What should I do?

<p>I chose to attend Hofstra University, a school with tuition and dorm expenses much beyond my family's financial limits. </p>

<p>I secured a $13,000 loan with a cosigner for the Fall Semester but don't know how I'll be able to afford the second semester. </p>

<p>My grades were pretty average as well, my GPA is 3.1 and I withdrew from a Calculus class to save it from abyss. </p>

<p>Now the obvious solution would probably be to transfer, but I'm hesitant of transferring out with a 3.1 GPA. </p>

<p>The first semester I elected to take a lot of difficult classes which was a huge mistake on my part. </p>

<p>I'm thinking of enrolling for a second semester to curve my GPA to a 3.4(minimum), scavangering for a loan to pay for it and then transfer out comfortably to Rutgers State University in New Brunswick. </p>

<p>My GPA in high school was only a 2.7 and my SAT score was 1620, but I'm thinking with 30 credits and a 3.4 GPA they'll most likely accept me.</p>

<p>Honestly, 3.1 is not a horrible GPA to transfer with, and I really don’t think it’s worth taking out another $13,000 in loans for one semester’s worth of classes to bump your GPA a third of a point.</p>

<p>I would suggest that you take classes at a community college for the spring and apply to enter Rutgers next fall as a sophomore.</p>

<p>You do <em>not</em> want to go $26,000 in the hole for one year’s worth of classes at a university you’re leaving.</p>

<p>@polarscribe That’s a very fair assesment but it’s also possible that my scholarship will be expanded if I achieve a 3.4 because of the Honors College program they have at my school.</p>

<p>Oh well, I can only hope.</p>

<p>I really love Hofstra, I enjoyed my stay here and met a lot of wonderful people. </p>

<p>I’m just disappointed in myself for working to my full potential.</p>

<p>Precognition:</p>

<p>I just want to give you a sense of perspective. I went to a community college for my first two years, then transferred to a wonderful out-of-state flagship public. I have less than $20,000 in debt. Total.</p>

<p>You’re looking at going over $25,000 for a single year. I can’t call that anything but insane.</p>

<p>You will be much happier, in the end, going to a school that doesn’t leave you with a $1,000-per-month student loan payment for the next 10 years or more.</p>

<p>Are you sure getting into the honors program will get you more money? Typically, merit money is used to entice entering freshmen, not to reward students who are already there. </p>

<p>If you are having this much trouble your freshman year to pay, your financial situation won’t get any easier, because every year your costs increase. What are you going to do if you can’t borrow any more senior year? You will have a lot of debt and no degree to show for it. </p>

<p>For these reasons, I agree with polarscribe on the suggestion to enroll in a community college next semester.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Either way I just can’t transfer out with a 3.1 GPA, I need to curve it to at least a 3.4</p>

<p>You can take community college classes to bring your GPA up. The cumulative GPA is what matters for transferring, and that will include your classes from both institutions.</p>