As far as the programs I’m interested go-- finance/Econ. Long term goals are probably in high finance, yes I know my best bet would be to transfer to a Midwest/East Coast school but my roots are in California. I’m also open to hearing opinions regarding high finance in relation to these schools if you are knowledgeable. Thanks ahead of time.
Basic Rundown:
Current School: UofA
College GPA: 3.89
Term application: Incoming Junior for the fall semester
Race: Caucasian
Family Income: Under 100k
ACT: 28 (didn’t bother retaking it)
Extracurricular:
(1): Residential Realtor for a large brokerage locally
(2): Intern at Mutual of Omaha – Wealth Management (8 weeks)
(3): Intern at TCI Wealth Advisors (10 weeks)
(4): Extern Finance-group founder, organize and plan trips to local firms with fellow students. Went to Vanguard and Edward Jones.
(5): A bunch of random jobs (server, valet, ect) I’ve worked over a 3 year period.
(6): Misc. Volunteer work
(7): Investments Club & Financial Management Association member
(8): Founded a business, an Amazon FBA private labeling venture.
This sums up anything relevant to my career interest (kinda)… I have a few other things that were more relevant when I was in HS as far as leadership goes… don’t really think it would help from a college transfer perspective.
I know Stanford is sub 2% so I don’t expect a yes or no, more so just for UCB and UCLA.
I say finish at U of A with the best GPA and summer internships possible. Work for 2-3 years and apply to MBA school at Ucla, Haas or Stanford. If high Finance is your professional goal, they require an MBA or CFA. Undergraduate degree won’t be enough.
@booboojr I’ve thought about staying at the UofA, but the # of students my school sends out into those fields is pretty depressing, as well as the starting base salaries locally in Tucson. I think transferring would be an overall better decision in terms of the degree versus the cost of attendance.
@boolaHI I am not a resident, I am currently going to school in Arizona. I realize that it is more competitive for out of state transfers, but I’m keeping my spirits high. I was born in California and have family living all over California if that helps in any way lol.
If you are under 24 years of age, and, unless your parents are currently living in California and paying taxes, the California residency requirement is not there. Being born in California makes no difference; as a resident of Arizona, you are paying taxes in Arizona.
1). How will you fund $55K per year for the UC’s?
2). Admission is prioritized
Priority for transfer admissions goes to the CCC students,
Then instate colleges,
Then, if you’ve met the course requirements, and if there is space available, the OOS colleges.
The UC’s are impacted for business majors.
3). For transfers, only college work is reviewed. What you did in high school for tests and activities doesn’t matter unless the activity has continued into the college environment.
Sorry but the California schools appear to be unaffordable. Most OOS students may get, at the most, $2k per year, if there are any grants available. California has very limited to no financial aid for OOS residents. Grants and scholarships are reserved for instate residents, through the Cal Grant, Blue/gold, MCS funds from Sacramento.
OOS residents pay full fees. As a junior transfer, you can only borrow $7500 on your own (that’s $3750 per semester). Your parents would have to take out $102k, if they qualify, for your educational costs.
@“aunt bea” Thanks for your honest, straight forward answer. I needed to hear that. Northwestern is on my radar too, should I cross that off the list and just wait till I graduate and work to reapply for a top tier school (for my MBA)? I only ask because I heard they are more generous to those in need.
What are my options financially for grad school if I apply to a UC school, any different?
You’re in Finance. Your choices are: either to finish the degree, or transfer to a more receptive business-environment based school.
If you stay and graduate, put out your resume to California businesses. Have your business sponsor your MBA at a California school, but look at their online profile and see if they sponsor that. (For a while there, my husband’s company was paying for USC for their junior execs.)
Transfer to an affordable school with strong Finance placements. Transfer students don’t receive good options for financial aid at most colleges. They tend to save their monies for Freshman recruits.
If you are still considering California, you could look at the private schools in California like Santa Clara, USD, Chapman, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, and see what their financial aid packages are like. You have a very strong GPA, take advantage of that, and make some email inquiries through some of the privates’ financial aid offices.
It doesn’t matter where you get your undergrad, as long as the employers are willing and hiring.
