<p>I'm currently a sophomore from NY (Poughkeepsie area) attending the University of Vermont. Being an out-of-state student, the cost to attend here rivals that of private universities. I could barely scrape together the funds to come back this year, and I am considering transferring schools. </p>
<p>The problem is that I really love my major/program (clinical laboratory science) and there aren't a lot of schools that offer the major (that are <em>certified</em> anyhow...). A SUNY or CUNY school would be significantly less expensive, and I figured I could save even more by commuting from home and going to CUNY Hunter. It is roughly $30,000 less per year, but the college of nursing and health sciences here has a really good reputation, at least in Vermont. It is my aim to work in New York when I graduate.</p>
<p>So, my question is, should I remain at UVM or transfer to CUNY Hunter? Does reputation really make that much of a difference?
Are there other schools I may be over-looking? Any advice greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>(Not sure whether or not I will be attending grad school)</p>
<p>correction- there are few state schools worth OOS price…unless your from new york, then you should run for your life out of the SUNY system or they will hutn you down and find you and swallow your creer like theyve done so many others.</p>
<p>but yeah you should probably transfer, hunter will do better at finding you a job in NY</p>
<p>I would definitely transfer. I don’t think going to UVT will necessarily get you the job you want in NY. Plus, transferring to a place like Hunter might help you make contacts or an internship. Also, look at Stony Brook–although it will cost more due to living expenses, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! Buffalo is a bit far for me, and when I applied to Geneseo I didn’t get a lot of financial aid, so I’m hoping to commute from home to save money.
Thanks again!</p>
<p>I’m confused. Did you complete a FAFSA? While some schools give better aid than others, many are very similar in what they offer. </p>
<p>Did you go to UV and tell them your situation? Are you eligible for any upper classmen scholarships? Can they bolster your aid? If you tell them you will have to leave, they may help you. </p>
<p>Many people will tell you to jump, but they arent weighing the happiness factor in, it seems to me. If you are happy at UV in all respects except the money, consider that before you make any decisions.</p>
<p>At some point and at some level, kids have to put their own equity in their education. Too many people arent willing to do that. On the other hand, taking on excessive student loans isnt a good idea either. Its a balance. </p>
<p>What is your gpa at UV? </p>
<p>I dont know anything about Hunter College, sufficient to give you any advice on that. But if money is a serious issue and UV wont budge on their offer even after you inform them of your predicament, then maybe looking somewhere else to see what they offer you isnt a bad idea. If you apply to transfer, doesnt mean you have to take it. I know someone who was going to transfer to Syracuse and got in, but then at the last minute changed their mind…and is very happy now. </p>
<p>Yes, its about finding a job at the end of the rainbow but its also more than that. Take a holistic approach to the problem. Reasonable student loans are not a bad thing…in fact, I think they make you appreciate your education a lot more and help you become more independent. </p>
<p>The prestige types on this board will tell you UV is not worth the money. My response is that it depends on the person and what they are getting out of their experience and how happy they are there now. If you were unhappy, my response would be very different.</p>
<p>If you are so worried about finances that you are thinking of living at home and commuting to Hunter then you have absolutely no business going to Vermont. Especially since Vermont can’t get you anything you want in NY any better than Hunter can.</p>
<p>And, no, you definitely don’t want to commute to Stony Brook from Poughkeepsie. You’ll be spending 6-8 hours a day on the commute.</p>
<p>Living at home and commuting to school isn’t much of a college experience, IMHO. Emerging with crushing debt isn’t good either. Could you afford to live in a dorm or share a student apartment at Stony Brook?</p>
<p>Definitely approach the financial aid office at U VT and see if they can help you. Explore all of your options before you make a move, but in the mean time make sure that you keep your grades up so that you have options.</p>
<p>Yes, I did complete the FAFSA. When I applied to 2 SUNY schools my senior year (Geneseo and Potsdam) I was accepted to both but neither gave very much in grant aid, so my assumption would be that Stony Brook would be similar. I tried reasoning with financial aid office here last year and they weren’t willing to do very much (in fact, the package for this year was worse then the one I received freshman year!)</p>
<p>My GPA is currently a 3.83. I did fairly well in HS, decent SAT and good AP scores (55544). </p>
<p>I like Vermont and all, but I have absolutely no desire to live here if I finish school here. Never really intended to end up here…but it was the best option at the time.</p>