I am an unhappy, much in debt undergrad junior who recently trasfered to a private school in a big city.Should I go to a state school in my home-town/state. Where I will be spending less money and therefore, will not have to work full-time and would graduate with good grades, extra-curriculars and some savings as opposed to being lost in a big city, paying though the nose for school and cost-of-living,graduating with good grades but no extra-curriculars and no money for grad-school and a sore back from keeping up a full-time job along with school.\nShould I transfer even if I lose 20-30 credits?
121029
You're more likely, I think, to be successful if you are in a place where you are happy.  Spending a lot of money and acquiring a lot of debt sure wouldn't make me happy.  Plus, a few years from now, no one will care where you went to school; they'll just be concerned with how well you've proven yourself in your career.\n\nMaking the most of your education (doing well in school) at a state school will be better in the long run than killing yourself to do too much (working and going to school) and doing poorly.  Good grades at a decent school would be better to me than mediocre grades at a good school.  \n\nI used to do college admissions, and this was the philosophy for kids coming out of high school or transferring from other schools - it was the quality of the grades that mattered a lot more than the reputation of the school. \n\nGood luck.
536862
Hi, current college student here.\n\nI agree with matt's responses - they are mostly correct. However, he is missing a few important points. For one, the amount of financial aid that you qualify for is very important. This really also depends on the school's calculation policies, but you can get a general estimate from a site like "http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml." Remember that this is strictly an estimate though.\n\nWhy is this important? Because you have to see how much financial aid a school gives (assuming that you qualify for a decent amount). Schools like Harvard are expensive, but they will cover 100% of your financial need. Other schools might be cheaper but unable to subsidize your education. I know that at Harvard (my school), there's rather generous financial aid - families with income under 60k don't have to pay anything, and under 80k barely pays - and it scales upward to some degree.\n\nAlso, there are a lot of great state universities - and you should look for these in the U.S. News and World Report "http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php" (Just go out and get a magazine version). But these schools will only be a good value if they are in your home state.\n\nAlso, I wouldn't consider anything out of the top 10 a "bad school." For example, UC Berkeley is ranked 25 (#1 in public schools), but I would never say that it's a bad school (despite Harvard being #1 overall =P )\n\nGood luck!
433908
OK Cool...  it has been a long time since I did HS, athletics, SATs, college, GMATs, grad school (twice) and all bu tlet me give it a shot.\n\nFirst, excellent job so far.  Obviously you want to get the best grades at the best school possible.  But it sounds like if everyone else has excelled at your school...why move unless your future school is at least as competive.  Of course, you might want to stay with your family!  My family was going to move just before my junior year and my HS football coach offered to have me live with his family.  I went to a school with 2500 other students in San Diego.\n\nYour SATs must be based on the new 2400 scoring system placing you in the 88th percentile so you have room for improvement...most of us did or do so that's not a slam.\n\nYour extra-cirricular activities seem fine and if you want to add something I suggest something out in the community...outside school interests do catch college attention.  I worked with mentally disabled kids teaching them to better their reading abilities.  Also, your part time job, even if just 10 hours a week is a nice reflection on your diversity or multi-tasking (I truly dislike that term...sorry).\n\nPersonally, unless you are seeking an atheletic scholarship, I wouldn't go hyper active on the sports at the expense of your grades.  Your 2 sports reflect teamwork (football & track) plus your ability to strive independently in a team environment (track...it is an individual effort in many events).\n\nI had a great time at a large school and all 3 of my universities were large...the smallest bing the Uof Oklahoma.  \n\nAs for your falling grades, these next 4 semesters are important, so make sure your "drop" is an abberration.\n\nCool...it is your (and your parents) decision, but you sound on the right path.  Also..where you would live when your parents leave might be a significant factor.\n\nBy the way, my parents didn't move so I didn't have to make the decision you face. \n\nGood luck to you.  And hey...it is always tough to leave your your team members but think about your future...as you obviously are doing.
