Freshman or Transfer?

<p>Hello all,</p>

<p>I am an international applicant for a 2015 undergraduate class and I am currently awaiting admissions decision.</p>

<p>As an international student and having in my country a school term different from the US one, I have graduated from high school in November 2010. So far, I have taken my Country’s standardized test and have been offered admission to a local public university, which has classes starting in February.</p>

<p>Right now, I am vehemently looking forward having my college degree in the US, but since your term only starts in August-September, I thought I would end up being idle until that point. Therefore, I’ve considered the possibility of attending my local university, to which I’ve been admitted, until Fall when I can finally move and start my definite studies.</p>

<p>Yet, I would like to have a confirmation whether such approach is accepted and if I’d still be considered as a freshman for the upcoming fall 2011 term instead of being considered as a transfer student. Please note that I do not intend to transfer any credits or other academic data.</p>

<p>Any facts on this?</p>

<p>Thank you for your attention!</p>

<p>You need to ask each of the colleges and universities that you are applying to in the US how to handle this. Some will say it is OK, because it is like doing a Gap Year activity. Others won’t like it, and it would be better to do something else for a while. For example, you could enroll in a pre-college English language program, and take courses in Academic reading and writing.</p>

<p>Whether you want to transfer the credits from your university in Brazil is immaterial. You still will need to send copies of those academic records to the college or university that you finally do decide to attend in the US. It is part of your permanent academic history. Think of it this way, if you were in a high school in the US, you would have to send your final grades at the end of the year to the college you plan to attend.</p>

<p>You need to check with each school you’re interested in as schools have different definitions of who is a transfer students. They range from GWU which considers you a transfer applicant if you have taken 1 post-HS college course (anywhere) to Yale which still considers you a fr applicant if you have not completed a full year of post-HS college.</p>

<p>You will need to submit transcripts for any post-HS college work, no matter where you attend or whether you intend to use the credits or not.</p>

<p>First, thank you for your answers. I’ve contacted every universities (sent them e-mails) and I’m waiting for answers. So far, University of Michigan answered me and said I was fine on this situation (I would indeed be considered a freshman).</p>

<p>Just received an answer from Caltech and they said I can’t have attended any university prior to matriculating there :/</p>