<p>Hello, Transfer Forum.</p>
<p>Okay. I have added this forum to my main browser shortcuts, and I have a feeling that I will be spending a lot of time here over the next year. So I should introduce myself, I guess. This is my background- it is a weird one:</p>
<p>Between four and two years ago, I completed a two year baking program at my community college. I enjoyed it, and did very well (one B- the first year, the rest of the two years were all A and B grades). During the course of the baking program, I came to be very interested in bakery and food science, because I was teaching myself food science to figure out how to bake vegan things (I am vegan... I should mention that...) And so I decided to pursue a BS degree in Food Science. </p>
<p>So for the past two years, I have been taking science classes at the same community college. I have a year of each of Gen Chem, O-chem, and Calculus based physics. I have completed two thirds of a year of Biology, Finished Math classes up to Calc II, and also took Composition, Technical writing, public speaking, nutrition, and.... perhaps some other random things.</p>
<p>My Physics and Chemistry grades have been A's (with the exception of an A- in one gen chem lab class, and a strangely out of place B the first quarter of O-chem). I also scored in the 99th and 97th percentile of the standardized gen chem and O-chem assessments. </p>
<p>Math and Biology grades are not QUITE as nice- A's and B's.</p>
<p>I have approximately... 200 credits? And I will have at least 220 by the time I probably will transfer (I still need to take foreign language to be accepted to OSU, which is my "safety school" of sorts, because I only took 1 year of language in HS, and OSU requires it., plus I still need to take 1 more quarter of biology and perhaps another composition class) But the 200 credits is mostly due to baking school. My "Academic" credits total at about 100. And in all of those 200 credits, there are NO C's. My total cumulative GPA is 3.56, and my "academic" cumulative GPA is 3.6 something. </p>
<p>But the plot thickens: Right now, I am 23 and have parents who refuse to fill out the financial aid request forms. (I don't understand it either...) But by the time I will be transferring, I will be 24, and (I think...) able to apply for aid sans parents. I make next to no money, so I think (think?) that that means I shouldn't really worry about how much a school costs? (if anyone can tell me what to expect here...)</p>
<p>So the plan right now is to move to Oregon, take 5 credits or less for one year (biology and foreign language) to become an Oregon resident, and then apply to OSU for Fall '09. </p>
<p>BUT... I really hate this "college search" thing, and since I plan on grad school, I would love to find an undergraduate institution which is conducting research which I am interested in (food chemistry, specifically food protein biochemistry and food colloid chemistry), so that I would be in a good position to stay at the same school for graduate studies, and also so that I might have the opportunity to participate in research as an undergraduate. Recently, I kind of realized that none of the research OSU was conducting was all that interesting to me. So I am kind of lost and bewildered about where I should try to transfer.</p>
<p>I am considering taking fall quarter off from classes, buying a 30 day Amtrak pass, and going on a big trip to visit campuses. I feel like my choice of school is super important, and I think I could justify the cost of the month of travel if it did help me make a school decision I wouldn't regret. </p>
<p>Schools which I have my eye on are:
OSU - I like the school and the town and the department- but there is no research that I am really into being done there, so I would have to find someplace else for grad. school.
UMass- This school doesn't look like it has a stellar academic reputation all in all, but the food science department impresses me, and they are researching things I like.
Cornell- Is my GPA good enough or my story unique enough? I would LOVE to live in Ithaca, and I would enjoy being surrounded by other super serious students.
UBC- Canada... but their program seems interesting, and vancouver is a nice city.
McGill- Canada again... and I do think I would enjoy living in Montreal. But could I afford not going to school in the US? No financial aid!
Iowa State- I do not want to live in Iowa, but they are doing soybean research.
WSU (My in-state school, located in Pullman, which I loathe, but recently I found out that they are, in fact, conducting legume protein research, which is what I'm interested in. = conundrum)
UC Davis- No research in particular that is interesting here, but the school is respected, close to family, and Davis seems pleasant enough.</p>
<p>So, Transfer Forum, I ask of you these questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>If I will be transferring in fall of '09, what should I be doing RIGHT NOW? Then, after right now, what should I do, and when should I do it? I am planning on contacting schools to arrange fall visits soon, and then I plan on visiting schools this fall, but besides that- what should I be doing?</li>
</ul>
<p>*Where do I stand as far as acceptability to the more "reach" schools goes? (Cornell?, McGill? Are these possibilities for me? )</p>
<p>*Of the schools I listed, would any of them limit my options for graduate school? Should I really put so much emphasis on the research conducted at an undergrad. institution, or is a BS degree a BS degree?</p>
<p>*I don't know much about school reputations- There are plenty of schools on this list: IFT</a> - Approved Undergraduate Programs , that I know absolutely nothing about- are there any really nice schools on that list which I might be overlooking because I have never heard of them?</p>
<p>*If I take a year off from being a full time student to become an Oregon resident, will it hurt my admissions chances or prevent me from being eligible for merit based scholarships?</p>
<p>Okay! That is all of my questions for now! Sorry to have typed a novel with this post, but I am so so so so lost in this transfer process.</p>
<p>Love,
Unununium.</p>