<p>I am currently approaching the end of my first semester as a freshman at Stony Brook University. I definitely want to transfer, but I can't afford most other schools, and most other schools don't give merit based scholarships to transfer students. I was thinking I might want to apply to these schools as a new incoming freshman just as if I were coming right out of high school without transferring any of my college credits. Is this possible? Will it qualify me to earn scholarships just like any other high school senior?</p>
<p>You can’t chose to apply as a freshmen applicant. Colleges, themselves, define who qualifies to be a freshmen or transfer applicant. Some colleges will consider all students who have taken any college college courses after high school to be transfers, but others will define transfers as those who have completed x number of college courses after high school as transfers. (If you have taken fewer than x units then you apply as a freshman). </p>
<p>When you apply to a college you must submit all your transcripts. See here: [Can</a> We Hide Past College Failures from Admissions Committees? - Ask The Dean](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/can-we-hide-past-college-failures-from-admissions-committees.htm]Can”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/can-we-hide-past-college-failures-from-admissions-committees.htm)</p>
<p>Agree w/c_r, each college has their own definition of who is a fr and who is a transfer applicant, so you need to go to the website of each college you’re interested in and see if you are still considered a fr applicant. If a college says you fit their definition of a fr applicant, then yes, you will qualify for fr merit scholarships.</p>
<p>I see. I get that every school has their own, but does anyone know what a general definition of a transfer student is? I’ve taken 13 credits.</p>
<p>Too hard to generalize–you need to check at each college.</p>
<p>However, if you want a working definition, then ALL students who have had some college credits attempted are technically transfer students. It is just that <em>a few</em> colleges have a little leeway. When I see this leeway, it is usually 15 or less or 12 or less, etc. So - as you can tell, even there you are right on the edge.</p>
<p>The exception to the general rule I just made up is that college credits taken as a HS are sometimes also waived and the student is allowed to be a freshman applicant. However, this also is a college by college decision. Gotta ask each college, there are no shortcuts here.</p>
<p>Anyway you can drop the classes without prejudice? If not you will be considered a transfer by most schools,</p>
<p>Really, only 13 credits and I’ll be considered a transfer?</p>
<p>I thought that if I attempted to take any credits, I would still be considered a transfer. I’m pretty sure that I can’t drop my classes in December without having them on my transcript. Right or wrong?</p>
<p>Drop them now, and they are still on your transcript, and you will still have to send it because you did indeed start the classes. And I assure you, that 13 credits dropped at the last minute are going to look a lot worse than 13 completed credits. The college/university that you apply to is going to want an explanation.</p>
<p>Some colleges/universities will consider you a transfer with only 1 post-high school credit. Many will consider you a first year applicant with fewer than 24 post-high school credits. You really do need to investigate the individual policies of the institutions that you want to apply to. If you have questions, pick up the phone and call their admissions offices.</p>
<p>“24 post-high school credits”</p>
<p>Whoops! That should have been “12 post-high school credits”.</p>