<p>My child has a lot of AP credits. Obviously, it varies by college how much will transfer in. At the state universities, most of the core is complete with the AP credits. </p>
<p>Last week, DD decided to go to a liberal arts college that gave her great scholarships so it is affordable. It came down to that LAC or a state U that gave her a really great scholarship that made it affordable. Yay! Neither option was perfect, but both were affordable. Plus, she has no idea what she wants to major in. Most days, she will tell you she is 100% sure she will major in a specific major. But within hours or days that major changes. When she really does not know what she wants to major in, a large state university (specifically UT Austin and TAMU) where she has no financial aid is not a good idea. Yesterday, she found out she got in to UT Austin. Of course everyone is thrilled! But the reality is that they have a reputation for not giving financial aid. </p>
<p>Is it an awful idea that I suggest she just go to a school where she has scholarships first, and then when she narrows in on her major, and still wants to go to UT Austin (and UT Austin is the better choice for that major), she go there as a transfer student? I am very worried about the money, and with her really having no idea what she wants to major in, it just makes it worse. Basically, she is going to go there and spend a couple semesters or more trying out a variety of things before she figures out what she wants to do. But she might spend our entire savings before she gets there. Put it this way...we can afford two years of UT Austin. Or we can afford longer if she had financial aid. Or if she lived at home and went to a closer state university. Which, actually, she has a big scholarship to the closer state university so that does not matter. See what I am saying?</p>
<p>For reference, our EFC at the end of the FAFSA was about $6800. This will not qualify us for pell grant or anything.</p>
<p>If the LAC and other state university that are presumably affordable after scholarships offer decent programs in all of the majors that she might major in, then what is the problem?</p>
<p>It is only a problem if the affordable choices are likely to be academically unsuitable (not offering majors that she is likely to want to major in, for example). But in that case, she can start at a community college, then transfer to a four year school after completing two years’ worth of work and deciding on a major (and since you said that you can afford two years of UT Austin or presumably the cheaper TAMU, that opens up those schools as possibilities when going this route).</p>
<p>How many years can your family currently afford at the two places where she has been admitted and awarded her aid packages?</p>
<p>Is any of that aid merit-based and contingent on her maintaining a certain GPA? </p>
<p>Yes, it can make sense for her to attend the cheaper institution, and then transfer to the expensive one once she has chosen her major. Lots of kids do that every year by attending a community college first. Your daughter is fortunate to have the option of beginning at a 4-year institution that she could continue to attend if she decides against transferring, or if the transfer applications don’t work out.</p>
<p>If she is truly undecided, would it make sense for her to take a Gap Year, and get a job or pursue volunteer work so that she has time to see a bit of what her post-college life could look like, and she can formulate a better plan for her college years? </p>
<p>I would go to either of the first two until she decides. Plus, ut is so big she may need more hands on approach to narrow her interests down, and the lac might be able to provide that. Size? Also, I think I just read something about ut changing its policy on switching majors. I think the time is longer before you can switch. Might want to review that. Financially, you would be better off at the other two, and ultimately I do not know if it will help her favorably to go there. What if her indecision caused her to go five years to complete her degree. I would say she could transfer in later if she wants once she decides, or keep it as an option for grad school. It is a wonderful school, but it is huge. I think your plan is best for all of you. Best of luck to you all!</p>
<p>I’d go where she got the scholarships. It is highly unlikely that her career options will be dashed because her major is a)something so esoteric that employers won’t accept a similar major and b)her school truly offered no courses in whatever it is she’s trying to get a job in. </p>
<p>I don’t think starting off with a plan to transfer out is a good idea. Transfers happen, often for the best, but I think your daughter would be better off going into her first year with the idea of getting a degree from the same institution.</p>
<p>Wait and see the financial package that UT offers before you make a decision. When you have all the figures, you can make a fact based decision that’s best for your daughter and best for your family. UT for graduate school is another option.</p>
<p>Without knowing what her thoughts are on majors, it’s hard to comment, but often students choose a more general liberal arts education for undergrad and a specific area for graduate school. The beauty of a liberal arts education (meaning the kind that you can get at most colleges/universities, not just LACs) is experimentation across disciplines is encouraged. </p>
<p>It’s very difficult for a 17/18 year old to envision what’s out there, when s/he hasn’t been exposed to the variety of college level academics. Many students change and change again before they settle on a major. </p>
<p>If the decision comes down to the LAC or the state school, I’d go with the place that she feels is a better fit for her academically and socially. Again, I don’t know the specifics, but I’d give choice of majors second priority after culture. Majors change, but personality and environment don’t.</p>
<p>The option of living at home is another major consideration. It’s a trade-off works for some but not for others, so it’s hard to generalize, but I wouldn’t make that part of the deal if your daughter is opposed to it.</p>
<p>No, I don’t think that’s an awful idea at all. Unless she wants a pre-professional major like engineering or nursing, her choice of major is unlikely to be extremely important for her future career. A lot of people will say that going to a large university with a lot of major choices is better for undecided kids; I counter with the idea that a kid who is very undecided may be overwhelmed with a lot of choices, while an LAC or smaller state U provides a manageable number that she can try on and decide. (I was that very undecided kid myself; I changed my mind about 3 or 4 times just in the summer between high school and college.)</p>
<p>Even some pre-professional majors can be substituted with general liberal arts and sciences majors (since they are usually just applications of the principles of those fields, anyway). For example, an aspiring business major could major in economics or psychology (or both) at an LAC. Someone interested in advertising or public relations could do psychology. A public health hopeful could major in sociology with some biology classes. Most colleges also offer the opportunity to design an individualized major - so for example a student who wanted to major in neuroscience could design a neuroscience major at a college with a biology and psychology department (assuming that the classes are there, which they usually are).</p>
<p>Liberal arts and science majors are good foundations for lots of fields, careers, and graduate degrees.</p>