Want to transfer after one semester of college?

Transfer Students
1

Hello,

I am currently enrolled in a four year institution that I would like to transfer out of as soon as possible. That being said, if I am currently looking at transferring to more selective colleges that would have been a reach for me in regular decision, is it viable to consider transferring after my first semester (even though grades will not have even come out for first semester yet)? I have a 3.6 4.4 unw w high school gpa and 35 act, I aim to transfer to a few already chosen lower ivy or comparable top 25 US universities.

Thanks

2

No. Do not transfer after only one semester

Since you won’t even have any solid college coursework under your belt, you’ll essentially be looked at like a high school applicant.

On top of this, you don’t even have a valid reason to transfer. From what I’m reading, you simply want to attend a more prestigious institution. That reason will not fly in a transfer application.

In any event, at this point I recommend you focus on what is immediately important: your classes. Get involved in your community. Make the most out of your college experience. Remember, if you do end up transferring, top colleges aren’t only looking for a high GPA.

3

There is no tippy top college that will accept you as a freshman transfer. Did you apply to those same colleges initially? What’s changed that makes you more likely to be accepted as a transfer? The transfer rate is minuscule at the most selective colleges. My kid goes to a pretty selelctive school (22% acceptance rate) that didn’t accept a single transfer student for Fall 2017. You have to stay at your school for a full year and do a great job to even stand a chance.

4

I think it’s pretty hard for anyone on CollegeConfidential to evaluate your chances of transfer without a single semester of college grades so far… Your test scores are certainly great, but if you end up getting, say, a 3.0 this semester, your chances of getting into a “lower Ivy” or top 25 are pretty much zero. If you were to get a 4.0, on the other hand, that’s another story…

5

You need a compelling reason (and wanting a higher ranked school isn’t it) and at least two semesters’ worth of grades, probably three, for colleges where you applied for freshman admission. You can apply in the spring for Fall2018 transfer at colleges you didn’t apply to before but your odds are minuscule - and some top 25, won’t even accept applications from freshman transfers.