<p>I go to the University of Virginia and I am very happy here. However, as an out of state student I am paying a large amount in loans, and I will certainly have a large debt when I graduate. Although I'm wouldn't be too happy to leave, I have though about transferring to a California school (in state for me) such as SLO. I plan on majoring in aerospace engineering and SLO has a great program. Do you think I should stay and deal with the debt or transfer?</p>
<p>Transfer since you’ll save money & get into your preferred major.
As an aside, USNews lists the top 5 aerospace engineering programs as:
MIT, Georgia Tech, Michigan, CalTech & Purdue. CalPoly, too !</p>
<p>Are you a frosh?</p>
<p>How much are you borrowing each year?</p>
<p>Many of the Calif publics do NOT take soph transfers.</p>
<p>If you are a frosh, you should leave UVA after this semester, go to a Calif CC next semester AND next year, and apply to transfer as a TAG student.</p>
<p>This is something you’ll rarely see me write/say (i.e. leave UVa), however the concept is sound and I really believe is the best option here. UVa is an outstanding school with great academics and student experience but if your parents are taking on more then the small loans they would co-sign for you each year, and you have great schools available to you instate that are viable options you really need to look into transferring. As much as I love our schools here in Virginia, they wouldn’t have been options to my son at an OOS sticker price. He would have had to look for schools in our home state as well as merit options. It’s not a matter of what it’s ‘worth’, it’s a matter of taking on debt when you have very good instate options, specifically in your major.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>If your loans are more than the federal loans $5,500 freshman, $6,500 sophomore, $7,500 junior, $7,500 senior) then you probably are taking on too much debt. In that case you’ve beef given good advice about transferring back to a CCC for second semester.</p>
<p>Cal Poly-SLO is notorious for 5 year and 6 year students. This is partly because they have many scheduling issues where you can’t get the classes you need, when you need them. If you are planning to transfer to save a few thousand dollars and the transfer sets you back a year or two you will be out the lost wages as well as the additional housing costs. In addition, would you be happy? If you are not happy and feel like you are settling at your new school, you may not perform as well. I know a lot of students that have transfered and then have a complex about the transfer. How will you like going to interviews and saying you graduated from XYZ California University when you were a student at UVA but don’t get to get the credit for it?</p>
<p>These are real realities that many people face and people who just look at the figures do not factor.</p>
<p>In addition, UVA has a TON of connections to the Washington, DC area and DOD contractors. As a result, the chances of getting hired can be greater than some other schools. Though, admittedly, the best schools are all about the same.</p>
<p>If you are happy at the school and feel like you are getting a great education while remaining motivated, I would be reluctant to upset that balance to save a few dollars today. You can always reduce your spending by deciding not to go to the bars, not to get your own place, or making money.</p>
<p>It is your decision, and it is important to know what you want and what you are willing to do to get it. The answer isn’t the same for everyone. There are people out there over $100k in debt and they wouldn’t change it if they could and there are people $20k in debt and they don’t think their education was worth that burden. </p>
<p>Your call.</p>