<p>Is it generally better to apply as a spring or fall transfer? I just finished my freshman year, so I'd be either a second-semester sophomore or a junior when I entered my transfer school. </p>
<p>If you are accepted at a school as a spring transfer, is it possible to defer attending until fall? I know you can often do this as a freshman, I don't know if you can as a transfer, however. </p>
<p>Also, how is taking a semester off viewed? If I were to attend the fall semester at my current school, and then take the spring semester off to work or something, would that have any impact. </p>
<p>I know these things probably vary from school to school, if it helps, I'm primarily interested in top LACs in New England.</p>
<p>almost all schools do not let you defer as a transfer (I want to say no schools allow you but I can’t guarantee that, I have, however, never HEARD of a school allowing deferment from transfers)</p>
<p>as for is it “better” to apply as a spring or a fall transfer, I think it really depends on the school since so few offer spring transfers anyway.</p>
<p>There are pros and cons to spring vs. fall transfer. You may have a better chance at acceptance with a spring application because there are less applicants at that time. However, I think it is easier to enter in the fall as a transfer. My son was a spring transfer last semester. He was accepted for the fall but did end up defering his application to the spring. It wasn’t a complete deferral since they did have him resubmit his last semester transcript and he had to wait to hear if he was accepted again. He did not have to resubmit all his other information as they kept that on file.</p>
<p>Coming in the spring was a little tough as it was the middle of winter at a cold climate school and he got no on campus housing. I don’t think it was as easy to meet people, but it all worked out fine as he found a house with all transfers and the neighbors were all transfers too. They all hung out together and helped each other through the semester. Now he will be coming back in the fall, he has already acclimated and will have the opportunity to meet more people and get more involved on campus. He was happy with his decision.</p>