I want to transfer, what next?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi,
I recently started at the Ohio State University and its a terrible fit. I was hoping that people who have experience (or have helped someone) with transferring. I don't really know where I want to go after OSU, my parents wanted me to go here because it's affordable, but I was hoping to find somewhere that is affordable and a good fit.
My Stats
High School GPA: 4.5 W / 4.0 UW
High School Rank: 7 / 525
SAT: 2140 (670 W, 680 CR, 790 M) (willing to retake)
SATII: 700 Math 2, 710 Chemistry (willing to retake)
AP: Chem, Env Sci, Lit, Physics B, Bio (4), Calc AB (5)
National Merit Commended
AP Scholar With Distinction</p>

<p>College: Ohio State Honors College
Intended Major: Biochemistry (Premedicine)
Courses: CPR and AED training, University Band, Survey (required freshman course), Honors Intro to Psychology, General Chemistry II, Honors Calculus
Have 42 semester hours from testing (including Spanish)
Concern: Extracurriculars. The organizations here seem big and intense, I think I am going to join the Zoology Club, Model UN team, and I signed up to volunteer at the Medical Center (waiting to hear back). I volunteered 300+ hours at my Hospital in my hometown. I was wondering if this would be enough.</p>

<p>Looking for a smaller school that's a good fit for a more introverted and academic person. I would like a school with less partying ( I know that all schools have it). I am considering all types of schools, but prefer more affordable schools and close to Ohio (need not be in Ohio). </p>

<p>I'd like to hear what schools look for in a transfer student, how to make the best of the Why do you want to transfer? Common App question, and what schools may be a good fit.</p>

<p>Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks.</p>

<p>UPDATE: I am considering a gap year. I am a little young for my year, am a little jaded with my school work, and would like more experience outside of traditional learning.</p>

2

<p>Are you sure Ohio State won’t work? Many students have concerns when they just start because they haven’t found “their tribe” which will happen. If you are ABSOLUTELY set on leaving tOSU then you need to see the GCs immediately about leaving so you can retain your freshman status. Take a gap year and reapply to smaller schools like LACs. </p>

3

<p>I’m sure that I don’t want to stay at Ohio State. I’m going to stay the first semester (and perhaps the second, depending on how things go), I wanted to take a gap year this current year, but my parents did not support that idea.
Leaving this current semester is not an option because it would be very costly.</p>

4

<p>In fact, it’s important that you do well at OSU so that you can have a GPA that will allow you to transfer. You will also need to look at the number of credits you will need to have before the transfer college will accept you. </p>

<p>This situation is most unfortunate. Will your parents support you transfer? You guys really need to be talking more productively. No point in letting everyone at OSU know you’re leaving until you talk about it to your parents.</p>

5

<p>Transfers don’t usually get great aid or merit, so if OSU was your affordable choice as an incoming frosh, then likely other schools won’t be affordable.</p>

<p>Did you get any aid/merit from OSU? If so, then do NOT take a gap year or cut ties with OSU until you see the aid pkgs from other schools. The fear is that if you take a gap year, then you will have cut ties with OSU, and then you’d find after your gap year that no other school is affordable.</p>

<p>Where else did you apply this past year and how much did those schools cost after aid? These answers will provide needed info because likely transfer schools will give LESS aid and will cost MORE. Then what would you do?</p>

<p>It is too early to say that OSU isn’t a fit for you. School has just started. </p>

6

<p>You either need to get out now so that you can get your tuition back or you need to stay the semester. At the very least, check with your guidance counselors to see what you have to do and how soon you have to do it in order to get all or most of your tuition money back.</p>

<p>I would recommend you stay and give yourself time to adjust to OSU for at least a semester, but there’s a time factor.</p>

7

<p>I can easily understand not fitting at OSU, especially since you indicate that you are an introvert.</p>

<p>Sounds like you are a resident of Ohio. Take a look at Miami. It is totally different from OSU. OU in Athens is also very different from either of the other two. Tuition and other costs are similar.</p>

<p>If you want a LAC, then look into Ohio Wesleyan. You could even drive up there today (about a half hour), if you have a car. Centre College down in Kentucky is outstanding.</p>

<p>Regarding merit and financial aid. Look into that immediately. As a transfer, you would not likely get much merit aid. But if you take a gap year, you probably would. Research this now! </p>

<p>Financially, it makes more sense to quit now rather than stay for a semester. The only reason to stay for the rest of the semester is to give yourself a chance to fit in. Otherwise, no point.</p>

8

<p>I get $6,000 off in merit aid. OSU costs my family about $18k.
I applied to Miami of Ohio and got a comparable aid package to Ohio State, but I felt like there was not a lot to do on campus. Would have been similar coat.
I really wanted to go to Case Western, where I got $25,000 off but my parents said that the only way to make it work would be to commute. Both if my parents went to Case and two of my uncles. I think it would have cost $25k.
I could’ve gone to Kent State for near free, but that didn’t seem like a good fit.
I was also accepted at College of Wooster, Penn State, Purdue, U of Illinois. I was offered scholarships but the price was not nearly right. I was rejected by Cornell.
Thanks for the advice thus far.</p>

9

<p>If $25,000 is too high a cost, then it is going to be very difficult for you to transfer to a college that you can afford. Most merit aid is given to new students not transfers.</p>

<p>Thus, you really need to do a gut check and decide whether you can adjust to OSU or not. If not, then there is not much point in continuing this fall, because you would automatically become a transfer student and miss out on lots of merit aid opportunities. If you finish fall semester at OSU, then you are a transfer student.</p>

<p>Adjusting to OSU might be less difficult than you think. It might never be perfect for you, but you should be able to get comfortable enough. Still, only you can make this decision.</p>

<p>Also take a look at Capital University, right in Columbus (well, Bexley actually). You probably could attend for about the same cost as OSU. But only after a gap year. Not as a transfer. But, they do have some transfer scholarships: <a href=“Transfer Scholarships | Capital University, Columbus Ohio”>Error Page;

<p>:)>- </p>

10

<p>Hi, I stayed at OSU for the semester, and I really do want to leave here. I unintentionally ended up in an overly easy schedule that won’t even qualify me for the Dean’s List because I’m not taking enough graded hours. I am mainting good grades thiugh so far. I am not involved in any Student Organizations currently, but I work 12.5 hours a week. I want to take a step forward when I transfer, but I’m afraid to go through the application process again, especially when no one is helping me this time.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. :)</p>