Is there a way I can get into a college as a freshman after matriculating at another college?

I honestly can’t fully describe the situation and the context that i’m in to the best of my capability using foreign language, so i will save the details and put it very briefly.

I want to apply to a top university in the US, preferably to a college that falls into the category of those within 1-20 range in their national ranking.

I started as an exchange student as a sophomore in high school in the US, and then did not bother to take the SAT in time, and ended up choosing to go to community college in a hope that i can transfer to UC colleges, but failed to.

I want to, if i can, start fresh at any of the ivy league schools in the east coast, to
Straighten up my life and start again to focus on building a good path of carrer.

I need a good source of guide as a person who later obtained clarity in life out of ambiguity and want to pursue what I really want to do.

Do you think there’s a chance i can get into any of the top schools using whatever method possible?

(Any sort of required tests or academic scores should not be the matter, however I do need to worry about whether the college accepts GED, or dropout student as a first year student. )

No. You MUST submit all previous college transcripts, even colleges you attended as dual enrollment while in high school. There is a clearinghouse colleges can check to see If you have done so. You must do this both for undergrad and graduate school applications.

You may apply as a transfer student, and only as a transfer student.

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@winchesterutd I do not understand from your post what your situation is. For example, I do not understand whether you graduated high school, what grades you had, or what test scores you have had if any. I do not know what you intend to study, what your budget is, or what you want in a university other than “top 20”. Nor do I understand why you would want to attend a top 20 university. Also, are you currently at a community college and if so what classes are you taking? What state are you in, are you a US citizen or permanent resident, and if not then what country are you from? Are you a native English speaker, and if not do you have a TOEFL score? Remember that we do not know anything about you.

That being said, @Groundwork2022 is correct. Once you take any class at a college or university, other schools will see these on your record. At a minimum, you should try to do as well as you can in your current classes.

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Taking college courses after high school graduation generally means that you would be a transfer applicant, although some colleges may allow a limited number of college courses or credits after high school graduation to be allowed to apply as frosh. Check each college of interest to see what its rules are, but do not expect too many answers that you will be allowed to apply as frosh if you have any college courses after high school graduation.

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^^ and even if they let you apply as a freshman, you still have to report your previous classes. There are no do overs.

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My D’s school clearly states that you need a minimum number of college credits to apply as a transfer student. Otherwise, you apply as a Freshman.

Without knowing how long OP was in CC, and whether and classes were even completed, I don’t think such a definitive statement can be made.

winchesterutd - how long were you in community college, did you complete and get grades in any courses? If so, how many?

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Even if the Original Poster has few enough college credits to be able to apply to some schools as a first year student, rather than as a transfer student, they are still required to submit their college transcripts when they apply.

WinchesterUTD, if it’s the case that your grades in the US college were not very good, but your grades in high school were strong, then you may want to check to see what the elite level universities in your home country and in other countries (not the US) require for university admissions. You may be able to apply to a uni in your home country and not have to send them these college transcripts.

But for US unis, you will have to send them these college transcripts. If you do not, and you get caught, you’ll be expelled. Especially from the elite unis in the US - they absolutely would expel you.

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You need to ask each college/university on your application list to find out whether they consider you a freshman applicant or a transfer applicant. Each place sets its own policy about this. Do not be surprised if some consider you a freshman and some consider you a transfer.

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