<p>*"Also worth pointing out that most scholarships are for incoming freshmen. I had a 3.7 and extensive ECs when I applied to transfer from my CC and was way overqualified for most of the schools I applied for, but the money just isn’t there for transfer students. If you have a shot at some kind of merit aid, sometimes going straight to a 4 year school can make more sense or balance out. "
*</p>
<p>This is very true when it comes to merit. A friend of mine thought that they’s save money by having their first child go to a CC first, do well, and then transfer. They later found out that their child got no merit at any of his accepted schools because the offers were for incoming frosh. There are some schools that offer transfer scholarships, but they are usually either lowish ranking schools, or the amounts or merit are a “drop in the bucket” compared to COA. </p>
<p>The same can happen in regards to need based aid unless the aid is prescribed by a state gov’t… for example: Cal grants (Calif), Tap (NY) and then such aid usually only makes an instate public affordable…</p>
<p>Or… the student is transferring to a rare univ that is generous to transfers (USC, Cornell, and some others). </p>
<p>Yes, if you’re a Calif high school grad and resident, lowish/modest income, and you go to a CC first, then transfer to a UC, then you’ll get very good aid. That sort of situation is the exception, not the rule. That is why most CC students end up transferring to their local state univ…they can’t afford to “go away”.</p>
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hmmm. I’ve never really bought this argument. I think that what your describing does occur but not to the extent that you think. For one, I transferred and got a good amount of aid. </p>
<p>I fully believe that for the very large majority of students, transfering from a community college to a 4 year is far more affordable in the long run (ie; any aid lost as a transfer student is immaterial). </p>
<p>People also tend to forget that community colleges have scholarships too - they are just not as heavily promoted as they are at a 4year.*</p>
<p>What state were you in? What school did you transfer to? What kind of aid did you get?</p>