applying in spring?

Applying to College
1

is it more competitive?

2

For which schools? As a Freshman or Transfer? There are less choices in colleges since many do not accept Spring admits.

3

as a transfer student
i was looking at cornell, barnard, nyu, emory etc.

thoughts?

4

When My D2 did it, the transfer acceptance percentage to Cornell CAS in the Spring was essentially the same as for the Fall.

Admissions chances aside, IMO, transferring in the Spring can have some disadvantages vs. Fall. (at all schools).

  • Smaller transfer cohort This group is the most likely pool for your friends, initially. .... (Related point: socially, may be best: to go someplace that gets a lot of incoming transfer students)
  • More hit and miss housing- just filling where there is a vacancy someplace, vs. "matching" people based on status (eg new transfer student), or interests expressed in the housing survey form you fill out.
  • If best time to look for housing for the following year is in the Fall; you missed that.
  • If returning students have already signed up for Spring courses, you are more likely to get shut out of something you might want to take.
  • Lots of extracurriculars, jobs, frats, etc. mostly booked up from Fall. Some opportunities still, but not as many.
  • Fewer schools offer Spring admit.