Transfer chances for a top 4 Catholic and ideas for how to manage housing issue?

[Anonymous]

My son’s University has little to no guaranteed upperclass housing, so juniors and seniors live off-campus. A sophomore, he is applying to transfer to his former top choice University, which rejected him when he was a senior in HS. Sophomores at my son’s school are now putting down deposits on off-campus housing. I’m concerned about the possibility of him not being accepted to his preferred school, and then having no housing for his junior year at his current university. Any thoughts on how one typically manages this process?

He attended a decent Catholic HS, but his GPA was only a 3.4 (weighted). His current university is rated an “A-“ on Niche, and is ranked at around the top 25 Catholic universities. His college GPA is a 3.9; and his extracurriculars and work experience are much more impressive, and his recommendations will be stronger than the HS recommendations. He is also taking one honors class this semester, which he has an A in. However, he is applying to a “Top 4” Catholic which has a very low transfer acceptance rate, and an A+ rating on Niche. He’ll be competing against transfer applicants from tippy top schools, who were much more stellar students than he in HS. I know his alumni interviewer from HS recommended him for admission, and he does interview well.

I’m a nervous Mom, afraid he doesn’t have much of a chance of getting into this elite school and doubly afraid that he may be setting himself up for a rough junior year at his current university if he does not arrange for junior year housing now. However, I don’t want him to take on responsibility for an off campus lease when he may have to beg off. His preferred school will be much more expensive, and I can’t afford to waste money on a lease agreement he may not be able to honor. He has merit scholarships at the current university, likely due to his high SAT scores. He will not have that if accepted at the desired school.

Any thoughts, both on the likelihood of his acceptance and the housing issue? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Villanova's transfer acceptance rate for males two years ago was 27% (see D1 of the CDS, https://www1.villanova.edu/content/dam/villanova/enroll/registrar/CDS_2020-2021.pdf). No idea whether transfer rates are substantially different now.

His record sounds quite good. If he's applying to multiple schools, I bet there's a decent chance he'll get admitted to one. But, if he is applying no lower than Villanova, it's much harder to guess.

[Anonymous]

That is a tough one OP. He should have a good chance to transfer since his stats improved + many universities have upper class spots due to Covid uncertainty. I would gamble and not put down a deposit. There is always a roomshare somewhere. Good luck! Keep us posted.

[Anonymous]

If all you have to lose is a deposit, hedge your bets. Don’t worry about him having to “beg off.” If he’s gone anyway, who cares what the then-ex roommates think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If all you have to lose is a deposit, hedge your bets. Don’t worry about him having to “beg off.” If he’s gone anyway, who cares what the then-ex roommates think?

Wow. Maybe someone only looking at Catholic universities does not feel comfortable pulling a fast one like that. Maybe student is friends with the kids he’d room with?

[Anonymous]

Could he put down a deposit with friends while informing them of the situation? That way, the friends know in advance. Your son could promise to help them find someone else to take his spot if he's gone? Maybe he could ask and see if his friends would mind this?

As a student, I'd be okay with it as long as the person helped find another **good** person to take the spot.