My son has been accepted to UDel as a spring semester student. He was wait listed for the fall of '16 and also offered a Delaware in DC spot which he declined. Like many parents on this forum, I’m keeping my fingers crossed he gets a spot for this coming fall. But, I’m a realist. I get that the chances are very slim they will pull any kids from the wait list this year. So here’s my predicament;
We as a family agreed that he will attend UD in the spring. If he wasn’t pulled off the wait list, he would attend a community college here in CT. Using the transfer matrix, I found one that will transfer most of his credits to UDel so I thought I had it all figured out. Well, this morning he said to me as I’m walking out the door to work, that he wants to consider a different option for the fall. He wants to go to a local four year school and then go to Delaware in the spring. (insert monkey wrench here).
I know that it’s been posted on here that UD will not allow that. That if you choose a four year school, you need to reapply as transfer student in the spring. However, when we attended decision day on April 18th, I specifically asked an admissions rep this question and he said that’s not true.“Why would we care if you attend another school in the fall” were his exact words. He then proceeded to show me the transfer matrix and how it works to ensure you get the most credits possible when coming over to UD.
Can anybody tell me if they have this in writing from admissions? Are you or are you not allowed to attend a different four year school while waiting for your spot in the spring? I have emailed admissions this morning with hopes that I hear back from them before the end of today. If that’s the case, he will attend a local college in the fall and get to play hockey for them, then go to his number one choice in the spring.
I would get the official word from someone of higher authority (Director or Asst Director 's of Admissions office) regarding the answer to your question. It has been my experience that some “admission reps” don’t always give the correct answer to questions. I think this is especially true this year with all the options UD has been using. In my past experiences as an academician once a student matriculates (enters a degree granting program) at a 4-year college they cannot matriculate at another school just as a “new” student, they have to transfer in. UD in DC students are not in a matriculated program for the Fall semester (this is the reason they are not eligible for financial aid thru UD). Perhaps I am wrong in this situation (I hope so for your son’s sake). Please let us know what you find out when you get your response to your emaiI.
@Mwallenmd it looks like that is correct. Here is their response which was received very quickly.
Students admitted for spring are welcome to complete courses at a four year institution as long as they are completing this coursework as a non-matriculated student. If they enroll as a matriculated student, they would then be classified as a transfer student and be required to reapply as such. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.
Have a great day!
Undergraduate Admissions Team
University of Delaware
210 South College Avenue
So, if my son decides to go this route, what are the draw backs? The way I see it, he just would not receive any financial aid. I assume, if chosen correctly, his credits would then transfer in the spring. Can you think of anything else that would hurt his chances of being welcomed in the spring?
The main concern I would have is housing. It is my understanding that new Spring admits are guaranteed housing (at least somewhere on campus. I also understand (from a poster on another thread) that accepted transfer students for the Fall have been told that they are not guaranteed on campus housing and are being placed on a wait list for such housing. With all the dorm spaces they will likely need in the Spring it would be a reasonable assumption that the same thing will be in place for transfer students in the Spring and that they will be placed as well on a wait list for housing. Just my perspective. Perhaps you might want to inquire about this with UD. Good luck in whatever your son decides to do.