<p>I attended James Madison University in Virginia in the fall of 2007 and it was not for me so I transferred back home to Long Island, New York to Hofstra University. I had a 3.2 at JMU. I am doing well now at Hofstra, with realistic hopes of a 3.5+ GPA this semester. My major is Political Science, and it is a great time to get involved.</p>
<p>I hope to transfer to American University in Washington D.C. as soon as I can. I looked at statistics for transferring to American and I found that a 3.2 is just about around where I need to be to get accepted. That along with hopefully a higher GPA this semester and I will have a decent GPA. There is one thing I am uncertain about: when to apply. Would it be better to stay at Hofstra for another semester and get my GPA up or to apply to American in the fall. I know my case is quite strange and I am not exactly sure how it will be viewed by admissions, which is why I am nervous about it.</p>
<p>I was actually accepted to American when I originally applied to colleges as a freshman and I received a merit scholarship then. I am not sure if this will help me at all. I do not expect to receive as much aid as I originally did, but do I at least have a legitimate chance of getting accepted? Will it hurt me that I have already transferred once?</p>
<p>You most certainly have a legitimate chance of being accepted.</p>
<p>The first thing I would do in your case is contact American's Admissions Office and ask to speak to a Transfer Specialist (if they have one; or find that person's name if it is on the website). Find out whether they might just "re-up" your application and not require as much material from you as a typical transfer applicant. You might have a pleasant surprise. Maybe not, but can't hurt.</p>
<p>In my experience, merit $ are not as forthcoming for transfers as for freshman - even when a given individual got a good merit offer as a freshman, I have known of them getting nothing as a transfer. But that will be a case-by-case or school-by-school situation, I am sure.</p>
<p>As to timing, I haven't checked American's transfer application calendar. Has the deadline passed for Fall 2008 transfer application? (Even if it has, I would see if they would make an exception in your case). Do they take Spring transfers? </p>
<p>Don't be afraid to speak with someone in Admissions to ask these questions. Transfer Admissions officers are usually extraordinarily helpful. If American doesn't have a separate Transfer Admissions group, you might wait until the March Madness season for freshman apps is over... but not if that will cause deadline problems for you.</p>
<p>I don't think it need hurt that you have already transferred once as long as you explain your reasons sensibly. Sometimes it might seem that a student is "flighty" or confused, but not if you can explain your reasoning.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, your advice is very helpful. I will definitely call and ask to speak to a transfer admissions officer and find out all of the details. I checked AU's website and it turns out that the FAFSA was due March 1 for fall transfer applicants. I need to ask when it is due for spring applicants, because it does not say anything about FAFSA for the spring. They do accept spring transfers so I think I will try my luck then.</p>