Can I apply as a freshman after withdrawing from college?

<p>I'm in a somewhat peculiar predicament and I was wondering if anybody around here would be able to supply me with information and/or guidance, as google searches have only failed me thus far.</p>

<p>Some background:
- I am currently a freshman at Binghamton University, and I have just finished my first semester. I haven't seen my official final grades yet, but I am expecting a 4.0 for 16 credit-hours.
- I did fairly well in high school but I did not perform to my ability; I graduated with a ~90% weighted average. I received a score of 2170 on my SAT, and was a National Merit scholarship recipient.</p>

<p>I recently learned that Northeastern University offers a full-tuition scholarship to accepted freshman who have been designated National Merit scholars. However, transfer applicants are no longer eligible.</p>

<p>If I were to officially drop out of Binghamton, would I be able to apply to Northeastern as a freshman applicant? I understand that the money that I put into Binghamton for this semester would have to be sacrificed, as would my credits for this semester. But I would save money in the long run, and I would be attending a better institution with a surrounding area in which I would much prefer to be. I also understand that I would have to be upfront with both institutions about my situation, and ensure that neither is intentionally or unintentionally deceived. I would like to know if there is a way to make this happen without having to bend any rules.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance.</p>

<p>In general, no.</p>

<p>But different colleges and universities have different policies about how many college credits make one a transfer rather than a freshman applicant.</p>

<p>If you want a reliable answer about Binghamton’s policy, you should really call Binghamton (after the first of the year) and ask.</p>

<p>“I recently learned that Northeastern University offers a full-tuition scholarship to accepted freshman who have been designated National Merit scholars. However, transfer applicants are no longer eligible.”</p>

<p>Someone who has already been a freshman at a SUNY and dropped out won’t receive a scholarship like that. Finish your first year at SUNY.</p>

<p>Call Northeastern to see what they say. Some schools will let you apply as a freshman if you haven’t received an entire year of college.</p>

<p>Oh, I reversed the universities, didn’t I?</p>

<p>Obviously, the place to call would be Northeastern. But I am pretty sure they’ll tell you that it’s too late for you to be considered for that scholarship.</p>

<p>Call Northeastern, and ask if they would consider you a freshman applicant. Each college and university sets its own policy about who is and who isn’t a transfer so you have to ask.</p>

<p>If they will let you apply as a freshman, you will still need to send an official copy of your transcript from Binghamton as part of your application. Whether or not any of those courses would transfer for credit would depend entirely on Northeastern. Again, this is something that each place makes its own policy about.</p>

<p>It’s Christmas Eve, no need to call, the answer is clearly stated on their website:</p>

<p>northeastern.edu > Admissions, Undergraduate > Apply, What we consider > Transfer Students</p>

<p>I suspected that would be the case, entomom. But last time I visited this thread, I was on my Kindle, and it was just too cumbersome to look it up on that little thing!</p>

<p>Okay, so it seems that I’d be considered a transfer applicant if I have ever even pursued more than twelve credits post-high school, regardless of whether or not they were officially completed?</p>

<p>That’s what it says. And policies like that are not at all unusual.</p>

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<p>Aha! Finally a benefit of being a dinosaur who only uses a desktop!</p>