How hard would it be to transfer from UC Berkeley to Brown?

[meruto]

<p>I'm currently a high school senior, and I got into UC Berkeley, which I'm quite happy about. However, I've just realized that I'm much more suited to a liberal arts college... I really like Brown (virtually a LAC), but I feel like I would also fit in at Vassar, Haverford, etc. I've been looking at the Facebook groups for UC Berkeley students and the groups for other colleges' students, and I feel like I don't relate to anyone at Berkeley - lots of pre-med, engineering, computer science, etc. students. It seems almost conservative, despite its reputation. I looked at Brown's FB page's members... they all seem like my soul mates. I feel icky about the thought of going to Berkeley with the intent to transfer, but for some reason it just seems important that I find someplace that suits me. Maybe I should just stop dwelling on it? But, in any case: How difficult would it actually be to transfer from Berkeley to Brown or a top LAC? Would senior year grades matter a lot (mine have tanked)? Would I have to get perfect grades at Berkeley and join extracurriculars and stuff?</p>

[ocnative]

<p>Are you sure you want to transfer already? I mean…you haven’t started at UC Berkeley yet! Maybe you’ll absolutely love it. They do have some of the most top-ranked programs in the nation that are not related to engineering, computer sci, and such. What’s your major, anyways? </p>

[entomom]

<p>

Would senior year grades matter a lot (mine have tanked)?

</p>

<p>Everything matters. It looks like you might have applied as a fr and weren’t accepted, be aware that Bs transfer rate is lower than it’s fr admission rate. And if you want to apply as a soph transfer, your final sr year grades will be very important as you will only have completed 1 sem (and possibly a mid-term report) when transfer decisions are made.</p>

<p>In addition, B has need-aware admissions and limited FA for transfers.</p>

[meruto]

<p>No, I didn’t apply to Brown, for some reason I wish I had now. I was waitlisted at the University of Chicago, which is slightly harder to get into than Brown, so I think I might have had a chance at getting into Brown. Sigh. </p>

<p>I see now that Brown is need-aware for transfer students Yikes, that probably means it’s hopeless, since I’m extremely low-income. What I am reading about it says that, though Brown is need-aware, they meet full need for transfer students. </p>

<p>ocnative, my major is sociology.</p>

[meruto]

<p>I also didn’t apply to the other LACs I mentioned. I only applied to Swarthmore and Amherst (rejected).</p>

[entomom]

<p>

What I am reading about it says that, though Brown is need-aware, they meet full need for transfer students.

</p>

<p>Where? This is what I see:</p>

<p><a href=“Undergraduate Admission | Brown University”>Undergraduate Admission | Brown University;

<p>

Financial Aid
Financial aid for transfer applicants is limited.

</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.brown.edu/about/administration/financial-aid/special-groups#sgt”>http://www.brown.edu/about/administration/financial-aid/special-groups#sgt&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

Transfers</p>

<p>Q. Is financial aid available for transfer students?</p>

<p>A. Yes, there is a limited amount of university funding set aside for students admitted through the need aware transfer admission process. Need aware means that financial need will be taken into account in making the admission decision. To be considered for financial assistance at any time during their undergraduate years at Brown, transfer students must apply for financial aid when they initially apply for admission as a transfer applicant. Students who do not apply for financial assistance with their initial admission application will not be considered for University Scholarship at any point during their undergraduate years at Brown, regardless of any changes in their family’s financial situation.

</p>

<p>Here’s a link to some information from past transfer applicants to B:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/936056-brown-transfer-applicant-survey-fa-need-aware-admissions.html?highlight=need+aware”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/936056-brown-transfer-applicant-survey-fa-need-aware-admissions.html?highlight=need+aware&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[meruto]

<p>Ugh. This sucks. I have so many regrets. For instance, I should have done the Questbridge program for low-income students. I bet I would have gotten into Brown and Chicago had I applied through it. My school didn’t advertise it, and my counselor couldn’t give me accurate info on it, so I’m a little resentful. Seems like when you’re still in high school top colleges are totally sympathetic, but half a year later the game’s completely different. </p>

<p>Well, if I don’t get off the waitlist at Chicago (and I know I probably won’t…), maybe I can reapply there if I really don’t like Berkeley, since it appears from what I’m looking at that they are need-blind for transfer students and offer good financial aid for transfers (could be another inaccurate source, though). I wonder if top LACs are need-blind and meet full need for transfer students?</p>

<p>Thanks for the info and the link!</p>

[entomom]

<p>Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but better to know going into it than after applying. </p>

<p>UChicago looks good for transfer FA:</p>

<p><a href=“https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/applicants/transfer”>https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/applicants/transfer&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I’m not sure about the LACs you’re interested in, the best thing to do is to look at their websites and call/email them to clarify if necessary. While they should state if they are need aware for transfers, often schools are vague about their policy on FA for transfers.</p>