<p>I am currently a freshman enrolled in a four year state school in New York (SUNY New Paltz). Academically and socially, this school is not a good match for me and I hope to finish this school year and transfer next year (Fall of 2011). I am tired of the whole "Frat Party" routine (and the student body that is certainly not as "advanced" or "intelligent" as the school claims it to be), the overwhelming amount of adjunct faculty who have no interest in the school (some barely seem qualified to teach in the areas which they do) and most of all the skeevy town (rundown, lots of drugs etc....). I am thinking that I might do better in a more urban area, with a school with a better reputation and a stronger emphasis on academics. It would also be nice to not be too far away from home (Long Island) and live in a place with more to do than party. Im just beginning to look at schools, and get ideas as to where to apply. Perhaps Manhattan or Boston. Any thoughts?
Thanks for your time :-)</p>
<p>Get the best college GPA you can, get to know your professors/participate actively in class, pursue some ECs you find interesting on or off campus, and draw up a list of schools would be starters. </p>
<p>Do you know what you want to major in? That along with the environment you want would be a good way to determine which schools go on your list to apply as a transfer. Also, what’s your/your family’s financial situation? Will you be eligible for FA or not? </p>
<p>The last is very important as some schools in the areas you are targeting…like NYU tend to be quite stingy even with need-based aid so you may have to take out ginormous loans unless you/your family are independently wealthy.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice. Im currently working on keeping my GPA as high as possible, and im planning on pursuing volunteer work through my church while im off for winter break (which is beginning of december to end of january). Finanical aid will be an issue. I am eligible and definately don’t want to be in tremendous debt when i graduate. My parents are really not keen on the idea of me going to a private school due to the expense… Do you know of any schools (unlike NYU) that tend to be more generous in terms of merit aid/financial aid?</p>
<p>Also, just a little more info…</p>
<p>I am currently undecided, but am interested in areas such as psychology/human development/social work/humanities etc…</p>
<p>Im also beginning to consider maybe not necessarily staying in the Northeast, i would consider going South or possibly even West of NY (although not as extreme as somewhere like California)</p>
<p>HS GPA? SATs? Predicted current GPA?
Can’t provide very many accurate or good schools without stats. For example, a few of the very wealthy T20s and T30s and top LACs meet full need for transfer students, but recommending such schools maybe prove useless if you can’t get in.</p>
<p>Wow! I didnt know that schools sometimes provide such generous aid for transfer students! Thanks for your input! I’m just finishing up my first semester at New Paltz, and while grades have not been posted for the semester yet, Im expecting all A’s or close to that. I was a solid high school student mostly A’s/B+'s, was part of several National Honor societes, and received an AP scholar award.</p>
<p>If you qualify for need based aid, you need to focus on schools that meet 100% of need for all. You can Google a list. Be careful though, at several it doesn’t include transfers. If you have an SAT score above 2000, you should have a good shot at several.</p>
<p>Thank you 2college2college i will do that.</p>
<p>My SAT however is not above 2000 :(</p>
<p>Few schools give much aid for transfer students.</p>
<p>You may need to tranfer to another SUNY if your stats aren’t high enough to transfer to a school like Cornell that does meet need for transfer students.</p>
<p>What was your SAT? If you’re going to try to transfer before junior year, then schools are going to really care what your SAT is.</p>
<p>I took SATs junior year and do not remember exact stats but i was in the high 600s for CR and W but hovering at about 500s in Math.</p>
<p>I am not at all interested though in applying to other SUNYs.</p>
<p>And yes i will definately be applying for transfer for my Soph year</p>
<p>Many schools will allow you to retake the SAT.</p>
<p>Money is the big issue here. Assuming a high 1800s score, with stellar grades this term you may have a shot at some of the less competitive schools that meet need. But they are mostly not going to be in cities.</p>
<p>The big city schools like BU, NYU, Fordham, Northeastern won’t give you much aid.</p>
<p>You would have more options if you transfer as a junior when scores will count less.</p>
<p>If at all possible I really would rather not transfer as a junior 
im very unhappy where i currently am. Would you suggest retaking the SATs? And you mention schools such as Fordham BU and Northeastern, I know that generally speaking NYU is stingy with financial aid but are these schools too?</p>
<p>And how about colleges other than in NY and Boston… would the odds of getting better financial aid be higher?</p>
<p>The schools that have big endowments and can give lots of aid are mostly top colleges. The other schools mentioned are similar to NYU re aid.</p>
<p>There is just not a lot of aid for transfers. SUNY schools are relatively cheap and it will be hard to find a similar value.</p>
<p>I would retake the SAT or try the ACT and aim for colleges that meet need. Emory and Vanderbilt are 2 that are urban.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt has, in the past accepted over 50% transfer students and it’s obviously a great school. Emory accepts somewhere around 35% of transfer students. Both schools meet need for transfers. However, you’ll need SAT scores above equal to or above 1900.</p>
<p>Does it appear that retaking the SATs is absolutley necessary? Are a high GPA and ECs inadequate? Do colleges expect transfer students to retake SATs or ACTs?</p>
<p>I’ve always heard that schools do not give merit aid beyond freshman year, but they do give need-based aid to second-year or beyond transfer students. Definitely a question you want to be asking individual schools! Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you for the input catpb!</p>
<p>Few transfers go to top schools (they have little room, few leave) and if you look at the few top school transfers, many come from top schools. A CC GPA or one from a school that is not a peer of the transfer school does not tell a college how you’ll do there. SAT scores in the ballpark of freshmen admits coupled with college performance gives them a good idea.</p>