What is the best college I can get into?

College Search & Lists
1

I’m a transfer student from a 4-year college in California; I transferred to this college from a community college. I can only apply to places that give insanely good FA, so I’m a little bit desperate. I’m open to any other suggestions!

Stats:

GPA: 3.94 Cumulative GPA (including CC), 4.0 at 4-year

SAT: 1510 (750 Math, 760 Reading)

Units: 90 (I’ve only taken 2 upper-div classes though: Biochem and Cell Bio)

Major: Biology (Pre-med)

Demographics:

White (North-African)

Low-income

First-gen college student

ECs:

Have done Cancer research for 1 year (1 semester at CC, and 1 semester at 4-year). At my 4-year I am working in a Bio-engineering lab, where I am learning how to 3D print cells, cell culturing techniques and how to use CAD to design novel equipment.

Mentored underprivileged high school students, helped them with college applications, and took them on field trips to universities across California

Chemistry tutor for 1.5 years

Vice President of American Medical Student Association at my CC

Founder of Chemistry Club at my CC

200 hours of hospital volunteering

Intramural Soccer at my 4-year

Essays: I am writing about how overcoming a brain tumor inspired me to want to become a pediatric cancer researcher, and why I chose the school I am at because my mom lost her job last year, and they offered me a full-ride.

I am also talking about why my current school (unranked) does not have the resources to help me actualize my goal of becoming a cancer researcher. I am mentioning specific classes that I wish to take, specific faculty that I wish to work with and things I like about the atmosphere of each school I am applying to. In essence, I am writing a different essay that is tailored to each school.

2

If you have a true "full-ride scholarship " (tuition, fees, room & board), then remain where you are & consider getting a masters degree after finishing your undergraduate degree requirements.

3

Agree with the above. Most colleges do not give much aid to transfer students. In addition, most colleges require a student to attend for 2 years before he/she can graduate from the institution – with 90 credits it seems you only have one year to go before you get your degree.

I’d work on finishing your degree strong where you are and then applying to grad programs in your area of interest. Focus on what you school does offer, not what it doesn’t offer.

4

The majority of these 75 colleges appear to meet the full financial need of transfer students: https://money.com/colleges-that-meet-full-financial-need/. You can select from among those that appear receptive to transfer applicants (i.e., those that accept transfer applicants at a rate at least equivalent to that for first-year applicants, as visible through Common Data Sets).

5

@Publisher It turns out that many of the scholarships that I got were non-renewable. I’m going to be paying at least $15k/year, starting next year. Also, I plan to attend medical school.
@happy1 I still have 2 years left at this college. They have a lot of requirements for my major that I didn’t meet while at CC.

6

For cancer research, you will need a PhD. You already have two semesters of undergrad lab work. If you can afford to finish your undergrad degree where you are, and you keep up the lab work, get good grades, and good letters of recommendation, you will be fine. A joint MD/PhD program is likely to be fully funded. Target those instead of just MD programs.

Have you spoken with the financial aid office at your current college/university to find out whether additional funds can be scraped together for your next two years?