<p>Happykid will graduate next May, so she is working on her short-list for transfer applications now. She has an affordable in-state option where she is guaranteed admissions to her major program with her A.A., so the True Safety is firmly locked in. We will be visiting a couple places on her list later this month, and more of them in the fall and spring. What should I be looking for on the websites, and asking about in an appointment with the Financial Aid Officers? </p>
<p>Please advise.</p>
<p>You should be looking for finanical aid for transfer students. </p>
<p>You would be suprised that some schools do not offer any kind of financial aid for transfer students. </p>
<p>If you are visiting various financial aid offices don’t be afraid to ask for an early read. </p>
<p>You should still run your numbers through a financial aid calculator to see if any of the big reach schools are financially feasible options for your family.</p>
<p>*What should I be looking for on the websites, and asking about in an appointment with the Financial Aid Officers? *</p>
<p>I’m not sure if the websites often give much info as to how generous they are with transfer students. As Sybbie noted, some/many schools aren’t generous with transfer students. I think Cornell and USC (calif) are. Don’t know about the others. </p>
<p>If I remember correctly, you have a pretty high EFC, right? </p>
<p>I guess the question to ask FA offices is “do you meet 100% of need without big loans to transfer students?” Anything else might end up with a song and dance that doesn’t materialize well. It seems to me that those who’ve posted with highish EFCs don’t get much at schools that don’t meet need.</p>
<p>I would probably tell them your EFC so that they know that you won’t qualify for Pell or other free fed aid. </p>
<p>Which schools are on the list?</p>
<p>Our EFC is about $20k. I can’t recall the exact number, and I just don’t have the heart to dig through my files today. I know it isn’t more than that.</p>
<p>I’ve taken a look at the transfer scholarship information and so far it is pretty slim pickings, which is why I’m glad Happykid likes her safety! Most places do seem to offer a small scholarship for anyone who is a PTK member, so my fingers are crossed that she can keep her GPA up long enough to be invited to join. </p>
<p>Happykid is a Theatre Tech/Design major. None of the places on her list so far ever get mentioned in this forum. That’s why I’m hoping you all can help me come up with good questions/topic for discussion Thanks for the exact wording for the need & loan question M2CK!</p>
<p>You may want to see if any OOS schools have tuition reciprocity/exchange programs with Maryland.</p>
<p>Maryland does participate in the Academic Common Market, but Happykid’s major isn’t one of the ones that is included.</p>
<p>Doh :(</p>
<p>10char</p>
<p>I would directly call the financial aid offices and ask what the financial aid picture is for transfers. Many schools that meet full need do not do so for transfer students. In such cases, you can try to find out what their average aid met is for transfer students. Also ask schools that don’t guarantee to meet need if transfer students get less of a package than incoming freshmen as a whole, and again ask what the average need met is and the average school grant amount. </p>
<p>Congratulations and good luck to Happykid!</p>
<p>Important tip: Do not plan to transfer in spring term. The best aid is awarded early in the award year process for fall start. Get the app in early & the FAFSA filed early (January is best, if possible). Follow up on any requests for verification.</p>
<p>Because of her major, is it important for her to be at a school in a good sized city? Are those the schools that typically have better Theatre Tech/Design majors?</p>
<p>Someone recently posted that Loyola Maryland meets need…but I don’t know if that’s for transfer students.</p>
<p>Check out the tech theater program at SUNY Purchase…it used to be good, don’t know if it still is.</p>
<p>One question you might want to ask…WHEN will transfer students hear about financial aid? This will likely vary by school…but at my kids’ schools it was VERY late in the summer. If this is the case, at least you will know.</p>
<p>the COA for SUNY- OOS is $30,170</p>
<p>[SUNY:</a> Tuition and Fees](<a href=“http://www.suny.edu/student/paying_tuition.cfm]SUNY:”>http://www.suny.edu/student/paying_tuition.cfm)</p>
<p>Perhaps happy kid can get some merit $ as a transfer student</p>
<p>from their FAQs</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If she can pull some merit $ and perhaps a student loan along with your EFC, you may be able to make this work.</p>
<p>Link to their course equivalency</p>
<p><a href=“http://studentservices.purchase.edu/public/CourseEquiv/MainPage.aspx[/url]”>http://studentservices.purchase.edu/public/CourseEquiv/MainPage.aspx</a></p>
<p>I knew you guys would have good ideas for us! Thanks so much!</p>
<p>SUNY Purchase is still on the short-list even though it looks like it would take at least three years for her to finish a B.F.A. there because of the strict course sequencing. </p>
<p>Regional job market is a consideration. She wants to be certain that by graduation, she has enough professional contacts so that she can find work.</p>
<p>I have another question for you: If the Stafford Loan isn’t part of her financial aid package, can she take it out and use it toward our EFC? I had always assumed that was possible, but just recently I’ve begun to wonder. If we can’t use it toward the EFC, I will need to come up with a new plan between now and next fall.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the design school at University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem? It’s a conservatory type of school with an outstanding theater department, and lots of opportunities for good practical work in the tech fields. I don’t know how or if they take transfer students, but it’s worth checking.</p>
<p>*This will likely vary by school…but at my kids’ schools it was VERY late in the summer. If this is the case, at least you will know. *</p>
<p>Very good point. Many transfer students have reported not getting aid packages til late in the summer…very frustrating!! </p>
<p>I have another question for you: If the Stafford Loan isn’t part of her financial aid package, can she take it out and use it toward our EFC? I</p>
<p>Yes…7500 for a junior.</p>
<p>But, it’s very likely that the loan will already be part of her FA package. That’s sometimes shocking for people who think that they can use a student loan to reduce EFC. There are only a few schools that either don’t put loans in FA packages or limit them to about $2k per year. They tend to be the more elite schools. </p>
<p>So… If a school has a COA of $35k and your EFC is $20…then need is $15k…The school will likely give her a 7500 loan and maybe some merit…and maybe some w/s. </p>
<p>If your instate public’s tuition, room, board and books is about $20k, then you certainly could use the 7500 loan towards EFC. :)</p>
<p>Have you considered SUNY Fredonia?</p>
<p>[Theatrical</a> Production and Design Bachelor of Fine Arts degree](<a href=“http://www.fredonia.edu/catalog/4261.htm]Theatrical”>http://www.fredonia.edu/catalog/4261.htm)</p>
<p>Have you also checked out Beliot?</p>
<p><a href=“Major in Theatre & Dance | Performing Arts at Beloit College”>Major in Theatre & Dance | Performing Arts at Beloit College;
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</p>
<p>Happymom – you raise a great point re tranfer students – years to completion can be just as important as sticker price.</p>
<p>Happymom, I want to add that my son was a Musical Theater major. When we were looking at schools and he was going on auditions, there seemed to be a demand for those who wanted to go into the tech and other parts of the performing arts. Not the performing part where the accept rate is so low, but the support roles like your student wants to do. I remember Syracuse and Michigan actually saying this right out. Now whether they support this with $$s, I don’t know, but with theater type majors standing in line around the building, they certainly are not going to be getting the “come hither” money as they don’t need to pay for them. But for what your student wants to study, there may be possibilities. Call some departments that are known for this sort of thing and ask about financial aid and merit awards.</p>