So I’m going to be completing my first year of college this year and I know I’d like to find a new College due to academic reasons. My current school is lacking in certain areas such as the intensity and depths of the courses I take and I’d like to find a school that explores my field more deeply. I just have a general question, at a school where transfer acceptance is a little low, could I have more luck as a freshman applicant? And if so, could I use my first year of college to boost my app. or would that automatically make me a transfer anyways. Might have just answered my own question but I still just want to make sure.
You need to contact each place on your application list, and ask whether you are a transfer applicant or a freshman applicant. At almost all institutions, completing a full year of college credits will mean that you must apply as a transfer. However, there are some exceptions and there is no way to predict. You must check each institution’s policy separately.
The policies for most colleges is that if you receive any college credit post-high school graduation, you’re a transfer. Contact the schools ASAP to verify this.
It’s usually easier to get admitted as a freshman than as a transfer. This is doubly true if significant financial aid is needed as merit-based for transfers is very limited and even need based aid is stingy. Have you thought about taking a gap year if you know you’re going to transfer from your planned institution anyway?
If you took college classes you’re automatically a transfer (unless you didn’t pass but I’m hoping that’s not your situation).
If the school you’re planning to transfer to is your state flagship it’s no problem except there may be a number of credits you must have taken before they’ll consider your application (typically, 60, including AP).
If it’s private and very selective, your odds are lower than as a freshman.
If you applied right out of high school and for denied, your odds are lost nil unless you did something extraordinary in the meantime (win a national or international medal…)
Your reasons for transferring ro a highly selective school must be things the other college offers which your current college doesn’t. (Not “prestige”).