<p><small>I was a bit off applying for schools this year and got wait listed at all my tops ones (ranging from Occidental-Lewis and Clark in terms of selectivity) and was only eventually accepted into one, Mount Holyoke. However I had to decline admission because of finances. I'm now looking at slashing the cost by transferring in from a Colorado State University. Any advice? </small></p><small>
<p>I believe a lot of the reason I was wait listed was because the colleges i applied to are only need blind for the upper 96%...which I am not in.
Would it be better to focus on saving my money or making sure i pull off a 4.0 and have great EC's.
I'd like to take a little time off, (only go 12 credits a semester) and just work but I don't know if it would be better to save the money so they can see I'm not so destitute or invest in a much needed car.</p>
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<p>I have no idea what you mean by "need blind for the upper 96%."</p>
<p>Why is there a trade-off between saving money and pulling off a good GPA and engaging in EC's?</p>
<p>I don't think going 12 credits a semester is a good plan if you are wanting to transfer to a selective school... Is 12 credits even a full-time student status? If not, how will that affect such things as being on your parents' health insurance policy? </p>
<p>Are you saying that you will require substantial need-based aid if you transfer? You will have to look carefully at each transfer school's aid policy, as often they are not as generous with transfer as with freshmen.</p>
<p>Finally, not sure why you need a car as a college student. Will you be commuting from home?</p>
<p>"I'd like to take a little time off, (only go 12 credits a semester) and just work"</p>
<p>This looks like an excellent plan to me. Time off can be a really good thing while you figure out what to do with your life. You can take a light load of basic gen. ed. courses and get them out of the way while you are thinking things through. </p>
<p>12 credits is usually the minimum load that still qualifies as full-time status. If you are still under your parents' health and automobile insurance policies, you might not be able to go any lower than that and keep your insurance. Be sure to check this out before you register for classes.</p>