Transfer advice please

<p>I thought I could stick it out at my current school, but maybe not. I really need help coming up with some schools to look into potentially transferring to. My requirements for this school are pretty specific. In fact, my dream school may not even exist! Please advise if possible.</p>

<p>Here's the story:
I'm just about to start my second semester at a local state school. I only settled for it because it's local, cheap, and not picky about grades, but it's not a bad school; I'm not particularly happy socially, but I got a 3.9 GPA first semester, so that's not such a bad trade-off. I'm a Criminal Justice and International Relations double-major. I'm hoping to eventually do something for the government, such as becoming an FBI agent. I study Japanese and plan on studying Korean, but my school's language programs are not the strongest and we have only one Korean language class anyways. My plan is to become proficient by studying abroad one year in each country. I know it may not be feasible because I'm already a double-major, but that's what I'd like to do. </p>

<p>To shorten my requirements list...I need a Criminal Justice program, an International Relations program, a decent Japanese program, any Korean program at all, and a strong study abroad program. Additionally, money IS an object; it's just me and my mom and we are very poor. Luckily my school gave me all the financial aid I need so that I don't need to pay out of pocket, but that's one thing I'm concerned about transferring. I know that transfer students don't always receive much aid at all. Decent dorms would be good too, haha. </p>

<p>I've done a college matcher and came up with only one school in Canada, but I know that can't be it, right? I would love to transfer for this fall, but I guess it's probably too late for that...Plus my high school record isn't too great (2.8 GPA with a 31 ACT), so I'm not too sure how they'll take that. At this point, I'm just searching for some options. I would stay at my school, but the lack of Korean language study is pretty much turning me off to it. I live in Michigan, so I was thinking that maybe Michigan State would be a possible option, but I really don't know much about it.</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post and I would appreciate any advice please!</p>

<p>I am helping someone who claim they are at 100% sure they will transfer from their current school in Michigan to elsewhere. My advice to them, as to yourself is ofcourse before completing deciding wait for your freshmen year to complete. As for Michigan State University, it’s a great school and I think you may possibly be interested in their James Madison College program. You definately should look into the school, you may get same aid since you are in-state.</p>

<p>Criminal justice isn’t a very common major, especially at colleges that have a lot of institutional aid to give. You will have a lot more options if you just look for IR. After all, the FBI can’t “require” this major because so many schools don’t offer it. </p>

<p>I don’t imagine that many, if any, colleges will allow you to spend only 1 year out of 4 taking classes at their school. </p>

<p>Have you considered gaining language proficiency after college? (For instance, there is the JET program or the Korean equivalent where you could be fully immersed in the language when you are not teaching).</p>

<p>I’m just afraid of being trapped here for a year longer than I meant to be, especially since I’ve kind of got a schedule for my college years. Maybe I’ll go with MSU then…Is James Madison their honors college? Will they even accept me as a transfer with such low previous grades?</p>

<p>The FBI doesn’t require any major at all really, just specific experience and expertise. It’s way different than I thought it was. I had no idea Criminal Justice was even a rare major; I thought it was as common as like Poli Sci or Economics or something. </p>

<p>Are you saying that my school can stop me from transferring out? I understand if another college wouldn’t take me due to the circumstances, but I didn’t know that my university could prevent me from leaving. </p>

<p>The programs where you teach English? That’s not a bad option. I actually just kind of assumed that studying in college was going to be my best and safest bet. I’ll have to look into them…I am a little hesitant on using one though, because the cost of living in Japan is so extreme and I’m not sure that teaching English is enough to support living there OR Korea.</p>

<p>I don’t exactly think they can stop you from transferring out but most colleges have a requirement where you have to do at least half the credits towards your degree there.</p>

<p>The minimum credits in residence I’ve ever seen is equal to about 36 credits, or a year and a half of study.</p>