Hi guys.
I’m a second semester sophomore majoring in Finance at Missouri Southern State University. I am applying as a junior to transfer to Gettysburg College, University of Richmond, Connecticut College, Lehigh University and Dickinson College.
I hope to major in Middle Eastern studies/International Relations and Economics. Missouri Southern only offers Economics, so transferring is my ticket to study what I’m truly passionate about.
Here are my stats:
High school:
Ranked 8/130 students.
Graduated with honors.
GPA: 3.85/4.0
Took 3 AP and 3 honors classes.
ECs: Varsity debate, 4-H (club president), marching and concert band (Clarinet section leader), Volunteered as a Kindergarten Sunday school teacher for five years.
College:
3.88/4.0 GPA (52 credits hours)
Completed courses in calculus, statistics, and economics.
ECs: work 15 hours/week as an office assistant in the Office of Academic Affairs, tutor international students (Japanese, Saudi, Korean, Vietnamese) 5 hours/week, participate in Model Arab League. I’m also a member of the Finance and Economics club, but I’m not including it because community members talk about their careers. There aren’t opportunities for leadership.
Not sure about the recommendation: my international relations professor wrote it.
I’m hoping to have all A’s at mid-terms.
What else can I do?
Thanks!
You can’t ensure that you will be admitted elsewhere. Sorry.
Your profile is very good. All you can do is send off your applications, and then wait.
If you are concerned that all of the places you are applying to are reaches, not matches, take a look at the other colleges and universities in MO, and see if they offer the major that you want. Chances are that in-state institutions will be more familiar with your current university, and so will be more “match-like” than the OOS places on your current list.
@happymomof1 The only college that offers what I want is Washington University in St. Louis. Missouri State University does to a degree, but I wouldn’t get enough aid to make attending affordable.
Can you build your own major at one of the other public Us? Read through their catalogues and see if that is possible.
You also need to figure out what you can come up with where you are now. If you aren’t admitted to any of the places on your list (or if they don’t prove to be affordable), you need to be able to make do at your current U. Maybe a semester or year abroad (or in an exchange elsewhere in the US) could give you access to some of the classes you want.
How do you know that the places on your list will be affordable? Did you get those figures from the Net Price Calculators? If so, email the financial aid offices and ask specifically if those calculators are valid for transfer applicants. At many places they aren’t.
@happymomof1 I’ve emailed the colleges’ financial aid offices and only Dickinson has stated that it has limited need-based aid for transfer students (so the NPC wouldn’t be accurate). However, the other colleges have stated that the NPCs are pretty accurate.
The University of Oklahoma has a great Arabic program, but my COA would still be $22,000 per year (with a $9,000 transfer scholarship.)
I want to study abroad in the UAE or Jordan, but the region’s dangerous. I haven’t thought about being a visiting student, though.
I know that I can’t design my own major at Mizzou, but I’ll see about the others
I’ll see what happens. My mom thinks I’m insane for wanting to transfer (because I have a full-tuition scholarship). Missouri Southern is known for its biology, dental hygiene, nursing, and education programs. Everything else is kind of sub par.
I’m really stressed because even though grad school is always an option, most colleges want applicants to have some experience in the field.