I think your best bet is to focus on UMD and then decide if you want to transfer after experiencing everything your school has to offer.
While you’re there, join some clubs and make the most of it. And although you say that’s your intent, the fact you’re still focused on the SAT says that you arent ready to let go of a result that’s already been determined.
Is this your reason for transfer? That you are heavily set on it because you were rejected by a list of schools and UMD doesn’t meet your standards? You were accepted at UMD. That’s a great thing! Take advantage of it.
As for your being heavily set on transferring, first things first, MONEY.
You previously stated the following:
seeking aid, income around 120k
Transfers don’t get great aid. How will you pay for the other schools? I know that they are all very costly schools. (Taking the SAT, after the fact, multiple times, is not a good idea. They do note the numbers of times you’ve taken it. Not a good idea and waste of time/money).
So how will you pay that bill? That’s the first thing you should research, who will be paying your bill from the bursar? What good does it do you to get in as a transfer if you can’t pay the bill?
At the UC’s you wont get a penny because these are public schools sponsored by the state’s taxpayers. You are not a resident and it is very difficult to become a resident.
You are looking at paying ~$67K per year.
As for USC, it is a private college. Most of their funding is targeted for their freshman, athletes and musicians. You may receive some funds from them, but without being a National Merit winner, you wont be fully funded, so that’s about $80K per year. No, there are no loans, at these amounts, for 18/19 year olds.
The policy of the majority of highly selective private colleges is to meet the full demonstrated financial need of transfer students.
UCs do not consider SAT (or ACT) at all, and only take transfers who will enter as juniors (not sophomores). In addition, business is one of the more competitive majors at UCB. https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/about-us/information-center/transfers-major indicates that transfers to business at UCB for fall 2022 had a 5% admit rate with 25th-75th percentile college GPA range of 3.86-4.00 for admits and 3.85-4.00 for those who enrolled.
Also, there is no need-based financial aid for out-of-state students at UCs.
In any case, the SAT is intended for high school students, so retaking it after high school is unlikely to make a favorable impression for transfer admission, even if you get a higher score.
True, but they also take very few transfer students.
And UMD has a “top 25” undergraduate business program, per USNWR rankings.
OP, it is critical that you have a good answer to this question. You can’t simply say you want a “higher ranked” school. (And Columbia and NU don’t even offer an undergraduate business major as @merc81 pointed out).
Some are need aware for transfer student, however.
But back to your question. Retake the SAT if you want to…but I would strongly suggest you use the time instead to plan your start to UMD!
Closing at the request of the OP.