<p>So here's the deal. I am currently a freshman in college, but have decided that the school I'm currently at just isn't what I want. So I intend on transferring to Northwestern. Here's the dilemma: would it be better (increase my chances of getting in) to not finish this year, get an internship, and apply to NWU as a freshman, or to finish the year out at my current school and apply as a transfer student? I got a 4.0 this term, and would expect similar grades for the remainder of the year.</p>
<p>The only reason I'm even considering this is because transfer spots seem to be severely limited, and I'd only be losing one term's worth of credits if I were to pull the plug now and wait until fall. I'm just gathering information at this point to see what would maximize my chances of getting in. I didn't include my qualifications, as I didn't feel that they were necessary for this particular question, but let me know if you need more information.</p>
<p>I know I can't after I've finished a year, but I'm not sure about whether or not I can if I stop now and forfeit credit from this term.</p>
<p>That would make sense to me, since I'm guess the reason why schools prefer transfers is so that they get four years worth of money instead of 2 or 3. If I elect to not transfer over any of my college credits (other than ones earned through AP classes in high school), would that make me a applicable for freshman admissions?</p>
<p>Why give up the credits you are earning. I say apply as a transfer. Call NW and ask if they accept mid-year transfers so you can start in January.</p>
<p>Transfer deadline for Winter term was November 1, so that option is gone. I suppose I could apply for spring term, but I live on the west coast, so moving all the way out to Chicago for 3 months and then moving back doesn't seem like a great idea.</p>
<p>My main questions is: are my chances of getting in better as a freshman or transfer student? Or does it not matter?</p>
<p>Call & ask how many transfers they admit & if they accept for midyear so you know. If you go to NW you store your belongings with a local storage company near campus. Most people coming from far do not take a lot of their belongings home once they are enrolled.</p>
<p>Freshman admissions, I would think, are more competitive then transfers. With transfers they are filling spots left open when a student leaves.</p>
<p>Ah, never considered storing my things. Good idea. Sounds like the thing to do is just call and ask admissions what my best course of action is.</p>
<p>You are familiar with the following from the Northwestern admission website?
[quote]
Once you have enrolled full time at another postsecondary institution, you can no longer be considered for freshman admission.
[/quote]
You should call admissions to ensure they'll really consider you a frosh applicant. And don't think about "forgetting" about your current school. There are verification services such as National Student Clearinghouse that have records of enrollment.</p>
<p>Also if you apply as a freshman your guidance counselor will need to write a LOR & he/she knows you are at college now. Keep your credits, apply to a number of schools. Many will be thrilled to have you!</p>
<p>Once you have enrolled in any accredited community college, four year college, or university in the USA even if you leave with a whole set of Ws for your first term, you will need to produce a copy of that transcript every single time you apply to another accredited college or university in the USA. What the school you are applying to does with that transcript is up to them. Some won't grant you any transfer credit even if you have straight As, others will give you credit for some courses but not for others. It is entirely up to the receiving school.</p>
<p>So, my advice would be for you to finish up this term at your current school with the best grades you can manage. Then, since you hate it there, take the spring term off, get a job, and think about what you want to study and where you want to study it. If you are dying to be back in school somewhere else by next fall, go ahead and complete a few transfer applications this coming spring. If you decide you'd rather keep on working, do that for another year while you think about what you want to do with your life. Give yourself the time to get it right (or at least better) next time around.</p>
<p>Northwestern is a very transfer friendly school. You should finish out your year, but apply for the fall 09 semester to transfer. Your gpa is really good, keep it up and it should be a smooth transition.</p>
<p>Post #8 appears to provide accurate information on this issue for NU.</p>
<p>It is not usually up to the individual whether to apply as a freshman or a transfer. Each school has explicit criteria which dictate the acceptable alternative. Typically, once you have enrolled full time at a college or University, you must apply as a transfer.</p>
<p>So.... you don't get to choose which way to go based on maximizing your chances. You're already on the path to maximizing them based on your GPA. Read the Transfer Admissions 101 sticky and study the NU admissions website for transfers to find other ways to maximize your chances.</p>
<p>Finally, if you definitely want to transfer out of your current school, you'll need to apply to more than just one low-odds school.</p>