Potential transfer applicant questions - Help please!

<p>Hello, I am currently a senior in high school (about to graduate). I have always wanted to attend Columbia, but due to some unfortunate family circumstances around the time applications were due, I was unable to apply. I only applied to 2 schools (University of Kansas and California Polytechnic State University) but was accepted to both. </p>

<p>I really want to transfer to Columbia after completing one year at one of the two schools I was accepted to. Currently, I am leaning towards attending KU (I am in-state so it would be inexpensive and they have quite a few business programs I could get involved with), but I am wondering if doing so would affect my chances of getting into Columbia, as KU isn't an elite school and isn't all that well-respected...</p>

<p>Will attending a (mediocre) state school hurt my chances of getting into Columbia? I've heard they place great value on what program you come from when looking at transfer applications. I also went to a public high school... </p>

<p>I am a finance major, if that matters at all.</p>

<p>Thank you! </p>

<p>If you major in finance, then most of your credits won’t get transferred since there is no finance major for undergraduate students at Columbia. Btw most of the people who got in as transfers go to a top 30 school from I have seen at College Confidential. </p>