Transferring to a state college as an international student?

Transfer Students
1

Hi everyone!

So I’m currently at a state college but unfortunately I’m not loving it for many reasons. I don’t hate it, I actually liked my classes but I just have a hard time enjoying it because it feels so… disconnected. I have a terrible Chinese roommate who hates me and the school and also says negative stuff about Americans all the time. So that wasn’t a good start. Lol. There’s a large commuter population and it’s not as “global” as I expected it to be. I also feel it’s not very academically focused. Some of my classmates actually asked me “Are we really doing this?” when in group projects which wasn’t very nice. And the school’s rep isn’t the best – even among students. I hear about students being unhappy with the school and how it was their backup on a daily basis. How is my school’s rep going to affect me as an international student? It’s 100-120 in the USNews ranking. Are my chances of landing a job after graduating from this school good if I’m a good student?
I’m thinking about transferring to another state school next year. Maybe University of Washington or Pitt. I’m not too sure about privates because they’re too expensive – and the ones with aid for internationals are too competitive (Harvard, Yale, MIT, etc.)
I’m going to finish my first semester with a 3.8 GPA and hope to get a similar GPA in the next semester as well.
What are my chances for UW? I’d apply for the same major as my current school. I read that UW and other state schools accept mostly CC students and that it’s harder for students from 4-year schools to get in. Is that true? What are my other options? I can pay like tops 50k/year including room and board which isn’t going to cover most of the top privates :frowning:

I hope you can give me some advice.

Thanks!

2

As a transfer, there is very limited financial aid at most schools, so make sure you check costs.

As an international student, it is assumed that you will return to your country for your career. The US immigration policies have changed significantly and international candidates need sponsorship by a US company. Most corporate companies can no longer do that because they have to tell immigration officials that there are no US candidates available for hire before considering hiring a non-citizen.

As for your roommate, you have to ignore him; or, for someone who hates America so much, ask him if he took a wrong turn and a wrong flight. No one is forcing him to be here. He can go home at anytime. You may want to let the RA know about the guy’s rants.

3

If you are at a big state U with a large commuter population, chances are that many of the students who aren’t serious about their work will have dropped out by the end of the year. Take a look at the upper-level classes for your major. My bet would be that the students in those classes are committed to their work.

As for your room mate, you need to remember that cultural adjustment takes time, and often people pass through phases where they just hate the place. Your roommate might be happier here in a month or two. If there is no change and you don’t want to continue with that roommate, then talkwith your RA about the process for changing rooms.