I’m a transfer student going from one 4 year school to another. I’m a freshman and applied and got in for spring quarter a week ago, and am waiting on my merit aid decision. My GPA and ACT scores easily qualify for their freshmen scholarships (which are just based on those statistics) but as a transfer I’m assuming I won’t end up being offered those. I applied for the transfer scholarship, but it’s not worth even half as much as the freshman scholarships and it doesn’t renew like the freshman ones do. Is there an appropriate time/way to ask for an exception to be made in this case?
You can ask but expect a no. Why should they make an exception for you? There may be an online for to appeal. transfer students rarely get as goo aid as freshmen at most colleges. You may have to stay at University of Washington.
Some schools consider you a first time (freshman) student if you have fewer than a certain number of credits (26, 18, 15? whatever number they set). If this school does, you have a good chance. If not, you’ll probably be a transfer student with the transfer scholarship.
I’d call now if you have to make a decision this week and if this is a deciding factor.
The purpose of merit aid is to entice those selected incoming freshmen to choose that college. The college wants to be able to raise the mean SAT/ACT score of its incoming freshmen. If you don’t matriculate until spring quarter, your stats are not included in that average. So they have no reason to give you a big incentive or any incentive at all.
FWIW, it’s not a financial aid decision. Scholarships based on grades or scores are merit aid.
@TomSrOfBoston incoming students make appeals to financial aid decisions all the time. I’m not naively expecting a yes, just to have the same consideration that those students get.
@brantly I know the difference between need-based and merit aid, thanks though. Many colleges’ online interfaces, including the one I am dealing with now, group both kinds together under the label financial aid.
OK, then! Go for it! If/when you don’t get what you want or think you deserve, write a letter making a case for why you should get it.
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and through a friend’s experience at the University of Oregon I started looking into that school more. It’s hard to beat the UW’s ranking/prestige and its beautiful campus, but I’m seriously doubting if that is worth it if I’m going to be hating the environment I’m in. Oregon does not have the competitiveness that exists here, I love the smaller college town setting, and the students have been so friendly when I’ve visited. Also, their school spirit is huge. If I went there, majors that would be competitive here like CS or business would be open to my exploration, which is exciting. By contrast, at UW, it’s easy to feel like one class can ruin my chances at one particular path and that I shouldn’t even try branching out.
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Are you instate for UWash?? How are those costs covered>
Oregon doesn’t even give much to incoming frosh, so very unlikely you’d get much/anything as a transfer.
I think you’re exaggerating the differences. They’re both state flagships.
How much will your parents pay for either school?
@mom2collegekids Have you looked at their many (and relatively easy to obtain) merit scholarships? In my view, esp. for a public university, they do pretty well. I am looking into getting the money my stats would have qualified me for as a freshman applicant. Or at least an offer that renews for 4 years.
I’m not sure why you’re asking how much my parents will pay for either school.
But you are not a freshman applicant. That is the thing.
@TomSrOfBoston I’m well aware, but I don’t see any issue with asking for more money, the worst they can say is no.
Go ahead and ask. You have nothing to lose. But the answer will be no. Prepare yourself.
@itsgettingreal17 okay thanks. Can I ask what that’s based on? I’m trying to understand how it’s seemingly so unprecedented for transfers to appeal.
People appeal financial aid awards all the time.
You, however, are not appealing the award you receive. You are asking the school to consider you for awards incoming freshmen receive…and make you an exception to the rule if you are NOT considered an incoming freshman.
Why do you think you should NOT be considered a transfer…if that is what the school determines you are. That is what you need to convince them…
“I think you’re exaggerating the differences. They’re both state flagships.”
That is my expectation also. They are both state flagships, and are both very good schools. Oregon is half the size, but I am not sure if it will feel all that different.
I would be inclined to send in the applications, appeal the financial aid, but only make the transfer if the price is either better or not much different.
OP, are you in-state for either of these?
@thumper1 Ok, looks like I should have asked more generally about advice on the process then. However in terms of your point, at the time of matriculation I won’t have the 33 credits necessary to be a transfer technically in their eyes.
@DadTwoGirls thanks for your input. I’m not using cost as a deciding factor so I’d rather not say if I’m in state for either.
How did they say you should apply? As a transfer? Or as a freshman coming in with a few credits? Ask them.
@brantly I did ask them, and I still had to apply as a transfer since I’ve attended another institution since graduating high school. So I understand I’ll probably be looked at that way, but I was admitted for spring quarter and thus would still be entering as a first year student.
The main reason I wanted to ask to be considered for more money before I receive my offer is because I’m pretty sure that the scholarships I applied to are awarded on an annual basis, and since I’m entering in the middle of a year I don’t believe they are able to let me know before I would matriculate.
So…are you a transfer or are you considered a freshman applicant? The above, which you wrote, implies you re looking for an exception to something. What is that? And why should you be an exception to a rule the school had.
@thumper1 see my above comment. Why should I be an exception? Because I believe I’ve worked hard and achieved at a level deserving of a significant award. And I’ve continued to achieve in college. Many people get into Oregon with grades below a 3.0. I didn’t just skate by.
As I said previously, merit awards are not altruistic. It’s not a prize for hard work. It’s for THE COLLEGE to entice students with high stats so those stats can be included in the freshman averages. IOW, it’s not about you. It’s about them.