Hey you guys! So I have just finished my freshman year at Winthrop University (a small university in SC). But due to urgently having to move out from my Mom and into my Dad and sisters, I will be returning back home to Michigan. I’m really confused as to what to do concerning my education. I want to transfer to either Michigan State or UofM. But since it’s so late in the summer, the likelihood me getting in this fall is low. So here are my options:
Option 1: Attend community college (please recommend the best one you know if you can) and transfer either in the spring or next fall (2020).
Option 2: Attend another university (such as WSU or UofM-Dearborn) for this year and transfer in the fall (2020)
Option 3: Just go for it and apply to MSU (UofM aren’t accepting applications for the fall this late) and hope (and pray lol) I get in for the fall and transfer (if needed) to UofM
If you guys could help me in giving me advice I would really appreciate it. I’ve been so stressed about this and everything and every deadline are approaching so quickly. Thanks in advance!
Stats/Important Info:
- 24 Credits (working on 6 credits this summer at local community college in SC online)
- 3.18 GPA
- Major: I’m currently a Healthcare Management major but I’m leaning towards Public Health as well
How are you planning to pay for college?
@austinmshauri Loans and grants. I already kind of know what I’m receiving for this fall since my financial aid package from my current school was released so I imagine it will be similar.
If you transfer to a different college you won’t necessarily get any grants. If you qualify for a Pell Grant you’d get that, but each college creates their own financial aid package. Have you run the Net Price Calculators for the Michigan schools?
Yes, I did run the net price calculators and they were all similar to my current package minus my South Carolina grant. And I am also eligible for the pell grant. My previous college aid package consisted of federal aid (loans and grants) plus one grant from South Carolina.
Do you have divorced parents? Where is your state of residence declared at Winthrop?
You should expand the list of colleges to consider for transfer. Both Michigan Tech and UofM look to be a significant step up from Winthrop. Your 3.18 GPA isn’t going to help in getting into those two schools.
Go ahead a apply to Michigan Tech and be prepared for a year of CC if you don’t get in.
@Sybylla Yep, my parents are divorced. At Winthrop, I have in state for South Carolina. But my dad lives in Michigan (where my mom and I are originally from).
Did you indicate that you’re a transfer in the net price calculators? Transfer students don’t normally get a lot of aid.
The federal student loans are pretty reasonable. If a college requires cosigned loans it’s probably too expensive.
@HPuck35 What about Wayne State or UofM-Dearborn? I kind of just want to use this coming up year to get my GPA up so I can get into UofM.
@austinmshauri None of the calculators I used had the option for transfers.
Then the aid they listed probably wasn’t right. Freshmen get the best grants. Transfers generally get very little. Check their financial aid pages to see if they give aid to transfer students.
@austinmshauri But with the federal money I had already agreed and accepted to it for my previous school so whichever school I transfer to will my federal money stay the same or will it have to be recalculated?
The federal Pell Grant is only $6k if you get the full amount. The federal student loan is $6500 for sophomores. I don’t see that Michigan State offers any aid to transfers except merit aid for high stats. How would you cover the rest of the costs there? If you commuted you might have enough if you work over the summer. (Tuition is $14k.) But dorming brings the cost up to $25k.
@austinmshauri Well I know there is an additional $4000 given to those whose parents were denied for the parent plus loan. I received this last year and I got denied for the loan so I know that I’ll be receiving that as well with my federal loan. And depending on what school I attend, I will most likely be commuting to save on housing and meal plans.
The extra $4k is a loan too, right? So you borrowed $9500 for your freshman year? It seems like Michigan State would be less expensive than that if you commuted. If you can work this summer you may be able to attend with just the $6500 federal student loan (assuming you get the full Pell Grant).
If that’s the case, look into the area community colleges. Check the Michigan State transfer aid page to see if they offer grants to students who graduate from a local cc. A year at cc would save you a chunk of money.
@austinmshauri Yes the $4k is a loan. And I did receive full pell grant this year and freshman year as well. I’m just scared my chances of getting into MSU will be lower because of the fact it’s late June and my GPA is not the highest.
That’s why starting at a MI community college may be better for you. It allows you to save money and raise your GPA.
I attended a community college in my state eons ago then transferred to one of our state schools. People do it all the time.
@austinmshauri So should I go for the semester or the whole year? And which community college would you recommend (preferably one close to Eastpointe)?
I’d go until I had an associate’s degree. Take a look at the majors and classes that are offered by all the CC’s near your dad’s home. I’d pick the one that offers you the best options for your major.