I didn’t do very well for my A’s and i’m looking to transfer out of local uni after my first/second year. I did alright for my SAT, 2300. and obviously US schools will take my uni gpa into consideration but from what i’ve heard from my seniors, it’s hard to fail but also really hard to get As in NUS. Will the gpa be standardized?
i know it’s super competitive for international transfer applications to get into a good school + financial aid. are there any such singaporeans lurking around here in cc?
Have you enrolled at NUS or NTU? If you have not, why not apply to US universities? Is there a specific reason that causes you to wait till your first/second uni year?
Hi there! Just wanted to say I’m more or less in the same position as you and I just got accepted into NTU. However, I’m kinda deadset on studying in the states so I was planning to transfer. I’m a little lost though so it’ll be nice to have someone with me who’s going through the same thing! can you email me at zoeetoh@gmail.com? I swear i’m not a creep or anything!!!
Financial aid is rarely (if even at all) offered to Singaporeans in top colleges. Most non-scholarship Singaporeans that study in the US are well-off too, so it could be that Singaporeans simply don’t apply for finaid. The only exceptions are Harvard and Yale that extend their merit based financial aid to international students. Schools in cali, the midwest, and the east coast are not known to be generous with their $$ for internationals.
However, I have heard from friends that colleges in the south are more willing to offer financial aid to international students. UNC (chapel hill) was described to me as “many Singaporeans there get financial aid”. Not sure if that is entirely true, but you can give it a shot.
Now onto transferring to american colleges after a year at NTU/NUS/SMU, you will need to work very hard. I’m sure you know that. Regarding GPAs, isn’t the first year at NUS ungraded? I’m not quite sure how that will work out for you if that’s the case. But a competitive GPA is a given - it’s hard to get As at any good school and they will expect you to be academically proficient. Your GPA will not be “standardized” per se, but they will take into account how rigorous your program/classes are.
Then comes to branding yourself for college acceptance. A GPA alone won’t get you in, no matter how outstanding it is. You have to be actively involved on campus in the local universities, and contributing to the community in the various activities that you choose to participate in. Leadership positions, activities/achievements that show a clear interest in your desired field of study, etc. (You know the drill)
I went to a top LAC on a full-ride financial aid, so it is definitely possible. It is really, really tough to transfer though, as most top schools don’t have people dropping out. If you are deadset on applying US, I might even take a gap year. Get more leadership experience. But really, after talking to my friends back home, USP or Yale-NUS are fantastic options, too, better than many colleges in the US.
An important part into getting into American colleges is whether you can pay the full amount, especially public
Schools, but you can look at the need-blind colleges such as Harvard etc. although A-levels matter in Singapore, in the U.S., they are seen as more
Of a credit transfer, but to get into too notch unis, of course straight As are needed. Since you’re a transfer, just try keeping a min 3.0 gpa, which is theimimum for most colleges, unsure
Abt the ivied though .
Hi does anyone know the applications process? Im currently midway through my 2nd sem in NTU NBS and am intending to transfer. Any advice would really help! thank you
Transfer process is different at each college/university. You will need to check each school’s website and catalog (the catalog will be online as a PDF - very detailed.) Also check with each school’s International Student office.
State-funded unis are very open to transfers. Many students there start at US JCs and finish their last two years at state flagships - that’s a very affordable option for US students.
Highly selective private colleges - it’s very difficult to transfer. If you are full pay, it’s easier. Financial aid is mostly reserved for first year students, not transfers.
It’s a good idea to contact the universities you are interested in attending in the US to determine their exact transfer policies. If you are transferring to the same major, your credits will most likely depend on which courses you took, and the transfer policies of the new university. The US university transfer policies are more transparent than their freshman requirements, meaning that they are more likely to tell you exactly what you will need to transfer. The admissions departments are friendly, and an email or phone call should get you the information you need. Before you call, make sure that you go online to Undergraduate Admissions/Transfer and check what they say online. [Disclaimer: This response is from https://■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/ and not my own]