Tranfer Students and Merit Aid/Scholarships?

Paying for College
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<p>I'm a recent high school graduate and it is likely (will know for sure by the end of this month) that I will be taking a gap year because I cannot afford the university I was admitted into. </p>

<p>I was recommended in another thread to reapply to schools - as an incoming freshman - that offer substantial merit aid. </p>

<p>After calling the admission offices of the colleges I'm considering, I explained that during a gap year I would want to take a few classes at a communiy college, NOT so that I might tranfer my credits over to a 4-year school, but simply so that I could occupy my time and maintain study habits (in addition to getting a part-time job).</p>

<p>They said that if I take courses at a community college, I will <em>necessarily</em> have to apply as a transfer student to the university (I cannot be a freshman applicant).</p>

<p>To the point: </p>

<p>(1) Do transfer students have as good of a chance at receiving merit aid/scholarships as freshman applicants do?</p>

<p>(2) What universities are known for giving out good merit aid?</p>

<p>( The ones I'm currently considering are:
- University of Wisconsin- Madison
- University of Florida
- Tulane University
- University of Rochester
- Brandeis University)</p>

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<p>Transfer students are NOT eligible for nearly the merit aid as incoming freshmen are, quite often they are completely ineligible. Tulane, for example, is very generous with merit aid for incoming freshmen, maybe more than any other school on your list, but to the best of my knowledge it is far more limited for transfer students. You would have to double check that, but I think it is correct. Their web site says they do have some, though.</p>

<p>It might be better to look into whether you can be accepted now and be offered the merit scholarships like any other incoming freshman, but then ask them to hold it for the next year. You probably already asked about that, but I thought some schools let people do that. Here is how President Cowen of Tulane answered a question in an on-line chat:</p>

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<p>If that last is not possible, I would not take courses during your gap year, but instead work (if you can), volunteer, climb Everest, whatever. It wouldn’t be worth what you would give up in potential merit money just to take a few courses. Then you could apply as an incoming freshman instead of a transfer student.</p>

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<p>Another Californian who thinks the grass is greener outside his state…</p>

<p>Fallenchemist is right. You will lose many potential scholarship $ if you are a transfer.</p>

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<p>In general, OOS publics will almost never be your best bet with a few Southern exceptions. UNC, where your other thread said you were headed, is one of 2 publics that meet need for all.</p>

<p>So I’m guessing you don’t qualify for need based aid in an amount that helps. I’m also guessing you have pretty good stats if you got into UNC OOS.</p>

<p>To really help, tell us your stats and what your family can pay.</p>

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<p>If you want to take classes, but not transfer credits, why don’t you see if you can just audit them? Or just use the open courseware freely available on the internet? I don’t believe there would be any issue with that and you would not lose your freshman status while occupying your time.</p>

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<p>@Redroses</p>

<p>GPA: 4.731
Rank in Class: 3 of 478
SAT: 1860 ( CritRd = 660, Math= 630, Write = 570 )
SAT II : ( US History = 680, Math II = 610, Molecular Biology = 640 )</p>

<p>Junior Year
AP Biology ( AP test score = 5)
AP US History ( AP test score = 4)
AP Eng Lang and Composition ( AP test score = 3 )
AP Caluclus AB & BC ( AP Calc BC test score = 4; AB subscore = 5)</p>

<p>Senior Year
AP Eng Lit and Composition ( AP score = 4)
AP US Govt/Pol ( AP score = 4)
AP Micro Economics ( AP score = 4)
AP Spanish Lang (AP score = 5)
AP Pyschology (AP score = 3)</p>

<p>I did not do an after-school sport. After school sports - especially if varsity - would have conflicted with the amount of time I had to put in towards AP.
So I run on my own account as a hobby (in the mornings). </p>

<p>Clubs:
Christian Club
Library Club
Mock Trial
Academic League </p>

<p>My family isn’t able to pay my EFC ($24, 238) or even part of it. I’m pretty much on my own with regards to how I will pay for college.</p>

<p>Which leads me to another question. If I take a gap year, does that significantly reduce the private scholarships I’m eligible for if I applied to them ( ex: the ones on Fastweb) ?</p>

<p>Because, a lot of times these scholarships have specific criteria ( ex: “you must be a high school senior” or " you must be enrolled as a full-time student" ).</p>

