<p>Current freshman at NYU. Actually, not even, because I deferred for a year due to medical reasons. But I can already tell I'll be unhappy at NYU because it lacks the aspects of a traditional college experience that I wanted. But who knows, maybe I'll really like it? (unrealistic).</p>
<p>So for some self-validated reasons, I want to transfer out. Hopefully to Cornell, but if I end up getting attached to New York City, Columbia seems like the next rational choice. Also will be applying to Colgate, Tufts, and UPenn. I'd applied to Colgate and Cornell as a first time undergrad and gotten waitlisted and rejected respectively. The rest I hadn't applied to before. </p>
<p>I'm wondering if I will have better chances of acceptances if I reapply as a first time undergrad, not a sophomore transfer. Since I won't be going to NYU this current year, I could apply to colleges and give up my acceptance at NYU. I'm not sure if this would be smarter than transfering after freshman year at NYU, especially because if I don't get into any I'll be stuck with not even NYU. </p>
<p>What should I do? / What are my chances at a successful transfer? </p>
<p>Any advice?</p>
<p>Clearly a great freshman GPA, extracurrics, recs, etc. But will my HS specs affect my application? And should I retake my SAT's? Current score is 2200.</p>
<p>“I’m wondering if I will have better chances of acceptances if I reapply as a first time undergrad, not a sophomore transfer.”</p>
<p>Well, you can’t do that. I suppose you could give up your spot at NYU and apply to Columbia’s School of General Studies (for non-traditional students) but there’s pretty much zero chance you’ll get in, because the admissions committee will not accept “I didn’t think I’d like NYU” as a reason why you’re a non-traditional student. Since you’re already in college (and therefore a traditional student unless you drop out), you should apply as a transfer.</p>
<p>But seriously, you might find that you like NYU more than you think. And if you’re hell-bent on getting that traditional college experience, don’t apply to Columbia. We’re not NYU, but we’re closer than you think. Dartmouth and Cornell will give you the stereotypical college experience.</p>
<p>Transfer after your first year. Your SAT score is fine and I think you know what you need to do Freshman year to have a decent shot. </p>
<p>Your biggest hurdle is going to be why Columbia. As pwoods noted, “I didn’t like my current school” is not a compelling reason for why you would like Columbia better.</p>
<p>Actually, you can do that. I’m speaking from personal experience. I applied to Columbia ED, got deferred, and then applied to another college ED II and was accepted. By the time summer rolled around I knew I would not be happy at the college I was going to attend, but I didn’t know if I could get out of my ED commitment. I went to the school for about 2 weeks before going on leave, applying to other schools, and eventually being accepted to Columbia as a first-time undergrad. If you don’t have any credits from a school (even if you attended for some period of time), you can apply as a first-year (not as a transfer). If you give the admissions committee substantive reasons that explain why you didn’t think you would like NYU AND why you think Columbia would be better, you could still get in. There’s really no use in spending a year of your life and wasting a year of your college education at a place you know you’ll hate. While transferring after the first year may be a better option for you, I just wanted to let you know that, contrary to what others have said, you can in fact attend a school for a short period (or just not go), apply to Columbia as a first-year, and be accepted.</p>