<p>So I go to a Catholic Jesuit school in PA that costs a little over 45, 000 dollars a year. I received very little financial aid and the school is very fussy about giving scholarships. I decided to attend this school because I was told by multiple people that its pre med program is fantastic. On average about 80% of their applicants are accepted into a health professional school which is double the national average. The other reason why I went was because they do not require you to take a foreign language which tormented me for 3 years in H.S. I also liked the idea that the school was Jesuit and everyone says that the Jesuit schools are really good and so forth. After my family submitted our FASA report, we learned that they were going to give us about 22, 000 dollars of financial aid. However, after I made my decision of enrolling in this school we received a letter stating something was wrong on the FASA. After the correction we received another letter stating that they decreased our aid money to about 4,000 a year. I couldn't do anything because I already declined my offer for admissions at the other schools so I was stuck. I personally like the school but I'm paying almost full price for it. My fathers military G.I bill helped us out first semester but it will only last a year. SO now every time I speak to my father he always says that he wants me to transfer to a cheaper school ASAP. I told that I want to take the traditional way and transfer after two years but that would mean taking out massive amounts of loans. So what should I do? Should I go to the financial aid office and tell them my situation? Should I leave at the end of this year? Should I just stay another year? Anyone else having this problem?</p>
<p>Remember it’s you parents money not yours. They don’t even have to pay for your college tuition. Just consider yourself lucky.</p>
<p>Wait how am I lucky ?</p>
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<p>Are YOU paying or are your PARENTS paying?</p>
<p>Its a mixture of loans and my parents giving me some money. Plus the money from the G.I bill.</p>
<p>In most situations it’s a good idea to transfer ASAP. The number 1 reason keeping students at their first college longer is finances (community college is much cheaper than a 4-year university) but that doesn’t apply to your situation. The earlier you transfer the better: financially, socially and academically. Here are some reasons why you might want to transfer sooner:</p>
<ul>
<li>you could save a LOT of money</li>
<li>more time to impress your professors at the new university to get those precious letters of recommendation for graduate school</li>
<li>fewer headaches transferring credits (wouldn’t it be horrible to spend $50K on a 2nd year only to realize that half of the credits won’t transfer?)</li>
<li>you’ll know which classes you need to take for general education requirements. the general education requirements at your next university might be so different from the requirements at your current university that you might basically have to start from scratch</li>
<li>you’ll have more time to make friends and enjoy the new friendships at your new university</li>
<li>you’ll have more time to work your way up into interesting positions in jobs, clubs, sports, student government, etc. </li>
</ul>
<p>I see no advantages in postponing the transfer.</p>
<p>Then why do so many people transfer as an entering jr rather then a Sophomore?</p>
<p>Because community college lasts two years? Two years are popular for students who are transferring to a more expensive university (e.g. after community college) or to a more selective university (after raising their grades in college to compensate for a poor high school record).</p>
<p>I have not heard of a 2-year norm in other contexts. Most of the students who transferred into or out of my own undergraduate college did so after their first year.</p>
<p>Take it from someone who has already been through college: the more time you can spend at a single university, the better.</p>
<p>A lot of people also start out at a lesser school and need those 2 years to build a solid GPA because they may not have gotten into their “dream” schools with their high school stats. If you did well in high school and do well your first two semesters of college, you will do well in transfer admissions. </p>
<p>Just keep in mind - and let your parents know - that transfer students are typically awarded less aid as well, so applying to other expensive colleges and hoping for the best aid might not help you either. I had transferred twice after a year at community college. The max merit scholarship for transfers at my 30k/year LAC was 10k/year. The max at my 30k/year 4-year uni before that was $15k/year for transfers. They sometimes make exceptions for amazing applicants if they have the money to increase aid. So make sure your transfer list is diverse enough so you have some affordable options.</p>
<p>Yea but I rather follow the traditional road and transfer after two. I guess i just have to call up my prospective colleges and see what classes I should take for next year. My colleges are Penn State (University Park - I can’t transfer here until 2 years any way), Cornell CALS, Fordham, and maybe Stony Brook as a cheap safety. I go to a Catholic school so I don’t think theology classes will be accepted unless its Fordham.</p>
<p>There really is no “traditional” way. It will make no difference in the long run. Except that you will have hefty student loans to pay for no good reason. Is someone at your school telling you this? Where did you get this idea from?</p>
<p>Med/professional school will be expensive. The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to keep your undergrad costs down as much as possible.</p>
<p>What are your reasons for going into debt for a second year at an extremely expensive college? I would encourage you to do a cost-benefit analysis to see if it’s the best option for you. </p>
<p>There might be good reasons for you to stay another year but you haven’t stated one yet. Your only argument (so far) is that you’d rather stick to the “traditional transfer road” - which does not exist. Students transfer whenever it happens to be convenient for them. What is it that you can get out of another year at your current college that you can not get elsewhere?</p>
<p>Some public universities (like Penn State) prefer students to transfer in late so that they don’t have to subsidize them with taxpayer money for longer than necessary. Most private universities prefer students to transfer in sooner rather than later to get the full benefit of the private college environment. For example, some of the more selective private colleges don’t let junior transfers study abroad. My own college did not consider junior transfers for academic scholarships (awarded at the end of each academic year for cumulative college performance) because too many of their grades were from another institution and not directly comparable to ours.</p>
<p>Unless you are absolutely in love with the school (to the point that student loans will be worth it), transfer after this year. The people who transfer after two years usually start out at a cheaper school to get basic courses completed (like CC or their state school) and then transfer into a better school. Finding a school that offers you better aid doesn’t mean sacrificing a great pre-med education; there are many schools out there that can give you both money and great grad school ops.</p>
<p>That is going to be a lot of debt right out of school. I think it would be wise to try go elsewhere. I think 45k a year is way too much for an education. Especially with no/very little scholarships.</p>
<p>I think you really should be listening to your father. He is trying to tell you he can not afford to send you any longer. You made the decision based on poor information. No need to stay the course any longer. It may be the difference in you graduating. Many kids don’t finish because of money.</p>
<p>If I transfer this year, it means I won’t be able to transfer into Penn State. It also means I have to start right away. I will only go to a school thats academically superior to the one I’m at right now. I will not go down the ladder. And its such short notice to I only have a month to right essays, get everything together, etc. Since I will have a year of college hopefully my ACT will not be required.</p>
<p>That is very open minded and financially wise of you.</p>
<p>Is it easier any way to transfer after 2 years</p>
<p>As you have been told, there is no traditional time to transfer. It is insane for you, under these circumstances, not to transfer after this year. If I were your parents I would be pulling my hair out at this point.</p>
<p>Cornell and Fordham are both expensive schools. Under the circumstances, wont you need an instate school? Are you in state in NY or PA. If PA, what about Pitt?</p>