Hello all,
I am a graduate of Bard College at Simon’s Rock, where I received an Associate of the Arts. Simon’s Rock is an early college, so I left after my sophomore year of high school in order to attend (and now have a GED in place of a high school diploma). I also never took the SATs since I had no need or requirement to, and it becomes rather moot after you’ve left high school anyways.
I took a gap year after my AA and worked in PR, and was applying to colleges for the fall of 2015 when a family member became really ill. I never had the opportunity to visit anywhere, and did not hand in many applications (I was under a lot of duress, and unfortunately this all happened exactly around when college applications are due). I was admitted to two schools I thought I liked, but one I cannot afford, and the other one I actually am very turned-off by after visiting. I’m nervous to stay home for another semester though. My course of study is an interdisciplinary one, and I focus on theatre and aesthetics (Self-designed), so my school selections are rather limited. I’m looking for ones in the northeast, preferably, that allow self-made programs, and have a strong alumni basis. They have to have a lax or testing optional regulation regarding SATs for transfer candidates, and I also prefer schools that have a smaller population (though I adore cities, which is all very conflicting).
New School (Lang) was my favorite which I could not afford, and a Vermont institution admitted me that is very reputable, but I am not a fan of the hippie population. I am extremely liberal and left-leaning, but also very fashion-focused, so the amount of sustainable farmers and organic eaters can be a bit oppressive when you’re outnumbered 599-1.
I’m looking for any worthy recommendations, and I greatly appreciate any assistance finding schools that fit my personality! Do not worry about price, as long as the aid is fair to good, and they would definitely have to allow spring transfers!
Thank you,
L
What is your Bard College GPA? What state are you a resident of? What is your price limit (This is important since a number of schools will be unaffordable without knowing the information before hand)? Make sure to run the NPC on any schools you might be considering.
You may want to look into Brandeis, Bard College, Clark University, Hampshire, and College of the Holy Cross.
About 3.6 (Dean’s List - SRC is one of the toughest graders; A+ does not exist), resident of Rhode Island, and price limit varies. Most 60k schools will cut the price in half, which is about what I can afford (30k a year).
I do like Brandeis, Bard, and Hampshire - Clark and Holy Cross are good schools, but I’m really not a big fan of living in Worcester; the city does not take kindly to women.
I’m also wondering if its worth attending a school I know I will transfer out of come spring just for the sake of being productive, and the experience I will gain while I’m there. The credits in all likelihood wouldn’t transfer since I’d have amassed too many for most colleges (I’d be in the 70s by that point, and most school’s cut-off is 60-64, it seems). It seems like colleges also prefer you to either be working or a student at the time of application, compared to an internship or an at-home work experience, though correct me if I’m wrong or you’d disagree with that statement.
If you got your Associate’s at 18 and took a gap year afterward, you could take another and still only be ~20 when you’re a junior (just like most everybody else). I don’t see any reason to rush. I certainly wouldn’t pay for a school whose credits won’t be useful just to be doing something. I’d get a job then work on building an application list of new schools and apply for next fall.
Your view on aid is based on supposition. You are a transfer student which at most schools don’t qualify for any merit aid. That limits you to those with excellent financial aid, which are all highly competitive. And unfortunately Net Price Calculators won’t work too well for transfer students.
What does the Transfer Advisor at Simon’s Rock suggest to you? That person knows where people are being admitted, and whether or not they receive aid. If you are open to a theater major or an art/design major rather than insisting on being able to continue with your current independent program of studies, you will have many more options. Also if you liked the PR business, there could be something for you if you switch to Communications.
Talk to the transfer adviser at Simon’s Rock.
Look into NCF - they may admit you for Fall 2015 even, since they announced they still had space on May 1st and you sound like their ideal candidate. They do have self-designed majors, they should be within price range, and have an excellent record of getting students into grad schools, but I don’t know about their fashion sense though 
http://www.ncf.edu/majors
http://www.ncf.edu/welcome
I met with the transfer advisor prior to leaving, and she knew little to nothing, and recently left the institution…I’m not sure if they’ve replaced her as of yet, or if the ‘Careers’ department is just the academic affairs subs (who I knew quite well, and were not adept at that sort of assistance).
I did look into New College Florida - they’re really unique and interesting, but it would necessitate flying, which made me hesitate. I have a couple medical conditions, and am really not too good in the air, hence the ‘northeast’ factor. Thank you though, that is exactly the type of place I’m looking for!