Is this "college hopping" illegal?

<p>Basically, I am at X University now. I hate it here, so I am applying for transfer to Y University. The dilemma is that the program I am applying for only starts every fall, so I would have to wait until next fall (2013) to begin if I am accepted. I am without certain plans for the Spring 2013 semester now, and I can't stay here. I was wondering if anybody knew if it would be okay if I also applied for transfer to Z University but for the Spring 2013 semester. I HAVE to get out of X University but I am not sure what to do. Will it affect my application status to Y University? What about my financial aid? thank you!</p>

<p>It depends on the selectivity of the university. You would be FAR better off doing a semester exchange from your current university - almost all of them have exchange programs both within the US and internationally.</p>

<p>Hm, that is a good idea. I really don’t want to go internationally because I am engaged to a guy back at home, where my Y and Z universities are. I am pretty much over the University where I am now; the shiny new away-from-home college experience faded once I realized how hard of a school I chose.</p>

<p>Why do you think that you need to be in college next semester? Take a leave of absence from X, go home, get a job and/or a volunteer gig, and take a break from formal education for a few months. I promise that your brain cells will not all shrivel up and die in that period of time. Most students find such a “gap” invigorating, and return to their studies with stronger goals and a better frame of mind.</p>

<p>I would look for an internship/co-op in the spring. You will be able to leave your current school, gain professional work experience and not have to take a leave by being enrolled for co-op/internship credit.</p>

<p>Thank you! I did consider taking a break from school for a semester, but I have always liked school; I would want to exhaust all of my options before having to take a break. If I do end up taking a break or enrolling somewhere part-time, an internship would be an excellent idea!
But, in case you were curious about me not wanting to take a break, I also thought that I could take my spring semester at Z (the easiest university in the area thats not community) to knock some tedious gen eds out of the way before starting at Y in the fall so I could have a slightly easier load (that’s my rationale haha).</p>

<p>You may not have to be a regular student at Z. Find out how many credits you can take in “visiting” or “non-degree” status. But applying for regular admission there is OK too. Getting rid of Gen Eds is a good plan. However if you can do that for even less money at a community college, that would be the way to go.</p>

<p>You seem to be very confident that you will be admitted to the program you want at Y. What is your back up plan if that doesn’t happen? Would you stay at Z through graduation? Or will you still plan to transfer somewhere else as soon as you can pull that off? If you would not stay at Z, then it probably makes more sense to go the community college route because the staff there is expert at handling the whole transfer process.</p>

<p>Hm good point. I did consider the “non-degree” status, but those students don’t get any financial aid there, so that is immediately ruled out. </p>

<p>I am quite confident that I will get into Y. My back up plan, though, just in case (because my grades here might prevent my acceptance :/), is to stay at Z and reapply when my GPA is good enough. I am counting on my High School record though because I was top 10% and very decorated with honors, titles, etc. (not to sound cocky, that is just me hoping that all of my hard work in high school will be enough for the directors of admissions to excuse my below standard grades at my current university)</p>

<p>Also, somebody asked earlier about the acceptance rates of the colleges I’m talking about:
X(my current univ) - 57%
Y - 85%
Z - 75%
(but being a local from the area, Z should definitely be less selective than Y, but I guess that all depends on how many apply too.)</p>