Questions on Transferring (Also: Columbia, and NYU (Gallatin))

Hi guys,

I’m currently a sophomore at Eugene Lang College of The New School in New York City. And I’ve been thinking of transferring lately, and I have a bunch of questions about the process right now. Will really appreciate all the answers and all the help.

First: I want to know more about why people may transfer–what are acceptable reasons to transfer? Why did you transfer? The thing is, I really enjoy going to my current school. I loved all of my classes, and feel like I’ve learned so much already after one year. I’ve thought about things I haven’t before, questioned old ideas, discovered new ways of thinking. I have had some great professors whose classes I’ve loved. I look forward to going to class every day. Most of my classes are seminars, with few students, and plenty of class discussion, which I also enjoy. And, to be completely honest, there are only two things which are driving my desire to transfer.
One: the name of the school. I didn’t care about it at all when I decided to go to this college, but It’s been worrying me lately. I feel like having Columbia University or NYU on my resume is much better than having The New School.
Two: the idea that there’s something more that I’m missing. If I enjoy my school so much already, feel like I’m learning so much, and I want to learn more, wouldn’t Columbia be even better (supposedly)? I’d be surrounded by Professors at the top of their fields, and fellow students who excel in academics and are driven, also, by a desire to learn.
I’m a Literature major, by the way.

I hope I’m not sounding completely naive or ignorant right now.

I am also speaking as if I’d be accepted like that (haha)

The second part of my question is precisely about this, my chance of transferring into those two colleges.
Columbia first, and Gallatin. Actually, my grades probably aren’t good enough, but it’s worth a shot. My high school grades are not very good. In my four years, my average GPA was around a 3.4-3.5. I only took the SAT once and got a 1910 (should I take it again, as a sophomore in college?). I took AP Lit and Language, AP Econ and Govt, AP US and World History, and AP Psych. Don’t know how much high school extracurriculars matter, but I was in my school’s newspaper for two years, and was a member of NHS.
My current college GPA, after my Freshman year, is 3.84. And I’ve taken a total of 35 credits.
I’d like to transfer to Gallatin because I feel the structure of that college and mine is much the same. Small classes, and a wide variety of courses that really allows one to pursue what one enjoys.

Oh, also, how does financial aid for transfers work? Is there none available at all? Is it the same as for freshmen?

Thanks so much!

Financial aid is usually worse for transfers, because they are not eligible for the kinds of special merit-based scholarships that are often handed out to freshmen.