<p>I am currently an incoming sophomore (2nd year) at UMD. I have a 3.8 GPA and I expect to finish this sophomore year with around a 3.7, but hopefully a little better. I guess I have pretty good extracurriculars in addition to working during the semester (held job this year to pay for fraternity dues as well as some tuition). </p>
<p>I have enough credits from AP's (30) to graduate a year early with a degree in Economics. That said, I have also been interested in possibly transferring to a UC (San Diego, Berkeley or Los Angeles) to be able to spend some time to my ailing grandparents. I am interested in attending law school, so money is also a big factor (I am a Maryland resident). </p>
<p>I am not saying that I am qualified to transfer to any of those schools. Nor am I saying that my major and current grades will get me into a law school. I am interested in your opinions on whether I should stick it out at Maryland and do my best, or invest a bit of money and work in order to pay an OOS tuition for a UC, albeit with law school tuition waiting in the distance (hopefully).</p>
<p>“I have enough credits to graduate a year early” …first off, are you sure? Number of credits doesn’t necessarily equate to completing grad requirements for your major. My son was technically a junior by credits in his second year, but still considered himself a sophomore because of the classes required for his major still needed time to complete. </p>
<p>If that is indeed the case that you can graduate a year early, why would you not stick out just one more year? Why go through the hassle of transfer when you can’t even be sure the credits that the other school would accept as many AP credits toward your grad reqs as Maryland does. It’s not clear from your wording so I am assuming but not sure you just finished your second year (the “incoming sophomore” is confusing - people say junior after finishing sophomore year or will straight out say first, second or third year ). FYI, check your account…final grades have been out for several weeks so I’m not sure why you “expect” to finish with 3.7 - not that it matters with respect to your question.</p>
<p>Personally, I think there has to be a compelling reason to transfer (unhappiness, money, wanting to get into #1 choice school) — wanting to spend time with ailing grandparents is def a good reason to fit that bill. The question is if you can honestly say you would spend that time with them because you are talking about three very different campuses in three very different parts of the state and I seriously doubt that your grandparents simultaneously live close to all three…I live within 15 min of a big university and yet wjem my friends’ kids that attend are “at school” they really don’t come home despite proximity because they are living in a diff world altogether and have a lot going on - occasional weekends, maybe, but nothing significant. If you want to spend quality time with them, why not go out for the summer?</p>
<p>Finally, the money is def a big factor. Not only would you be paying OOS tuition, don’t forget about transportation to/from school will add a lot to your expenses since the going rate from coast to coast airfare is around $600-$800 at the moment.</p>