Need advice on transfer opportunities. Please help!

rkhan1790
Thu, 31 May 2012 15:27:25 +0000

About a year ago I transferred out of a community college in IL with a 3.9 GPA and went to Illinois State University. I went through a lot of hardships throughout high school and afterwards so going to a community college was incredible itself but the concept of transferring to an actual university and being part of it’s community was something out of a movie for me.

I wanted to get away from the city and ISU was so quick with financial aid information I didn’t bother to apply anywhere else. I simply assumed no one would give me more than a state university. That tied with some emotional attachments to the campus, I gladly accepted. I thought for that kind of money everyone here must be studying 24/7 and striving to learn the most. My understanding was that “prestigious” school are just a name brand and the students would be the same anywhere you go. I had ambitions of starting a small company while in college and work on networking with some great people.

Unfortunately, my amazing transition to this 4 year college started to go downhill as I began to feel like an utter outcast. The community as a whole paid no respect to classes or education in general. Many students simply don’t care for it and it showed. I became the only one participating in nearly all my classes and the only student who seemed to be engaged with the professors and actual concepts revolving around subjects. I asked questions while my fellow students looked at me like “Dude, just take notes and leave.” By no means am I saying I am the smartest one here or anything even close to that but it certainly pains me to not be able to share my passion for Finance and Economics with others who are in my classes. Though I have had fun experiences at this beautiful campus, I want to ensure a future with limitless possibilities. I do plan on getting my MBA after graduation but I want my 4 year university to be a prominent business school which can offer me more than just one or two good professors. Again, I do not intend to disrespect ISU or the students here, I just want to do what will be best for my education and career.

Earlier this year I applied to DePaul and Indiana University. I hear amazing things about both, particularly IU. I wanted to try another transfer with hopes of being in a place where I could feel like I belong. I am not worried about the difficulty; its not suppose to be easy. I was hoping that by transferring I would be around more passionate students. I would gain my ambition back and be the work-horse I was a year ago. I would major in finance and minor in economics, talk to great people in finance markets and business industries about what I view as problems ahead and in the end land a job where I can be happy, make money and grow professionally.

Of course, if it was as simple as getting into a good college I would have actually tried in high school. I have no family, thus no financial support. I have been on my own for a while now, my permanent address is whatever apartment I am leasing for the this semester and if it wasn’t for FAFSA and private loans I wouldn’t be in college. I got accepted to both of the universities and as much as I want to transfer I am extremely scared about the financial aspect of it. I made a small chart to be able to see my costs for next year and total loan amounts (not including interest) as what they would be when I graduate from that college.

College Financial Aid (Cost of Attendance - Aid)

ISU: $25000 - $14,660. Loan amounts: Federal $7500, Private $2840. Total debt at graduation: $44,187
DePaul: $42,070 - $21,420. Loan amounts: Federal $5500, Private $15,150. Total debt at graduation: $64,747
IU: $44,860 - $5200. Loan amounts: Federal $5500, Private $34,160. Total debt at graduation: $91,827

This has turned my dreams of transferring into a nightmare. I do not know if such costs are justifiable in the real world. I value education a lot more than what the loans might be but I still want to be able to make my loan payments after I graduate. I look at IU’s 90K debt and think I can pay that off in 3-4 years (if I at least make around $50,000/year) by living exactly as I live now, no more luxuriously or frugally. Right then, I am reminded of all the horror stories of people stuck in never-ending loans for the rest of their lives.

I would really appreciate some guidance here. Not having a family to fall back on makes every step I take feel like a massive risk. I am shaking inside from fear of being rejected at prominent firms for not having a degree from a well-known business school or not having the right networks to help me advance.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I know I said a lot in here.