Okay, so as the title states, I’m possibly thinking of transferring from my current college (Barnard College). I’m currently a first-year and a Quest Bridge match (yay!). I did hours of research into each school and confidentially ranked each school. Barnard was my top choice. I don’t regret applying to Quest Bridge or even Barnard. I’m very grateful for the experience. However, Barnard is in a lot of debt. I’m talking $250 million in counting. In order to handle this debt, they’re constantly letting go of staff and important programs that students like me need. I expect the situation to only get worse as time goes on. Also, I’m not even guaranteed housing next year, despite being a QB match. It’s genuinely not a good school for FLI students. Getting in contact with financial aid is an entirely separate problem. It’s still crazy to me that I did all this research and so much information managed to slip past me. I honestly just want advice from people who may have been in a similar situation. Also, I’m unsure if I should start the transfer process this year or next. I honestly would like to stay up north (I’m from the south), but I have thought about possibly transferring to Vanderbilt. (Also, please give me recommendations for a school that would give good aid)
I don’t know a lot about colleges, but if there are better alternatives and your current one is cutting programs and can’t even guarantee housing for students transferring would probably be the recommended choice.
Hmmmm - you have a QB scholarship and you just got to school.
No, you should not transfer.
If you’re not assured housing, then check with Aid - I’m sure you’re assured funding, etc. or you wouldn’t have won QB.
A lot of schools have debt - in fact, most every school borrows.
You just got there - stay the course and kick butt. You are catastrophizing for no reason. Get yourself acclimated - you have a golden opportunity. Don’t throw it away.
Barnard students can take courses across the street at Columbia. Since you can’t seem to get the courses you need at Barnard, investigate to see if they’re available at Columbia and ask your advisor how you can enroll in them there. Check the Directory of Classes, which lists all classes for both colleges to find the courses you need. You should then be able to register for the classes you need. In addition to your advisor, the Registrar should be able to answer any questions.
Note that some first year classes at each college are exclusively for students at their own college and that Columbia students are given preference for their Core Curriculum requirements. Note also that it is a common complaint of freshmen at almost all colleges that they can’t get into the courses they want, so transferring is not likely to help with this. Access to courses should get better over time.
And add many schools - top and otherwise - have course limitations. Just because it’s in the catalogue doesn’t mean it’s offered.
A poster earlier today noted their kid couldn’t get a lot of courses at a top school (or advising) but their kid who went to a non pedigree had no issues.
Top school doesn’t mean the best access.
But a QB kid should 100% not even think of transferring.
Hi! Thank you so much for your advice, I really appreciate it. I’m very grateful for my full-ride QuestBridge scholarship, but beyond that, Barnard offers very limited financial support. Many programs that used to cover books, off-campus housing, and other student needs have already been cut or significantly reduced. Students can typically request (a rule made just this academic year) support only once, and even then, there’s a strong chance it won’t be approved. Even my meal plan is set to be significantly reduced. Someone in the comments mentioned something about the course catalog, and while access to Columbia’s course catalog isn’t an issue for me, first-year students aren’t allowed to take courses there this year due to the college’s financial constraints. Our office meant for fli/QB acts more as a social resource than a financial one, something they very much acknowledge. They don’t have the resources to really help. Despite all of this, I, of course, do agree that I just got here and definitely want to give myself some time to fully evaluate Barnard’s finances, but I’m also considering looking into other schools to compare aid and resources. If the resources are the same or worse, then I’ll simply stay put. It’s definitely not a decision I’m taking lightly.
You have an amazing Questbridge scholarship at one of the best colleges in the country (where you also have some access to classes at Columbia). It is highky unlikely that you will be able to match this situation elsewhere. I’d make every effort to get Barnard to work for you.
You are missing something….and yes they have the resources.
Don’t treat debt and cuts as one and the same.
You have a full ride and they meet need. That isn’t changing.
You are missing something.
And as a transfer, it’s highly unlikely you get such a good deal.
You are not Barnard’s financial analyst - that isn’t your worry.
Barnard’s finances are strong - they have an A3 debt rating (well into investment grade).
Many colleges are cutting and Barnard cut no faculty - just staff.
You hit a home run - if you start thinking about leaving, you’ll end up having a bad year - and you’re not going to do better than QB. What you are saying isn’t adding up.
QB scholarship will be tough to replicate elsewhere; do not transfer for the reasons shared in this thread thus far.
Looking at this info, the recommended choice would be to stay.