Transfer Advice!

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>I’m planning on transferring to a different university for my junior year (Fall 2012). I was wondering if any of you might know how much one’s high school credentials weighs in transfer admissions. </p>

<p>I was a straight-A student through my sophomore year in high school, but then got really sick and was in and out of the hospital for quite a while. I ended up taking the GED, so as not to fall behind my graduating class. I chose to attend a four-year state university near home because of my health, though the school was never my “dream school,” and the program I’m studying (International Studies) doesn’t offer a lot of options. I also don’t feel like I’m being challenged enough by my classes. </p>

<p>I’m now feeling significantly better and have a 3.93 GPA. I’m involved in the Honors College, am an RA, and serve on the Student Health Center Advisory Committee, amongst other things. I guess my question is: will having a GED rather than a high school diploma hinder my chances at getting into a more prestigious university? Also, how many universities would you guys recommend applying to? I don’t want to apply to too many because of application fees. But, I don’t want to just apply to one, in case I don’t get accepted.</p>

<p>Wow, sorry this was so longwinded! Thanks for reading. I appreciate any tips/advice that you may have!</p>

<p>Applying as a junior, high school won’t matter. My high school transcripts consisted of one semester of bad grades followed by a GED, I got in everywhere I applied with an identical GPA to yours.</p>

<p>Depending on where you want to go, you should have plenty of options with those grades and good ECs. Did you have any ideas on that yet?</p>

<p>I’m still trying to figure out which ones to apply to, but I’m thinking about applying to the following:</p>

<p>University of Texas
University of Michigan
American University
George Washington University
Rice University</p>

<p>I realize that many of them are really competitive in terms of transfer admission, so I’m looking into some safety schools as well. Do you think I have a chance?</p>

<p>American isn’t competitive in terms of transfer admissions from what I can recall. I bet you’d get into the honors program with a nice scholarship with such a high GPA.</p>

<p>In what state are you a resident? Is money a concern?</p>

<p>Just asking as you are likely to receive little FA if you’re OOS for either of the publics.</p>

<p>I’m from Texas, so I’d be paying in-state tuition at UT. Money is definitely a concern for me, as I have an older brother who is also in college and my dad has been in and out of work. Would private universities offer more scholarship opportunities?</p>

<p>There are not that many merit scholarship opportunities for transfers, see the Resources sticky thread for a link to a thread with some listed.</p>

<p>For need based FA, it depends on which private and how much, if any, they determine is your need. For publics, UVA and UNC-CH are the only two that treat OOS students the same as IS for FA.</p>

<p>I applied and was accepted to American and GW with similar grades to yours, AU invited me to the honors program. Neither school offered substantial aid though, so since money is a concern, don’t pin all your hopes on them.</p>

<p>Plain and simple, University of Texas. You should be guaranteed admission by the Texas law. I only know of this law, I’m a Connecticut resident who applied to U.T, and it sounds like you are eligible. I “HEARD” U.T. offers good financial aid but again I’m not sure.</p>

<p>Worst thing that could happen, you lose $75 on your application if you applied without talking to a financial aid rep at U.T.</p>

<p>Call them at the U.T. campus for info!</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>