<p>@sk8rmom</p>

<p>I asked about the auditing option at the community college I had my eye on, but audit option only applied for certain music courses they offer ( which are not the courses I wanted to take).</p>

<p>The only other thing I can think of, is asking for a “hearing” option. Basically, I show up to class and hear the lecture, take notes, etc. But, I’m not an “official” student. But this is something that apparently I have to have the professor’s permission for.</p>

<p>The courses I wanted to take were:
Multivariable Calculus
General Chemistry
Philosophy ( Logic)
Intro to the New Testament</p>

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<p>You can take open courseware from MIT, Oxford, Notre Dame, and many other schools…I seem to remember that Gen Chem and Calculus are offered but you can certainly google and find them easily enough! The private schools near me also allow students to audit, though there is a higher fee than the CC’s it’s really not very expensive (around $200/class). Can you check and see what the enrollment status is like for these classes at your CC? If it is not a full class, I’d expect the prof would be willing to have you…but I think you’ll find that Gen Chem will likely be full as so many majors require it and others take it to fulfill their science requirement (and you would not get as much out of it without the lab component). If you can see the prof’s name and it’s not full yet, I would send them an email and briefly explain your situation and ask if they would consider approving your request to audit once classes start.</p>

<p>Btw, your SAT seems low in comparison to your gpa (not low in general, just a bit mismatched!). How many times did you take it and did you prep for it? Would you consider taking it again with more intense preparation? I think you would be an excellent candidate for some full tuition scholarships, and perhaps even more than that, if your test scores were higher.</p>

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<p>Do not take community college classes this year. That will negatively affect your merit scholarship opportunities.</p>

<p>Most colleges don’t care if you take college classes BEFORE you graduate from high school, but they do care if you take them after you graduate.</p>

<p>So…don’t take any classes this year. Spend your time working and/or volunteering.</p>

<p>**
Forget about private scholarships**…VERY unlikely that you could pay for college with them…most are small and only for one year.</p>

<p>You need to apply to schools that give merit scholarships. </p>

<p>What are your stats?</p>

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<p>I took it twice : the first time is when I recieved an 1860.
The second time around I received a 1730.</p>

<p>I didn’t have any official preparation for either one.
Money was an issue when considering taking SAT prep courses. And independent prep for SAT was difficult because in all truth, AP really did consume what would otherwise have been my “freetime”. Consequentely, I basically had to wing the SAT.</p>

<p>But yes, I DEFINITELY am considering taking it again if this gap year happens, and dedicatedly preparing for it. (Emphasis on preparing for the writing portion, where I need the most work on). I would aim to take it around late october/early november so as to receive my results by the time I reapply to colleges. I would be satisfied with a 2000 score or so. That’s my base goal.</p>

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<p>But the writing portion is not used by most schools for either admissions or for scholarships purposes! I would suggest focusing on the math portion first, since it’s probably easier to gain additional points there through prep, and then the CR section. If you are dedicated and use some supplemental materials, you can definitely self-prep…search for the tried and true “xiggi” method here on CC!</p>

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<p>It sounds like you are looking for SUBSTANTIAL merit aid…as in as close to a full free ride (including tuition, room/board/fees) as possible. There types of financial aid awards are NOT very plentiful and are usually reserved for highly competitive students applying. </p>

<p>You might want to do a search for the thread by momfromtexas who did find near full merit awards for her kids. The thread is a couple of years old now but might have some good ideas in it. One of her kiddos got a good award with somewhat lower stats than the other…so there is a range of information.</p>

<p>Re: your EFC…for need based aid, you will be expected to pay that regardless of where you attend school UNLESS you receive a merit scholarship that covers full costs.</p>

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<p>Taking the year off and betting on a big merit scholarship is very high risk.</p>

<p>Since you’re in CA, attend a CCC for two years and then transfer to a UC or CSU.</p>

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<p>^^^</p>

<p>Not really a big risk if the student can identify some schools that will give him big merit for his stats. Yes, a school may change its scholarships for the 2011 school year, but if the student has identified 2-4 merit schools with assured scholarships, then it’s unlikely all will change/disappear.</p>

<p>The student has a 1290 M+CR SAT. There are probably some schools that will give merit for stats. If it doesn’t happen, then the student can choose a CC.</p>

