How to pay for Cornell and grad school?

Question

I am an upcoming freshman at SUNY Buffalo University and I am planning to transfer to Cornell during the next fall semester of 2008. It is my dream school and I really want to attend there by trying to maintain a college GPA of atleast a 3.8. Since there is a great emphasis of consideration on recent college work during transfers I am also planning to join many clubs at my current college. My high school gpa is 3.7 + 4 APs and 6 honors + 2 clubs.
SAT scores are not considered for transfer students in Cornell.
Do you think I have a good chance? If I'm also planning to go to grad school how will I manage to pay around 45k each year for Cornell and grad school? Are loans a financial burden after you graduate? Can grants and scholarships really cover most of that amount?

Answer 1

1) 3.7 isn't a very good GPA for a high school applicant to Cornell. 3.8 college GPA is pretty good though, altho if you're talking Cornell, it's no sure thing.

2) Joining a bunch of clubs in a year will do squat for you. Cornell isn't going to be impressed. Anyone can sign their name to a sign up sheet. You have to do something impressive in your year of college. If it's in one club or more, it doesn't matter. It just has to be an impressive accomplishment. Doesn't even have to be in a club setting.

3) School loans suck, but you don't pay until you graduate. Consolidating does make it a more manageable monthly amount. Hopefully you pick a decent paying career. I really can't understand people who choose private schools just to do a low paying career.

Answer 2

What are you planning to go to grad school for? If it's the sciences or engineering (not medical), graduate schools will often pay YOU to attend - if you work as a teaching or research assistant, and pretty much everyone does that. You can often get this deal in other subjects as well if you work as a teaching assistant, grader, or lecturer. Definitely look into it, because graduate school is expensive otherwise! For now though, take out loans and don't look back. You can wait until after you finish grad school to pay them back, and you'll be making a lot of money then, hopefully.

Answer 3

I actually go to Cornell. I think the clubs are not going to do much. Focus on having the best possible academic record at SUNY to prove to Cornell that you could manage in their classrooms. Then focus on the application itself. Try to explain to them why you want to go to cornell so badly and how you can succeed there.

If you maintain a good college GPA, combined with your good high school grades, I think your chances are good.

As for paying for it, I don't know.

Good luck.

Answer 4

You could apply for student loans. If you are first time in your family to seek higher education.
If you come from low income you are qualifiying for specialized loans.
If you are a minority there are different scholarship programs avaiable.
Ask your Higher Education department in your state for advice.
Your GPA is high enough, I do not think why you could not qualify ?Good luck

Federal Work study , work as you study helps too paying for university. I had that in my undergraduate studies.I also had two different kind of scholarships.