Transfer Ideas

Transfer Students
1

Hi everyone,

I’m a to-be Computer Science (B.S.) sophomore this year at University of Arkansas. I have a 4.0 so far, and I’m looking to transfer for a bunch of reasons: the frat / party culture, “vibe”, distance from where I’ll end up working (NE/SW US), etc. I don’t feel satisfied here.

I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to maintain a 4.0 this next year, so I’m quite confident I’ll be able to be accepted to most colleges. I actually tried to apply for transfer for this upcoming year but while I was accepted, I got very poor financial aid. This was partly expected but I was hoping for a bit more than… absolutely nothing.

My family has fairly high net income (>$150k) and this makes it difficult because we’re far from the level of wealth that seems to be inferred. Does anyone have some recommendations for places with great Computer Science programs that are likely to give me a ton of aid just for having good grades? I’m focusing on places in California, Pennsylvania, and Maryland (really NE/SW in general; I feel a certain longing to be in either place), but that’s kind of just a starting point based on where I think I would be happiest from friends and family locations, making connections, climate, etc.

The biggest issue in my search has been… indifference, I guess? I don’t really have a college I dream to go to, or things like that that seem to motivate others in their search, but I still want to make the “rational decision” in terms of my future.

I’m definitely going to give Cal Poly and UMD shots but I would really appreciate any other suggestions (or arguments against those two), as well as some idea of how much of a cost I should be willing to take on given that it’d be just for two years. Right now I’m estimating that attending here will be a cost of about $7k/year. I’m looking at accepting paying 25k/year at a more fitting place because I genuinely believe that it would be worth it, but I’m not that confident in that.

Some people have advised me to stay and save money, but I feel like I’m missing out here. I hate being in a “party school” and I’m going to have to move across the country to get the type of job I want, anyway, so why not do it now and actually get something more than grades out of college?

Any ideas?

2

Cal Poly will not give you any financial aid if you are not CA resident. You should expect to pay full fees at $40K/year to attend.

Although the Net Price Calculators are usually not accurate for transfers, you could run them just to give you an idea of possible costs.

You might want to try Santa Clara University.

3

In general you will have the best chance at any financial aid at a private university. You can look into the AITU (http://theaitu.org) schools as some of them, will offer transfer aid and they all are good in CS. Remember, however, that your university location does not mean that you are destined to work in that region. Students from my university, Illinois Tech, end up finding jobs all over the country, not just in the Midwest.

4

Thanks for the responses. That is sad with Cal Poly… I thought I’d read some anecdote to the contrary but I may be wrong. I may try Santa Clara but I am not religious so it’d be a bit awkward :P.