Hi! I currently go to a large public school in the Midwest, and definitely don’t want to stay - it’s too big by far. I’m looking to transfer at semester if possible. My first choice is Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was admitted senior year but decided to go to my school to save money and definitely regret that choice.
What I like about Butler:
Size
Proximity to big city, but normal campus
Greek Life
Liberal arts curriculum
Overall feel and community
Ideally, I’d go there, but I want to apply to at least two other schools. Does anyone have any recommendations?
ACT: 33, National Merit Finalist
Caucasian female
Freshman
3.85 uw/3.96 weighted
Thank you!!
Bradley University (in Peoria, IL)? Drake University (in Des Moines, IA)?
The question is what can your family afford? You’ve probably missed the boat for merit aid now that you are a semester in.
My parents have let me know that we can budget anything 36,000 or under, in fairness to my sister. When I applied to Butler last year, it would have cost me 32,000 (but with a different major).
Is that $36000 total or just for tuition? Butler’s tuition this year was ~$34000
Understand that financial aid is very different for freshmen and for transfers, so that it’s very unlikely you’ll get the same financial aid package as last year.
It’s good to remember that sometimes, the cheapest option is not the best value.
Illinois Wesleyan, Drake; perhaps UDayton, UEvanston, Loyola Chicago?
What is the total cost at this “large” public school in the Midwest? What would be the incremental cost to attend Bulter vs your current institution? What is the name of the university? Is it the large class size of some of the courses that you dislike? Large public schools do have their advantages and once you start your 2nd year classes (or start your major/school’s program), the big school becomes smaller, as you start interacting with a smaller group of students.
BTW, what would be your major at Bulter?
I go to a school with 25k undergrads. Because I was an NMF, I only pay for housing, meals, and books, so it runs about $12,000/year. I do not like the social scene here and I particularly do not like the prevalence of TA-taught courses. I don’t care much for the city, either. My major would be International Relations.
For IR, the best schools may be Tufts, Georgetown, GWU, American, JHU, plus Ivies like Princeton etc.
I don’t know whether you can get a full tuition scholarship at any of these as a transfer. What’s your EFC and what’s your parents’ budget (if it’s not the EFC)?
My parents are willing to put down $34,000 a year.
Okay, that’s very generous of them and opens a lot of possibilities for you.
Actually that opens up all the Cal State Universities, if you were interested in California - from San Diego State
to Sonoma State with Cal Poly SLO in play! Not sure if they admit for the Spring, but applications are open now so check them out if you’re interested.
Have you checked out the colleges listed so far? If so, which ones do you like or dislike?
Would you be willing to travel a bit?
Anything in the Midwest or the East is good for me!
So, I guess, not California…
Not sure how to advise you. You’d need a 3/4 tuition scholarship at any private university, and those are harder to get into as a transfer than as a freshman.
You can try Goucher and Hobart&William Smith, plus American. All three are good for IR and a bit more lenient for admissions. Occidental would be harder to get into but easier than the others, and its semester at the UN or campaign semester would be a great experience - but, California.
Tufts, JHU, Georgetown are all really hard to get into. GWU won’t give you sufficient FA.
Princeton takes no transfers.
UMaryland College Park may be within reach AND within budget. Its location near DC/NoVA gives it some clout.