I am currently attending UC Riverside in California, but I am not happy with the school. I’m a music major, and UC Riverside has zero investment in the liberal arts department, let alone the music departments. Don’t get me wrong, UC Riverside is a great school if you’re studying business, biochemistry, etc. But not for music.
I want to transfer to University of Tennessee a lot because it has a much better music program than UC Riverside, plus it has BA for music, which is something I am already working on. I’m working on transferring to UT Knoxville, but I’m very nervous about the financial aid part. UT Knoxville offers some scholarships, but most of them are for Tennessee residents. You have to live in Tennessee for one year without enrolling in any Tennessee university in order to become a resident, but I’m not willing to wait for one year to become a resident, that’s a huge delay in going to school.
I’m looking for advices from those who transferred from a 4 year institution to another 4 year institution, what was your situation financially? If anybody is attending UT Knoxville and a transfer student from another state, (I know it’s rude to talk financial to people, but I really need some advices) what was your experience? Is the financial aid at UT Knoxville for out-of-state students or out-of-state transfer generous?
It’s is very doubtful you’ll be able to qualify for any real aid at UT-K. Most states require your Parents to move to qualify as in-state. You should look to stay in-state.
UT is a good value for in-state residents eligible for Hope scholarship, but I’ve not heard of UT being particularly generous with OOS scholarships and such (not to mention it’s usually harder to get scholarships as a transfer).
Is there something in particular that drew you there all the way from California? A number of schools have music majors.
Do you have stats or something special that would get you a scholarship at Belmont in Nashville?
I am wondering the same thing as @SouthFloridaMom9: Why UT? Is the real issue that you want an affordable school with a very good music program? Is there are reason that you want to move to Tennessee?
A dear young friend went to UTenn after completing her AA degree at community college. She was there for 2.5 years and graduated in 2016 with $90,000 in debt. She was out of state. Would not recommend. Would look for a program in state to transfer to.
A side question - how did you pick the school where you are currently enrolled? Did you start as a music major in the program you say is so bad? If so, Why?
It was very last minute when I chose UC Riverside. I had other schools in mind, but I ended up choosing UCR instead because my family discouraged from going OOS. I didn’t know anything about the music program at UC Riverside. I started as a political science major, but I ended up hating it, so I switched to music major since I’ve been doing piano for over ten years, so I have to potential to become a music major. And now, I see quite many flaws in its music department. There are no actual auditions for people who want to be music majors at UCR unlike other schools. There are not that many ensembles that interest me. The music department of UC Riverside is not heavily invested, so there are budget cuts and such. UCR turns out not a university for fine arts, music or theatre. Plus, Riverside areas have zero music! LA is more than an hour away, but the traffic is so bad, nobody wants to drive out there!
I really don’t like the location. Riverside is too hot and overcrowded. I have to commute to school everyday, and it’s a true pain. I’m originally from Northern California, and I hate the fact that I didn’t stay up there away from Southern California.
I got really tired of California because of no weathers, constant traffics, and crazy politics,… I’m very drawn to Tennessee because it’s the music center of the States, yet everywhere in Tennessee has a small town feel, and there is actual weather.
Do you plan to do a Bachelor of Arts in music? Most BA music programs do NOT require an audition.
The BM programs DO require an audition…and you will need to do,that well as a transfer student.
Keep in mind that music performance programs will most likely NOT allow any transfer of music courses from your previous school…so if that is the route you plan to take…you will be taking four more years to get your degree.
What is your end goal…what do you want to do with your degree?
You need to figure out your budget, and then look for universities with good music programs that are in-budget. You don’t want to graduate with a BA in Music or a BM degree with a pile of debt.
@thumper1 has some very good points, with his question at the end being a very good one: “what do you want to do with your degree?”
Yes, it would be the question of the day- what are you wanting to do with your degree. Do you plan to get a masters degree later. I would stay in state. UT Knox is more expensive than people think for out of state students (as are most schools)- you are better off finishing your bachelors in state.
If you were to move to TN to go to a college I think a school in Nashville would be more of what you are looking for- but honestly staying in state will make the most sense financially.
I visited UT Knoxville and I absolutely love it. Even if it’s more sensible to finish my bachelor at UC Riverside, I’d still want to go to UT Knoxville for grad school as I just want to get out of California, and I really like East Tennessee a lot!
It would be very hard to pay off out of state tuition loans on a typical teacher’s salary. Please look into other campuses in your state system or at a private school where you would qualify for financial aid.
Finish your undergraduate degree in CA where you can do it less expensively. If you can, get your student teaching done there as well. Then look for a teaching job in TN, and pick up your grad work after you move there.