Hi
I will be college Freshman fall 2018.
Should I better concentrate on the schoolwork til winter break (End of the first semester) and then decide whether to begin the transfer process or not? would that be too late?
You should look at the web sites for the schools that you intend to transfer to. They will have a page that lists the requirements for transfers and the deadlines.
I think that it is quite likely that the deadlines will be late enough that you will be able to do your applications over the winter break. For example I see that UIUC accepts transfer applications up to March 1, but strongly recommends that you get your transfer application in between Dec 15 – Feb 1.
https://admissions.illinois.edu/Apply/Transfer/dates
Your first semester grades from the university that you currently attend will be very important. Thus yes it is a very good idea to work quite hard over the next four months, keep well ahead in your coursework, and try to get the best grades that you can.
If you apply to transfer to start in September 2019 then at the time that you submit your application you will have completed only one semester at your current university, and your high school grades will also matter even though your first semester university grades will be more important. If you get in where you want to go then you are in good shape. If you don’t get in where you want to go, then you can apply again a year later to start at the new university in September 2020. In this case when you submit your application you would have already completed three semesters at your current university. This would make your high school grades much less important.
When are you trying to transfer?
My high school grades aren’t that great; should I wait to apply 2020?
I would say it depends on how good your college grades are. I wouldn’t transfer after one semester.
Another thing to consider in transferring is cost. Transfers don’t get as much money as undergraduates, but, depending on the school, there may be merit money for top transfer students.