121956
college is SUCH a hard decision, but remember- it's not the be all, end all situation in life.  if you go somewhere and don't like it, you can transfer.  you should visit a bunch of school and get a feel for the vibe there, because no education is worth it if you are unhappy.  i was in a really similar position- wanted to go to harvard my whole life, but then, at 16, freaked out and started wondering, why?  i am a junior at UC berkeley now, and i really love it.\n\ni think that you should take AP classes in subjects that you are interested in, because then the extra work will be worth it.  if you can get A's in all your classes that are not AP or honors, then your GPA will be really strong, and that is a plus.\n\nsomething to keep in mind about all of those big name schools is that they are so competitive to get into- a lot of students keep that competitive attitude in college, and it's kind of a bummer to be around.\n\nas for jobs, which college you went to really only matters for your first job or two.  after that, your other work experience will be more important (but the fact that you have a college degree will reflect well on you).\n\ni think that your best bet is to try to visit schools as soon as possible, so that you start to get an idea of what you like about different colleges.  you do not get the same education at every school.  some schools have a maximum class size of 20.  at cal, i have lecture classes with 500 other people.  just take a look around and see what you think!  with your variety of talents, i am sure that a lot of schools will be very happy to accept you- what's important is that you find a place where you are happy.  good luck!!
184799
My sister paid for hers by working full time during the summer and not spending any money. Then she went to a community college for two years because is was cheaper than a state college or university. Because she paid for these two years out of her pocket, up front, she was able to use that as a tax write-off and get most of the money back because of some bill that bill clinton passed.  This helped her pay for first semester tution when she transferd to a state collge, which is still cheaper than a university.  \n\nShe paid for all of it out of her pocket by working full time/overtime during the summer, and then working full time while going to school. working more than 20 hours however is not recomended while taking classes.\n\nAlso it depends on what you are going into. If you are going to be a teacher, and if you plan to teach in a rural area, and you take out the right loans, you might get it paid off for you, just for teaching in a rural area or poor school district. Im not possitive how that works though.
606906
It is a big decision, and one you shouldn't take lightly. Before listing your options, answer a few questions:\n\n1) What do I want to study?\n2) How far away from home do I want to be?\n3) Do I want to go to a a college in a small town, or a big city?\n\nThe first question is important because some colleges have better departments that teach those subjects.  If you want to study mathematics or computer science, Georgetown probably isn't as strong as MIT.  Likewise, if you want to study Oceanography, Nebraska probably won't have as detailed and high-quality of a program as a school on the coast of Florida, California, or Texas would.  If you have a subject that you really want to pursue as a career, talk to a guidance counselor or a favorite teacher to see if they have any suggestions.\n\nDuring your freshman year, you WILL get homesick. If you're the type of person that needs to see familiar sites, going to a school across the country isn't a good idea.  On the other hand, if you think your parents would constantly drive to see you if you lived across town, you might want to consider a school in a different city, part of your state, or another state.\n\nFinally, you won't stay on campus all of the time - if you want to get out on a regular basis, you might want to choose a school in a larger city.  However, people in small towns might be easier going and easier to deal with.\n\nOnce again, it's not an easy decision. DON'T base your decision on where your friends or boyfriends/girlfriends/crushes are going - you will make an entirely new set of friends in college, and you'll also get a MUCH clearer picture of the kind of person you are. \n\nGood luck, and whatever YOU decide, it's the right decision!
392879
What is of biggest concern for you, with regard to transferring, is the accredidation of the university you presently attend, and that of the university you wish to attend.\n\nIt used to be that a student would lose at least half of his or her credits when transferring from one school to another, however, most universities have programs today that enable such transfers to be much smoother.\n\nIn terms of your present schoolwork, the biggest piece of advice I can give any student is to talk with his or her professors, and advise them all of the present situation you are enduring.  Some may not care, but, overwhelmingly, the majority should and probably will give you advice for finishing the semester.\n\nCommunication between student and professor is key to any academic success.\n\nGood luck!
350504
I'm glad that I went to community college.  The classes are smaller, and the professors usually know your name.  It's a good adjustment to college, and then after two years you will be ready to transfer to a big college, and enjoy the college life.  Good Luck on your decision....if you need more advice on this topic, just email me.
420037
The smart move would be for you take up the job and still continue school as a part time student.  From life experience thou, I have learned that education is more important than even getting a job.  So I would suggest you go back and finish school coz this will present an opportunity for you to get even a greater paying job.  Beside imagine this, were the insurance company to downsize, who would go first?