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<p>He is only taking a gap year because he cannot afford where he was admitted. I don’t know why he doesn’t want a CA state school, but we have to assume he has a good reason or, even if a bad reason, he is not going to apply to these. Therefore going to a CCC would nearly completely ruin his chances. Besides, taking a year off to do something worthwhile, like volunteer or help pay your own way through school certainly won’t hurt him. I think it could even be seen as commendable. One year isn’t going to make the colleges consider him to any lesser degree than those fresh out of school, and in fact could make good essay material and show character (“Why I took responsibility for my own college education” or something like that).</p>

<p>Once you take the state schools option off the table, I cannot see how he is increasing his risk at all. He may not be decreasing it either, but at least he will hopefully have earned some money and be in a better position to afford what he wants. You and I may not not think that going to a state school is “settling”, but he might. If he could get into Berkeley or UCLA it might be different, but with that SAT score I don’t know that he can. Anyway, like I said for whatever reason that isn’t what he wants.</p>

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<p>Yes, if the OP can do this fine, but all I’m seeing is their chasing after more long shots, I haven’t heard of any sure bets so far.</p>

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<p>At some point in time people must face reality.</p>

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<p>You don’t always get what you want.</p>

<p>For someone willing to learn from their mistakes and work hard, the CA state school route is a sure bet to whatever the OP wants to do in life.</p>

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<p>I don’t disagree, but I was answering what he asked. I think your advice is good though, and I hope he is willing to be flexible.</p>

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<p>The OOS state schools listed are not going to give merit aid to the OP with those stats (most will be reserved for in state students). The privates listed are also likely too competitive to give out any significant merit aid to the OP.</p>

<p>If OP wants major merit aid he will have to look at lower tier schools–which doesn’t seem to fit his first profile worth of colleges. And even if looking at lower tier schools, it doesn’t mean the merit will cover enough of the expenses… how good of a package is really needed?</p>

<p>I agree with the consensus that a local CCC (live at home, reduce costs) followed by an in-state transfer is likely the most affordable route with the upside of being able to end up at a great UC or one of the better CSUs.</p>

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<p>I agree, I looked at the OOS publics they listed, and the only way it seemed like the OP might possibly get any merit from them is through ROTC.</p>

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<p>This is why I made my comment about staying with the CA system. If they’re not interested in a UC, I don’t think they’re going to be happy with the privates that would be willing to give them a guaranteed full ride. </p>

<p>I’m concerned that the OP is chasing another low odds dream and spending time and perhaps cutting off opportunities to do so. They are lucky enough to have a solid college system in their state (despite recent problems) and I just think they should consider it as a viable option.</p>

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<p>*</p>

<p>SAT: 1860 ( CritRd = 660, Math= 630, Write = 570 )</p>

<p>To the point:</p>

<p>(1) Do transfer students have as good of a chance at receiving merit aid/scholarships as freshman applicants do?</p>

<p>(2) What universities are known for giving out good merit aid?</p>

<p>( The ones I’m currently considering are:

  • University of Wisconsin- Madison
  • University of Florida
  • Tulane University
  • University of Rochester
  • Brandeis University) *</p>

<p>I don’t think any of those schools will give you merit for your stats. UF doesn’t give much/any merit and if they do, your stats would have to be higher. I think the same goes for UW-Madison.</p>

<p>And, I don’t think any would give anything of significance to a transfer student anyway. Only a tiny number of schools give “good” merit scholarships to transfers, but they still will not pay for a large part of the cost.</p>

<p>You need a better strategy and you have to accept the fact that your stats aren’t high enough for merit at top schools.</p>

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<p>OP, I’m a transfer student who applied to Tulane. They did offer me some merit aid, I think, but I would still have been taking out $22k in loans each year. (Sidenote: I am an independent student, which may have affect my COA as compared with a dependent student. I don’t know.) My GPA was about 3.6 and I had completed an AA degree and an AAS degree.</p>

<p>I will give you some general advice: if at any point you are eligible for Phi Theta Kappa, the community college fraternity/honor society, JOIN JOIN JOIN. You will draw the attention of many schools, who will come courting–this is how Tulane came to my attention to begin with–and many schools offer scholarships specifically for PTK students. The size of these scholarships vary from school to school. St. John’s University in NYC offered me one of about $10k, I believe. (It would only have cost $12k in loans per year to attend St. John’s U, but in the end I opted for my even cheaper state flagship school.)</p>

<p>I applied to a few OOS public schools and was offered absolutely nothing except loans and federal grants (the Pell grant, etc.)</p>