Will top universities accept me to their Graduate Program?

From a career standpoint, is it better to finish a degree at an unfavorable institution and subsequently apply for your preferred study, or is it better to transfer directly into the program that you want?

• I am a sophomore in a small, private college that only offers business and psychology majors, but I always wanted to study linguistics. I chose this college because I took classes for http://easyinternetdeals.com/?tfrom=ffc&proj=www.quora.com&org=chrome&word=international+business&srchfor=international+business&pgfrm=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quora.com%2Fquestion%2Fadd in http://easyinternetdeals.com/?tfrom=ffc&proj=www.quora.com&org=chrome&word=high+school&srchfor=high+school&pgfrm=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quora.com%2Fquestion%2Fadd and loved it, the college offered me the most http://easyinternetdeals.com/?tfrom=ffc&proj=www.quora.com&org=chrome&word=financial+aid&srchfor=financial+aid&pgfrm=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quora.com%2Fquestion%2Fadd, and it was close to some extended family members. After my time here, I realized that business may be interesting, but it isn't something I want to do as a career. Another factor that led me to want to transfer is that this institution has treated several students poorly, including me. For example, they have lost financial documents for http://easyinternetdeals.com/?tfrom=ffc&proj=www.quora.com&org=chrome&word=financial+aid&srchfor=financial+aid&pgfrm=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quora.com%2Fquestion%2Fadd and other personal documents several times and refused to tell the students that the papers were lost until the billing statement came. I have several universities in mind (Iowa State, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Brandeis), but I am concerned about the cost of attending these universities as a transfer. My family and I can barely make the payments at my current university, even after my scholarships and grants here. Most universities don't offer scholarships or grants for transfer, but it's hard to find a university that offers a solid linguistics program. Would it be better for me to finish my degree at my current university and then go into another bachelors program at another institution, or should I transfer directly into the linguistics program somewhere else? I have also considered applying for a linguistics program at graduate level, but my college does not offer any linguistics courses, and most http://easyinternetdeals.com/?tfrom=ffc&proj=www.quora.com&org=chrome&word=community+colleges&srchfor=community+colleges&pgfrm=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quora.com%2Fquestion%2Fadd only offer the basic classes.

• Answer:

  I'd like to make the strongest case possible for you to do the actual cost analysis of both options. Then choose whichever costs less. Going into massive debt for undergrad makes no sense, especially if you have grad school ambitions. You don't learn 3x more at an expensive private school.  If you and your family are struggling now I strongly urge you to find the least expensive public university option. Go to your home state and go to their flagship institution.  You'll have the option of going to grad school, you'll make connections in the department of your choice and you'll save a ton. Pursuing your educational passion is great but it will feel terrible if you're saddled with non-negotiable long term debt for a degree that you may or may not use. Prestige of school at the undergrad level is not that important. Nobody asks me about my GPA or where I went for my bachelors, all that matters is my graduate degree and my work history. I stress this because I have many friends that have been hampered by their debt; my ex had six figures of debt for her bachelors and she had to make career choices based upon her debt as opposed to her true interests. When you owe money you will choose the best paying job by necessity, not out of love. More important, if you're not happy at your school leave! You may lose a semesters worth of credits but that's not a big deal compared to how much you'll save overall.