I have a student who took a full ride (which included free study abroad for two semesters), then applied to transfer to better fit schools for sophomore year on up. By doing really well academically as a college freshman, it bolsters the successes from HS on the application. The student also has sort of self-funded 25% of their undergrad education by doing that first year at no cost to the family.
By transferring after one year, not two, they’re not taking advantage of the full-ride university (had the school wowed them, they would have stayed to graduate), and at the “new” school, they still have three years to befriend classmates, get involved in clubs, develop relationships w profs/mentors.
@drgreen congrats to your daughter!