What colleges should I apply to.

Transfer Students
1

<p>I was honorably discharged from the Army this last summer after 10 years of service and am now trying to attend college. Currently I am attending a CC in Oregon and have plans on transferring to a 4 year university in a couple of years to pursue a degree in chemical engineering. I have also done extensive work with the boys and girls club, habitat for humanity, local animal shelters, and even spent time tutoring at a local middle school. During high school I screwed off but I have grown up a lot over the past 10 years and now I am maintaining a 4.0 at my CC (after 3 semesters and going strong). It has been a long time since I last looked at applying to colleges and I have no idea who can get into what school anymore. I will definitely apply to my in-state public school but just like everyone else, I would like to go to the best school I can get into. I have researched the top schools in my preferred field of study but I really have no idea how likely I am to get into one of them. If I maintain my 4.0 average, what schools should I be looking at? Will the fact that I'll be almost 30 at time of my transfer keep certain schools from accepting me? The last thing I want to do is waste my time and money applying to schools that I don't have a chance.</p>

<p>By the way, I never took the SAT's in high school. Will this hurt my chances even if I am a transfer student? </p>

<p>Thank you for your time.</p>

2

<p>You seem like a great applicant. Army, volunteering, and GPA are all great. As for the SAT, there are many schools who don’t need the SAT for transfers who have over a certain amount of credits. Some schools are SAT optional all together. </p>

<p>IMO the best thing to do is identify the schools you want first. Then find out their requirements, both generally for transfers and for your major. Then contact them if you have any questions or issues. If Financial Aid is a consideration that might be a major thing to worry about. I don’t know what kind of FA benefit being in the army offers.</p>

3

<p>Most schools will waive Testing requirements after 5 years of being out of High School so don’t sweat that. </p>

<p>You’d be a strong candidate at any school so apply away.</p>

4

<p>I know someone after 4 years in the Marines attended CC, got a 4.0 and then transferred into Stanford. (Stanford takes only 20 transfer students per year!)</p>

<p>The reality is that almost any college will take a <em>serious</em> look at an ex-military person with a 4.0 transfer GPA. </p>

<p>I say have your in-state schools as your safeties, and then apply to schools that you really think are your academic/career fit for you.</p>

<p>I don’t think the app fees are a waste of money because in reality, as a future engineer, you will recoup those fees in the first 2 or maybe 3 days of work in your professional field. Completely worth the investment.</p>

<p>(SAT scores don’t matter for many colleges for someone w/ 2 years of college already. Some do require a recent SAT within the past five years, like Stanford. Either just apply to schools that don’t require the SAT, or if needed for a school you want to apply to, give the SAT a try.)</p>

5

<p>Feel free to aim for the top mbiermann! (Think possibly Ivy League or other high caliber schools.) I am in virtually the exact same boat as you. Screwed off in high school, got out of the Navy after 10 years, good GPA (Only 3.73 for me though) in community college, 30 years old and applying for 4 year schools. Here are a few thoughts from my experience/knowledge so far that hopefully helps:</p>

<p>1) Many schools, if you are a veteran will waive your application fee on the spot. This means you can apply for virtually any 4 year schools you want, risk free.</p>

<p>2) Between the 9/11 GI Bill, Grants, Loans, Scholarships etc there is the real possibility you could go to an excellent school that costs $40,000+ a year and graduate with no debt. (I am looking at a Yellow Ribbon school that affords that possibility.) Additionally, go to the GI Bill website and look up the Yellow Ribbon school list. There are a lot of really good schools there that will enable you to get a first-rate education for little to no cost.</p>

<p>3) Don’t sweat the SAT’s. This is meant more of measuring high school students, but some schools require it anyways. If they do, sign up, study up for it real quick then take the test. If you can manage a 4.0GPA I doubt it will take much effort for you to ace it. (Note: Some schools allow you to take an institutional exam vice the GPA as well.)</p>

<p>4) We have luck of the times on our side. Being straight, the economy is not doing so hot and some schools are struggling with money/raising tuition rates. Partly because we were smart enough to buy into the GI Bill a long time ago, some very good schools are actively targeting / encouraging veterans to apply. Community college with good GPA is even better.</p>

<p>5) Take a flip through the schools website to see if they have a link for veteran groups at the school or additional information/veteran support. This will immediately show you if they are courting veterans, thus increasing your chances of acceptance.</p>

<p>State schools are an excellent choice, (I am considering UT Austin myself) but if you want to aim for the stars, definitely do not sell yourself short!</p>