite a few people from my class alone are transferring to another school, and one of the primary reasons is the cost. </p>

18

<p>You have both the University of Washington and University of Wisconsin-Madison listed. Which one do you mean by “U-Dub” (both go by that moniker)?</p>

<p>Also, wondering why Spring Hill College is on your list. It is an outlier, on the low end. Has nearly nothing in common with the rest of your list. I understand it is a Jesuit college, and maybe more credits will transfer. Be careful, though, it is rather mediocre. Lots of better Jesuit colleges than Spring Hill. Take a look at University of Scranton and John Carrol University if you are considering a transfer to another Jesuit school.</p>

19

<p>I meant the University of Washington. I apologize for any confusion. </p>

<p>I was considering Spring Hill because I’ve heard some good things about it from a good friend of mine, but I have since removed it from the schools I’m looking at. At this moment, the Jesuit schools I think I might apply to are Fordham and Santa Clara, and, perhaps, College of the Holy Cross. I’ll definitely look into both of those though. What have you heard about them? </p>

20

<p>Because I am Catholic and also interested in higher education, my knowledge of Jesuit schools is pretty good. In general, Jesuits are great at both religion and science. Also, most of your freshman credits should transfer because Jesuit schools, worldwide, share a common “core curriculum.” In other words, whatever courses you were required to take at Loyola are probably required at Fordham, Santa Clara, and Holy Cross. Here is my understanding of the three schools that you have mentioned:</p>

<p>Fordham
At one time Fordham was more important than Notre Dame, and it is still one of the best Catholic universities in America. Like Notre Dame, it has a mixture of both liberal and conservative viewpoints. Its religion department is definitely potent. I know nothing of its biology program (then again, the same goes for SC and HC). On the downside, Fordham has a reputation for having mediocre food and for being a “commuter” school with students largely drawn from the NYC metro area. On the other hand, NYC is an education in itself. Fordham is also one of the most beautiful few acres of NYC.</p>

<p>Santa Clara University
Is excellent, and located near Silicone Valley. Heavily influenced by being a California school, including having 15% Asian students and almost 20% Hispanic students. Focus is on undergraduate teaching (Fordham is good at it, but SC is better still). The Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University is actually located in Berkeley, about 45 miles away.</p>

<p>Holy Cross
Is nearly an elite liberal arts college, and is totally committed to undergraduate teaching. It has one of the best Classics Departments in the country (including non-Catholic colleges). Student body is predominantly from New England. Alumni network is legendary at helping students and alums get jobs.</p>

<p>Holy Cross is less than half the size of Santa Clara which in turn is about half the size of Fordham.</p>

<p>In the “for what it is worth” category, a conservative Catholic writer once referred to Fordham as “Jesuits at their best” but also called Holy Cross a “trainwreck” due to its support of left wing causes. Yet, I also hear that HC students themselves are considered rather conservative. Go figure.</p>

<p>Personally, I have a soft spot for Fordham, but would be honored to attend either SC or HC too.</p>