Looking to transfer to research uni, or research-minded LAC - Need lots of aid - Suggestions?

Transfer Students
1

Hey all,

After several conversations with mentors who know me well, I have decided that I am going to transfer during this upcoming cycle. Unfortunately, my family has run into a bit of a rough patch financially and I will need lots of financial aid to do so. For Reference, The combined income between my parents for the last two years has been <$60k and they will have two kids in college starting next year. I am aware that there are several LAC’s which meet demonstrated need, as well as some (fewer) R1 universities, but I an hoping to receive some advice as to which ones might fit my needs well:

  • Biological/biomedical research is my passion and one of the main reasons I will be transferring. I have just about tapped out my current uni's research resources. My ideal school would hopefully either have an associated med school, research partners near by, or its own (significant) research focus. (could be a problem at many LAC's??)
  • Ideally, the school would have an academically rigorous curriculum, and an academically minded student body, but if this is not the overall theme, a larger school should have enough diversity that I can find a community of people with those interests.
  • Sports are a bonus, but mostly for the school spirit that they inspire. Not a huge factor, but it would be nice to have.

My stats are as follows:
2000 SAT
3.7 HS GPA
3.8 UGrad GPA
300+ hours of bench research + paid fellowship
Preparing to present at two conferences this year
TA for one semester
Lots of volunteering

Here are some schools I have been looking at:

-Macalester (Twin Cities research connection?)
-Oberlin (Questionable bio facilities?)
-Wesleyan (questionable bio facilities?)
-Cornell Ag (reasonable acceptance rate probably a reach)
-Tulane (Worried about the party scene. Not my thing)
-UNC (Potentially too competitive OOS?)
-Rochester (really love this school. Not sure about my chances, however)
-UVA (potentially too competitive as OOS?)

  • Northeastern (Expensive city)
    -USC (questionable about “meeting need”)
    -Brandeis (expensive city)
    -Emory (probably a big reach)
    -UF (cheap (IS), not a fan of the superiority complex, haven’t heard great things)
    -USF (lack of prestige, questionable rigor, love Tampa, cheap)
    -Others??

I don’t have a ton of money for applications, so I would like to narrow it down to 5ish paid applications. Would love some suggestions/thoughts on any of these schools/others, regarding my chances/fit/prices. Thanks!

2

Wesleyan’s life sciences labs support one of the highest levels of government sponsored research of any of the nationally known selective LACs.

3

Are you currently a freshman?

4

I know students who have defined their own research projects with the support of their professors, and gotten independent credit for that work. Why can’t you do that at your current school? And look for RUEs for summers. You will have to go to grad school anyway in that field. I find it hard to believe you can’t reach the goal of getting into a good grad school wherever you are now if you fully take advantage of the expertise of profs at your school.