Transfer Advice

<p>I haven't started college yet, but I'm already sure I want to transfer.</p>

<p>I'll be attending Simmons College this fall and I want to transfer to either Smith or MHC for spring. I know it's recommended to stay the whole year, but I'm in a bit of a rush... </p>

<p>How high would my college GPA have to be, to be comfortable applying? How many extracurricular activities would be preferred?
Considering that they're looking at my HS GPA, extracurricular activities, and SAT, how much do they truly matter if I'm a transfer applicant?
How much would it matter if I join a couple of groups in college?
If both schools have a low percentage of latinas, how much would this help me considering I'm Puerto Rican?</p>

<p>I'm mostly transferring because the school is not very generous with their financial aid package; this is why I'd like to leave before I have to write them another check for spring. </p>

<p>Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks</p>

<p>My question for you is, why not defer admissions at Simmons for a year, take a gap year, and apply to a new list of schools this winter? If you don’t get in anywhere else, you would still have Simmons as a back-up. But if you were accepted with better aid somewhere else, you could just start there next fall.</p>

<p>ur a minority… if u get a 4.0 for the next 2 years, try Columbia</p>

<p>happymom-
I’ve already taken three semesters off college. The past colleges had a difficult time with my parent’s taxes, so I haven’t been able to start because of lack of financial aid. Simmons was the only college that had no problem with the format, hence why I chose it. Besides, my academics and SAT scores are not strong enough to waste that extra semester/year. They’re average at best. “Puerto Rican average” that is, so the only thing helping me from HS are my extracurricular activities, and work experience. </p>

<p>pr0616-
hahaha, you know, if I do get a 4.0 I will apply just for the hell of it.</p>

<p>MHC had a higher first year yield than they were expecting. Thus, midyear admission is probably going to be more competitive than usual (especially for your year). It also means that transfer applicants for Fall '09 were already scraping the bottom of the aid barrel. So yes, applying as a transfer will hurt here.</p>

<p>Colleges will only see your approximate midterm grades. It is entirely possible that one assignment, worth 20% of your grade, will determine the grade you show these colleges. This can help or hurt you, but midterm grades may not be enough to tip the admissions committee to your favor. </p>

<p>If you don’t get in (or your aid package(s) is/are unsatisfactory) what would you do? It’s something to think about.</p>

<p>^I’d finish both semester and try again, I suppose. </p>

<p>I highly doubt that the financial aid, compared to Simmons, will be worst at either college. I think I’m so overwhelmed with the amount because this is what I would’ve expected to pay while living in the dorms, and I’m not.</p>

<p>Is there nowhere else you can go to school that would be less expensive? If you have to live off campus/at home anyway, why not do two years at a community college and then transfer?</p>

<p>yea i was just gonna say what happymomof1 said,</p>

<p>seriously, if money is an issue, then go to a community college(a good one), and work for your grades, its not that hard if you put your mind to it…
i dont know what ‘puerto rican average’ means, but to me it sounds like youre being lazy… get ready to work hard, and do it the easy way at a CC and then you can transfer to a great school</p>

<p>^How did you come to the conclusion that I’m lazy for mentioning my SAT scores weren’t good compared to American students? I don’t see the connection. And this is not a rhetorical question. Please feel free to answer.</p>

<p>Puerto Rican students don’t get the same education as students from the USA. We have less resources because of lack of many things including money, hence the lower SAT scores. I’m not saying that compared to my other classmates I exceeded in the SAT; I’m saying they’re just average and this is why I don’t feel comfortable applying with them. </p>

<p>How is going to college, and trying to get better grades lazy? If I’m trying to transfer after one semester I obviously know I have to bust my ass in order to transfer fast. I’m doing exactly what you suggested except not at a CC.</p>

<p>happymom-
Bunker Hill and Roxbury Community College are the only ones I know nearby, and they don’t have the best reputation nor safest location. Also, I like Simmons; I like the classes, the fact that it’s all-women’s, and that it’s extremely close to my house and job. Why do I want to transfer then? I don’t think that anyone will understand my choice to transfer other than for the financial aspect of it.</p>

<p>Thanks for trying to help, everyone, but the only way out of Simmons is if I’m in Smith or Mt. Holyoke. I know it’s hard for anyone to understand why I’m taking this financial risk, but I am willing to make thousands of essays, and apply for thousands of scholarships to not end up in Roxbury CC or Bunker Hill CC.</p>