I never personally thought Emory was a top notch place either, @artloversplus. 
Nevertheless, I think you should go to University of Washington and NOT plan on transferring. It’s a good state school that is affordable and will give you a solid education.
Cheaper is better!
Your real choices are those
1° Attend UWA (are you in the honors college? If not, email the Dean of the Honors College and present your stats, scholarship, etc.) Enroll Fall 2015.
OR
2° Ask Emory if you can defer enrollment and be allowed to apply for financial aid next year if you submit everything on time. Work/volunteer in the Fall (DO NOT take any college class! If you want to keep learning, use Coursera), prepare all your financial aid paperwork well ahead of time, and submit it well before the deadline. Enroll Fall 2016.
UWA Honors would certainly be as good as Emory, especially if you self-sabotaged by not sending your financial aid paperwork, indicating you don’t really want to go to Emory. Have you visited both universities, spent an overnight there?