Transfer Suggestions?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi All, </p>

<p>I am currently a college freshman and I am looking for advice for schools that might be a good fit for me to transfer to, particularly schools where I actually have a shot of being accepted. </p>

<p>Background:
I am an 18 year old white girl from Boston
I went to a private high school (which I love) but which was not by any means a feeder into highly competitive colleges
I was definitely among the top 10 students in my year in high school, and I had an unweighted gpa of about a 3.8 (although my school did not formally calculate gpa's and had a nontraditional curriculum, no AP or IB classes offered)
I have a combined 2120 on my SATs, and a 28 on the ACTs
I participated in a number of extra curricular activities (American Sign Language theater troupe, got my Girl Scout Gold Award, job at the library, head of feminist club at school, lots of social justice stuff, etc.)
BUT I have no hook whatsoever </p>

<p>I applied to ten colleges last year
UMass Amherst: accepted into honors program
Allegheny College: accepted (with significant merit scholarship)
Scripps College: accepted
Bryn Mawr College: accepted (with significant merit scholarship)
Whitman College: accepted (with some merit scholarship)
Kenyon: wait listed
Swarthmore: rejected
Pomona: rejected
Claremont McKenna: rejected </p>

<p>I ended up choosing New College of Florida (largely for financial reasons). Since I got here I have enjoyed some aspects, but there are definitely some major drawbacks. I want to investigate the possibility of transferring into a school that is larger (which isn't saying much since NCF has only 800 students. I'm unwilling to go any bigger than 5,000 though). I am also looking for a school with a more laid back atmosphere, and one with more diversity. </p>

<p>I believe that I could transfer to Allegheny pretty easily, however I am not sure if Allegheny will provide the same level of academic rigor as NCF. Intellectual engagement is the most important factor for me, so even if I don't fit in socially at New College I would prefer to stay here than downgrade to a less academically oriented school. Optimally I would love to go to Swarmthore, but I believe I have little to no chance of being accepted (they already rejected me once, and I have no hook that might change their decision). </p>

<p>This process is further complicated by the fact that New College operates on a pass/fail system, so I have no idea how that will be received by other colleges or how my credits might transfer over. I positively cannot afford to do an extra year of college, so if I am going to transfer it is vital that all of my course credits transfer. </p>

<p>TL;DR </p>

<p>I am wondering if any of you have suggestions for small, intellectually engaging liberal arts colleges that I might actually have a shot of being accepted (and getting scholarship) to. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>

Are the financial reasons all cleared up? If so you could probably get into Allegheny but I doubt you would get the merit offered before. Most merit aid is offered to freshmen to make the entering class look more competitive on rankings.</p>

3

<p>Erin’s Dad: If I were to transfer to another college I would have to take on more debt, bottom line. However, Allegheny guaranteed their merit aid offer for two years (in case I decided to transfer after my freshman year elsewhere.) Very generous of them.</p>

4

<p>Erin’s Dad: If I were to transfer to another college I would have to take on more debt, bottom line. However, Allegheny guaranteed their merit aid offer for two years (in case I decided to transfer after my freshman year elsewhere.) Very generous of them.</p>

<p>??? How much debt are you taking on for New College?</p>

<p>How much debt would you have to take on for a transfer??? Are your parents’ going to co-sign those loans? Taking out a lot of debt is NOT a good idea. Not worth it at all. </p>

<p>I don’t think it’s a good idea to transfer unless the cost will be nearly the same or less. Taking on more debt is a bad idea. </p>

<p>YOU can only borrow the following amounts without a co-signer:</p>

<p>5500 frosh
6500 soph
7500 jr and sr</p>

<p>So, if you’re already borrowing those amounts, then you can’t borrow more for another school.</p>

5

<p>“Laid-back” means different things to different people, but I’m confused by how you’re using it here. I view NCF as pretty darn laid-back, and Swat as not laid-back whatsoever. What about the social environment, specifically, are you looking to change?</p>

6

<p>Most College freshmen want to transfer their first semester, especially when they go away to school. I wouldn’t get caught up in the transfer search yet. Wait until you return for the spring semester and play it by ear then. Transfer students can get accepted quicker than high school students at a lot of schools, if they have shown to be able to handle the college work. </p>

<p>If money is part of the reason you are at school in Florida, there is nothing wrong with taking gen-eds and then transfering to another school in a year.</p>