166585
Morristown is a nice place, but I would check with some people who have direct contact or expereince with the University,  I generally like the feel of smaller liberal arts schools myself, and find that some of the best and healthiest student-teacher-school relationships are found there.  Not saying anything bad about big-box schools, it is all about what is best for you. Oh, and please for the sake of your future don't for a second take anything in US News and World Report's "college rankings".  Those rankings are compiled with one thing in mind only, making USN&WR money, not trying to help you find the right place for you.
3269
You will have to wait till when the deadline is over because how much you get depends on how many people apply and how much the state has.  And it is state, not government.  Because, out of state people get nothing from them.  So, its state.  And whatever the government kicks in for everybody, thats what they kick in.  No complaints because it was free money from the start anyways.  Um, usually you are covered because college students levels dont flunctuate in a year so funding is always about the same as what you got last year.  But, its different in the second year because youre not a clean slate anymore.  Some get good grades and some done.  I paid something every single year I was in college.  Not much thouhg.  Like 2 grand a year for everything.  During my 4th year, I became out of state.  So, instead of 10,500, it was 18,000 for the full package.  As it turns out, the state wanted me to stay because I was becoming a top student, being mentored by a rhodes scholar nominee and all.  So, I paid nothing.  And I got 91 dollars back.
128449
if your situation is identical to when you first applied, you should get similar aid.  It's federal and state aid, the school you go to is irrelivant to them as long as everything else is the same.
526740
I know exactly how you feel! I am a college student in Connecticut, where the cost of living is very high. Although I didn't take out a loan (I work forty hours per week to pay my tuition and bills... ugh!) and I don't currently have any debt, it is pretty difficult to get by.\nMy advice is to just stay in school and successfully finish your degree, or else it will be a big waste of time for you to have gone through so much to accomplish so little! If you can find a job in your field after you graduate, it will be a lot easier to pay off your loan (depending on your major: example: medicine vs. journalism? Medicine definitely pays off!).\n You should pay attention to how you spend your money, however. Try to save as much as you can and even go as far as keeping a spending journal. Taking note of where every penny goes is a very reliable way of figuring out what you need and what you're wasting your money on. When you figure out how much money goes into 'splurging', you'll be surprised; put whatever extra money you have into a bank account or invest it into an IRA or something similar. Good luck! =)
157802
You can transfer at any time.  When you transfer, you might lose some of the credits you earned at your current school.  It depends on what you took.  As a freshman, your classes were probably pretty basic and therefore should transfer without a problem.\n\nIf you are transferring because you don't know what you want to do yet, may I suggest going to a community college for 2 years and then transferring to a university?  At a CC, you can take a lot of different classes and they are usually less expensive.  When you get your 2 year degree from a CC, you can start as a Junior at at a university.  Many CC's have counselors from the universities right in their admission offices so you can meet with them and make sure you are taking what you need to have a smooth transfer. \n\nI was a professional transfer student, I went to 5 different colleges before graduating.  If I had it to do over again, I would have gotten an AA at a Community College and then transferred.  I had a lot of student loan debt coming out of school and I could have avoided that by picking a cheap school at the beginning.  You get a 2 year degree, but you will also get the "name-brand" 4 year degree when you transfer and graduate. \n\nGood luck!
427777
I got a job at the university I am attending.  Most places let full time employees go to school there for free. It means that I can only take classes part time, but I was not up for getting myself into more loans like I did when I was an undergrad, and I don't have enough money saved to pay full price.  \n\nYou've already checked into financial aid, I assume.  Grants are another good place to look.  Sometimes you can even get an award or grant from your undergraduate institution.
190343
Why that particular college?  Is it a reason your parents would agree with?  If so, perhaps they will pay for you to have a tutor.  If not, perhaps the best thing would be to choose a less demanding college.  \n\nMany people around here go to a two-year community college (which is a good one, but admits most anyone), taking only courses that can be transferred, and then start the four-year school (UCSC) as a transferring junior.  Seems to work out really well.
203350
The larger public universities are normally going to have the weakest requirements. Depending on how low, you just may be out of the running. It depends on your grades too though. Maybe consider a 2 year school instead of a 4 year to start and then transfer to a 4 year to finish.