Hello, everyone. I am delighted to ask my questions on this discussion.
I came to take a leave of absence from my college, due to the domestic scholarship situations and my father’s unemployment. So, I have prepared for my transfer applications for this year, while I am seeking for another financial sources.
I was wondering if it would be okay to reveal that one of the main reasons why I transfer is my loss of funding.
Even though I tried to hide my loss of funding in my applications, transfer admissions officers could know my loss of funding through my letters of reference and certification of finances.
But, I have been worried that transfer admissions will be the process to select the students who will excel, not who need financial helps. That has been why I am ambivalent about explaining my current situation in COMMON APP MAIN ESSAY. (Of course, I will write about my experiences at Duke and my plans at colleges where I want to transfer.)
I would sincerely appreciate if you could give your advice.
Thank you very much for your help in advance,
FYI, I am aiming to Ivys and Top schools who have Financial Aids to transfer applicants. I am currently on TOP 20 colleges.
Your current school will not adjust financial aid to account for your changed financial situation?
Are you an international applicant? Did you have funding from your country to study at Duke? Is there a chance that Duke would be able to give you financial aid? Do you have other possible sources of money to pay for your education here?
“My government stopped supporting students in the US and I can’t stay at Duke because of the money issue.” may well be true, but no college or university wants to hear that the only reason you are applying to transfer there is because they might have financial aid for you.
Your reasons for applying for transfer should be academic. What does the target institution offer that your old institution doesn’t? Are you changing your major, or looking for a very different focus in your major? Are there particular classes you want to take that will help you achieve your academic goals?
What if anything can you still afford to pay?
Are you an international student? If so, from what country? If not, from what state?
Yes, as I am an international student, my school will not adjust my financial need.
Of course, I have why I want to transfer, but when explaining why I am on leave of absence, loss of funding is one of them. Also, I think my recommenders will mention it, because all of them know I have taken leave of absence due to a financial problem.
This was a focal point of my transfer essays and I was admitted to Yale and Stanford among several others