Other than the fact that the freshman has to start from year 1, are there any major differences between the 2 types of admission? E.g any major advantages or disadvantages.
Thanks for answering!
If you are in need of financial aid (need-based or merit aid), Freshman usually get the best FA. Few colleges offer good financial aid to transfers.
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If we want to apply as freshman, will the SAT scores factor more than the college GPA?
If you’re applying as a freshman, you generally don’t have a college GPA. If you have a college GPA, you’re probably a transfer student. You don’t usually get to choose.
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@paulkim436 If you have attended college AFTER graduating from High School - you ARE a transfer student. You cannot apply as a freshman – even if you don’t intend to transfer previous college credits earned. Check with the specific colleges you want to apply to.
Generally, your SAT scores will be considered (and are required) if you graduated from High School less than 2 two years ago and have less than 24 college credits. Again, this varies from college to college - so check this at the college you are applying to.
Unfortunately, “transfer” students receive significantly less merit and academic scholarships than freshman. Even if you think you’ll have “freshman” status at the new college, you will still be a “transfer-freshman.” New high school graduates or “first-time frehman” are eligible for a lot more scholarship money than “transfer-freshman.”
If you have scholarships at your current college, I suggest staying there.
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You can’t just pick and choose.
Thank you for your replies everyone! One more question, does that apply for students in international colleges as well? I have seen people around me, who are not in US colleges but in other international colleges, apply as freshman instead of transfer students. It may be falsified rumor but I was kinda curious about this one.
There are certain instances in which it works out. If you took only 12 credit hours and then applied to my university, you’d be a freshman because they consider people with 18+ credits earned transfers. So it’s not impossible.
But generally applying as a freshman when the school says you’re a transfer is dishonest, as you’d be hiding official records, and could be grounds for rejection or rescinding an offer.
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@bodangles what college is that? Also, a student can be classified as a freshman academically, but still be considered a Transfer by admissions.
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http://admissions.psu.edu/info/future/transfer/
Students transfer to Penn State in a variety of programs at all of our campuses across the state of Pennsylvania. You will be considered a transfer applicant if you are a:
Student who has earned a high school diploma or a GED.
Student who has attempted or will have attempted 18 or more semester hours of college course work at a regionally accredited college/university before enrolling at Penn State. (Please note: transfer status is based on credits earned after high school graduation.)
(I believe an “and” is implied between those two bullet points because the first one doesn’t make sense on its own. But the second is the one I was referencing.)
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Each college and university sets its own policies about who is a freshman applicant and who is a transfer. You need to read the websites carefully. If you can’t find the answer for your specific situation, contact the admissions office and ask.
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