<p>Hello, I'd really appreciate any support with this question I have.</p>
<p>I am currently beginning my freshman year at a private, 4 year university this coming August, and I am excited about this new chapter in my life. However, the school I will attend was not one of my preferred choices. I was accepted to all other schools I applied to but one, but my parents coaxed me into going to this school because they were incredibly generous with scholarships, even though my family is very well off (top 1%). I plan to make my freshman year as great as possible, but a question has been lingering in my mind ever since making my choice...</p>
<p>Is there any way to transfer schools after freshman year?</p>
<p>I know that schools that accept transfer students typically want you, the student, to have completed two semesters at your current university before transferring. If applications are due in March, 2015, then I will have completed one semester and have started my second at my particular university. Could I still apply by March 2015, in the hopes that I get accepted and will be able to transfer in Fall 2015 as a sophomore? I wasn't sure if you HAD to complete freshman year and have 2 semesters done, or if it would be OK to apply having only completed one full semester and was currently in the second.</p>
<p>Just in case anybody was wondering, I am thinking of applying to Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Tufts, and maybe NYU (if I have the time). I am currently planning on pursuing dual degrees in International Relations and either Finance or International Business.</p>
<p>Thank you very much! </p>
<p>A majority of transfer students apply in March of their freshman year and enter their new school as a sophomore. . It’s actually more difficult to apply to transfer in March of your sophomore year (presumably because colleges want your money and 3 years of tuition is more than 2). However, since your parents encouraged you to go to a cheaper school, it is important to note that most colleges do not give any merit aid/scholarships to transfer students. If you do want to transfer you will want your grades to be very good and your extracurriculars to be pretty spectacular as well. Transfer acceptance rates for the schools you mentioned hover between 1%-10%, substantially more competitive than as a senior in high school.
Good luck and try not to enter your school with the attitude that you want to transfer. You might subconsciously prevent yourself from making connections and loving an already good thing</p>
<p>Will your parents pay for those expensive schools considering they didn’t want to pay the first time. Go to your new school and enjoy your time there. There is nothing magical at the schools you listed that you can’t find at your new school.</p>
<p>@Springg1994 thanks for the advice; that was what I thought made the most sense. I’ll try to be as optimistic as possible going into my first year.</p>
<p>@"Erin’s Dad" In talking to them after making my decision, they asked if I had any regrets, and when I told them that I was starting to wish I had picked one of my other choices, they said that if I was unhappy, they would not mind paying for me to study at another school, because as is, they’re only paying for room and board with my current school (scholarship provided from the school covers tuition). </p>
<p>The reason why I started thinking about this now is because it relates to what happened to me in high school. Having gone to the same school district for 8 years, I transferred to a private high school for my freshman year, but I knew that I wouldn’t like it there. I went there, and it was clearly not a good fit for me, and my parents agreed, which prompted me to switch back to the high school that I would have gone to had I not switched, and it was probably the best decision I have ever made. I know this scenario is somewhat different, it’s just that I don’t want to repeat what happened 4 years ago. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>