<p>I am currently a freshmen in college and am interested in transferring. Is this possible to do after only one year? If possible and I apply now, how do my spring semester grades come into play?</p>
<p>Yes, in fact I think most of the transfers on this board are for current freshmen. Your spring semester grades depend by school. Some want midterm grade reports, while some do not. You have to look individually.</p>
<p>I know someone who transferred after first semester. She'd been accepted by the school she eventually transferred to during her high school application round, and when she got to her first college, within two weeks, realized that she would be happier at the other school. She did a quick re-app and was re-accepted quickly.</p>
<p>But of course you can transfer after one year. You will be evaluated on your fall grades and, for some schools, a mid-term report. Usually your spring grades will only come into play as a "you are accepted conditional on your completing the spring term satisfactorily/at the same level as you have performed previously."</p>
<p>Many deadlines are coming soon; some have passed; some will give you more time.</p>
<p>Read the Transfer Admissions 101 thread.</p>
<p>Does the whole application have to be received by the deadline? Can some supplementary material (like LORs) arrive a week later?
I currently attend Loyola University in Chicago with a 3.3 first semester GPA, a 3.5 HSGPA, and a 27 ACT. I'm thinking of: Duke, Wash U, Johns Hopkins, Emory, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, UCLA, NYU, Virginia, Boston College, and Texas. Any advice?</p>
<p>Would it be better not to rush the process, try to improve my GPA to above a 3.5 and apply next year (maybe as a spring transfer)?</p>
<p>I think that your school choices are a bit unrealistic. When transferring as a sophomore, your high school record is still very important. If you would not have had a chance at a school in high school, you most likely will not have a chance at that school after a year in college. You can work like crazy next year to bring up your college gpa & perhaps distinguish yourself in some way on campus to give yourself a better chance. You can read the thread on "crappy" high school record kids who eventually succeeded in getting into top schools (not that your high school record is "bad" ... but it is not in the running for the majority of the schools you mentioned).</p>
<p>Like kelsmom said, all of those schools are very competitive, and for some a 3.5 GPA is almost an informal baseline. If you're really serious about the schools mentioned, and wouldn't mind staying at Loyola if things don't work out, then I'd suggest waiting another year and getting your GPA as high as possible.</p>
<p>Otherwise, you'll definetly want to broaden your list.</p>
<p>Best of luck :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Does the whole application have to be received by the deadline? Can some supplementary material (like LORs) arrive a week later?
[/quote]
Yes, that is fine.
[quote]
Would it be better not to rush the process, try to improve my GPA to above a 3.5 and apply next year (maybe as a spring transfer)?
[/quote]
Possibly that would improve your chances, as you have listed some very reach-y schools. Note that many of them will not take spring transfers.</p>
<p>As kelsmom said, those schools are quite reach-y for you. No one can say it's impossible. But you might want to give thought to your reasons for transfer and find schools which fit your needs that are more likely.</p>
<p>If, however, you would be content to stay at Loyola if you do not receive acceptances at any of those schools, then you could limit yourself to such reach-y schools. Prepare yourself for disappointment, because very few transfers are accepted at most of the schools you've listed.</p>