<p>Mostly because my parents’ income is in the $ 120 K per annum range, I did not get any money from all the big name schools I applied to. Consequently, I’m planning to do a year at University of Florida, which is giving me a free ride. I hope to be able to transfer into a school like Columbia or Duke or Georgetown next year, in the hope that I will get substantial money at these places. I believe most of the Ivys and many non Ivys are now trying to ensure that a majority of students leave college without debt, so they are being more liberal with grants even to higher income students. </p>
<p>Can someone guide me on how I can maximize my chances of being accepted as a transfer student in a big school and also on how I can ensure that I get some money there. </p>
<p>I have a 3.8 GPA currently ( 4.9 weighted), 8 APs, 2180 on SAT, and excellent reccos. I am assuming I will do at least as well in my first year at UF.</p>
<p>i wouldnt expect to get more money at those schools next year…</p>
<p>it does seem like harvard and yale (I’m sure there are others) are giving really generous aid these days. but i wouldn’t count on schools like georgetown and duke following suit just within the next year. the good news is that if you transfer as a soph or junior, obviously you save those years of tuition. that’s probably about the best you can hope for in terms of there being a financial benefit to transferring.</p>
<p>I’d say do your best academically, get involved in ECs, get to know professors. My advice is that don’t expect money from these schools because transfer admissions tend to be more need-aware than need-blind. Yeah, schools are being more liberal with aid, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to get it. If you didn’t get aid as a freshmen, don’t expect it as a transfer is all I’m saying.</p>
<p>Get a 4.0, preferably in an area that isn’t completely bloated with other transfer hopefuls (i.e. economics). Involve yourself deeply in 1-2 extra-curriculars that you really enjoy.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that for transfer applicants, high school recommendations usually don’t transfer. Colleges want recommendations from professors. Go to office hours a lot, do reading outside of the syllabus in certain courses, really impress the profs who will be writing your recs.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>