How can I convince my parents to let me transfer?

Don’t you have any other school options aside from Miami?
Also, why does it sounds like you it so much?

With a $30k/yr budget and good stats, take a gap year. You won’t get a transfer package that gets you within budget, but you can get down to $30k as a freshman.

@BellaMorgan I also got into William and Mary, Richmond, Franklin and Marshall, and Penn State. I can’t afford W&M and Richmond, and they were my dream schools. F&M is expensive as well and I don’t like it as much. I do not like Penn State for the same reasons I don’t like Miami, but I applied because my parents made me. It is more expensive than Miami so I’m going with the cheaper options.

Also, what does that last question mean?

Your parents can afford $30,000 each year, am I correct?

Then take a gap year. Work on a political campaign because you are interested in that kind of thing. There will be scads of them that can use your time and effort for the gap year.

Apply to a new list of places where you and your parents can expect to pay no more than at Miami.

@bobthorton: What would Richmond & WM. & Mary cost per year ?

With a 1510 SAT & a 4.4 GPA, you should be able to get full tuition scholarships to several state flagship university honors colleges such as Alabama & South Carolina & Ohio State.

I understand your feelings & I recognize the difference between Penn State, Miami of Ohio & your two first choice schools.

Although there is a lot of partying at large publics, honors college students & activities often provide an alternative social scene.

P.S. To which other colleges & universities did you apply ?

You state:
“I do not like the university at all.” Do not attend a university you do not like; as noted by several above, take a gap year, take your time and carefully plan your application strategy, and then re-apply. Get a job, save some money, have full discussions with your parents about what they can afford, and then make a decision, a year from now, on what school to attend based on the acceptances you’ve received.

Another option is to attend Miami. OH and do a semester or even a year abroad or DC.

@Publisher W&M cost about $42,000 a year and Richmond was about $50,000 (these numbers only include financial aid in the form of grants, I am not including the loans offered). I applied to W&M (accepted, too expensive), Richmond (accepted, too expensive), F&M (accepted, too expensive), Boston College (waitlisted, far too expensive, applied to be my reach school), Penn State (accepted, not a huge fan of the school but my parents wanted me to apply to one state school), and Miami (accepted, going because it is cheaper then Penn State).

I’m guessing you’re in the Honors College and in the Honors LLC, right? If you really want to avoid parties you could also request the substance-free LLC. The environment and students at Miami OH’s Honors college will be very similar to URchmond’s. In addition, being in Ohio it’ll get a LOT of political activity in the upcoming 2 years.

However in terms of culture (politically apathetic), size, and proximity to a political center, it is not ideal. You will NOT get a better deal as a transfer and your stats should get you good merit at colleges that may be a better fit, so if you have visited, spent time with Honors College students, and truly can’t see yourself there, don’t attend, and take a gap year. Work on a political campaign, on a GOTV campaign, etc.