I’m a freshman heterosexual white male currently in the honors program at a mid-size top 40 US News University, I’m double majoring in mathematics and physics on a half ride merit scholarship, and I’m attending with a Federal Pell grant (If that gives you an indication of my family’s financial situation).
I’m looking to transfer to Amherst, Bates, or Bowdoin in the fall of 2017 and was primarily wondering what kind of financial aid I can expect to receive if I’m accepted to any of those three schools. I know that transfer financial aid can be quite competitive, and as my aid package is a determining factor of my ability to attend, I’m concerned!
If you’ve read this far in, thanks for sticking around! If you’re willing to chance me, my info is below.
Numbers That Define Me:
UW HS GPA: 3.9, Weighted: 4.5 (Took Calc 3 and got an A senior year at a state university close to my high school, credits transferred to my current institution)
College GPA: 4.0 (Courses taken include Honors Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, Honors Gen. Phys II, 200 level Spanish, Music 101, English 101, Intro to Microeconomics, 300 level Buddhism)
ACT Composite: 34 (35 English, 34 Math, 33 Reading, 35 Science)
AP’s: Calc BC (5), Chem (4), Phys C Mechanics (4), US History (4)
EC’s and Other Info:
Co-director of local ACEing Autism Chapter at current institution
Volunteer for local Engineers Without Borders at current institution
Have a website that showcases donated digital design work
National Honor Society member in HS
Science and Engineering Honor Society, Society of Physics Students, Mathematics Club at current institution
Club tennis and ping pong at current institution, varsity tennis and baseball in HS, team captain of tennis senior year
Interned as a software dev & or graphic designer at prestigious startups every summer of high school and will be working for Amazon AWS this summer in data analysis
One incredible rec (Prof. told me I was top 5% of students he had ever taught and the best of my current school), one good rec
Solid essays that show my personality and why my needs to transfer align with what the previously listed schools offer. Sprinkled in mentions of my EC’s
I know that chances for any elite schools come with a large dollop of uncertainty, but I’d love to hear what you guys think!
You’re clearly a very well qualified applicant in virtually every regard so I would say you have a straight shot into Bates and a very decent chance at Amherst.
Now, about Bowdoin. Not only are they need-aware for transfer students, but their acceptance rate for transfer students is abysmally low. It is a top-notch LAC, but its acceptance rate is far lower than the next best one. Most likely this is due to their high retention rate.
Your financial need + Bowdoin’s extremely low transfer acceptance rate + Bowdoin’s need-aware policy for transfer students = I wouldn’t apply there.
If there is something unique that can only be offered at Bowdoin, go for it, but if I could give you advice, apply to some other top LAC’s like Swarthmore, Hamilton, Colgate, and hell, even Dartmouth(not an LAC, but it definitely has that vibe). I’d mention other top LACs but it seems your region of interest is New England/northeast. I think you’d fair very well when being considered for those colleges.
Expand your horizons, you’re going to great places. Good luck
I didn’t answer one of the questions you posed in the beginning of your post. It goes without saying that if you do get into any of those schools, along with the ones I’ve listed, your full financial need will be met. Some of them, like Dartmouth, Swarthmore, and Amherst[?] do so without any loan component, which is simply amazing.
Awesome, thank you so much for the responses! I qualified for a free application to Bowdoin, so I figured that I might as well submit and see what comes of it. I appreciate that information though, I won’t be so heartbroken if I don’t get in! With deadlines being in less than a week, it’s a little late in the game to add schools, but I’ll look into it more and see what I can do. Thanks again!
Swarthmore’s application deadline is April 1st- I’d encourage you to apply there as it’s part of the top three LACs in the country. (Williams-Amherst-Swarthmore). Good luck!
Look into any college that promises to meet the full demonstrated need of all accepted students, particularly those that fit your preferences as indicated by your current range of NESCAC choices. Hamilton, mentioned by @AGoodFloridian, would be particularly strong for math. Haverford could be another option for you.
I was perusing the interwebs today and found myself on this forum again – I figured I owed it to everyone who will see this post in the future to give an update on what happened with me. I ended up being waitlisted (eventually denied) at Bowdoin, Bates, and Rice and outright denied by Amherst. I’m fairly confident that this result was at least partially due to my strong financial need (transfer admissions are usually need-aware), and have decided to attend my in-state institution for the remainder of undergrad in an effort to save money. Frankly, I was quite astounded to have even been placed on the waitlists at these schools, and I can rest easy knowing that a fellow Bowdoin waitlister that I got in touch with was admitted to Duke – not bad for intellectual company!
Best of luck to you and thanks for reporting back!
(Amherst’s transfer acceptance rate was 7% this year…and far less once they take out military vets and community college transfers, both of which they favor…you’re in very good company).
@BAlphaAlpha Thank you for sharing that, as frustrating as it may have been. I applied to a sizeable list of colleges, most of them need aware, and was promptly rejected at almost all of them (except for two waitlists.) Similarly to you, I predict it was a combination of substantial financial need and lack of sufficient college credits. My next and final round with undergraduate admissions will be the Fall of 2018!
Choosing your instate option was a financially sound and wise move! Make the most of it
When looking at forum posts, there’s always reporting bias, which sometimes denies us the possibility of hearing unsuccessful transfer stories. Fortunately, the silver lining in your story is that you’ll be able to help prospective transfer students make informed decisions come Fall 2018 cycle (and beyond).
That being said, if you’re (hopefully) still performing amazing in college, I see exceptional grad schools in your future.
Hi,
I’ve been reading a lot of threads of unsuccessful transfer stories to the LACs that I would like to apply to. I am really unhappy at the university I am currently attending & I would like to transfer to a top liberal arts college. Additionally, I am an African-American female at a large private university. Can anyone give me advice on schools that I should be looking at and may even have a chance at being accepted into?
High School Stats:
Unweighted Gpa: 3.7 , Weighted: 4.0
Took AP PSYCH (5) APUSH, AP Government & Politics , AP Lang & Comp, AP Lit & AP Euro between 10th grade and senior year. I received a 3 on all of these except for Psych which is what I am choosing to major in.
SAT & ACT scores were mediocre (They wouldn’t help nor hurt me)
EC’s :
National Honor society
History honor society
English honor society
Business honor society (secretary)
Spanish honor society (president)
Volunteered at Senior center, environmental club, children’s center & worked as a peer advocate for troubled teenagers
Also worked two jobs
Pretty good letters of rec & I think that my essays were informative and creative
I am currently in my first semester of college
All of my grades have been A’s & I plan on maintaining a 4.0 between this semester and next semester
I am still working & I am looking for volunteer opportunities
Is there anything that I should improve on or focus on?
I am nervous about my chances bec of my financial aid status
@BAlphaAlpha
I was wondering if you interviewed at Bates, Bowdoin, or Amherst or if you went on any campus visits to some of the LACs that you applied to?
