<p>I intend to make an exit from my current university. Given the fact that I have a full scholarship and decent grades, I’m convinced that I can gain admission to a top liberal arts college (that may be willing to overlook my below-average high school record) that meets full need, thereby replacing my merit-based aid with need-based aid (my EFC is ~500). However, my family is in love with current university and refuses to fill out or provide me with documents necessary for the CSS or IDOC (my current university requires neither). After joining clubs and running for student government, I still have no friends, and I can see this persisting for the next three years, given the culture of my university.
Given that colleges emphasize that families have the primary responsibility for paying for college (even though I virtually would have to pay nothing upfront at any of the schools I’m interested in applying to), I doubt that “parents refuse to file forms because they dont want their student going here” is considered a legitimate excuse. Am I basically stuck at my current university?</p>
<p>You have been at this university for one semester. If you weren’t competitive for admissions at the meets-full-needs LACs a year ago, why do you think that one semester of good grades will make a difference in your admissibility now? They will still want to see your “below-average high school record”.</p>
<p>Give your current university another year. During that time, find out why your family is so “in love” with it. Work on developing arguments for transfer that they would consider valid. Perhaps they will come around.</p>
<p>I have seen some of your other posts because I am considering the school you are thinking of leaving. Not overly excited, but I have to consider anyplace giving me big money. Have you looked at volunteering for research of something with some of the professors? This could help with meeting upper classmen who are more serious about the academics. What about the honors program? Are you in it? are they helpful and active? If you are not in, can you join? Where are the other top kids there under the top scholarships? Maybe you can start a club for that group because maybe some of them also are feeling alone.</p>
<p>As for getting out…what if you tell your parents that you will do everything you can (and mean it) to make your current college work and hopefully it will. But if for some reason you still are not happy you feel that you need a back up option. If they won’t do it (fill out the forms) you might have to either stay where you are or leave and go home and work and pay your way at a local college. I mean, will they let you come home or are they saying you have to say at your current college and that is it?</p>
<p>I feel for you. That sucks. I just hope that by spring things turn around and something clicks for you so that you feel like you can stay and make it if you have to. Do they have peer mentors or anything like that? A service club? A religious club (if you are okay with that)? Can you ask admissions to help with accepted students days for new scholarship kids? Just throwing out there some ways maybe to try other ways to get involved that might help if you parents won’t budge. Oh, and is one parent easier to talk to than the other? If so, maybe talk to that one alone?</p>