<p>Hi,</p>
<p>just out of curiosity, I'm a first-year student in Germany, but did not take any exams, thus did not achieve any credit points yet. If I would decide to apply to an American university for spring or fall admission, would I have to apply as a freshman or a transfer student?
And as soon as I'd a achieve a single credit point, would I have to apply as a transfer student even though if I'd change my major?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Do you need a financial aid? Then unless you are a top of top student, it’s pointless to apply as a transfer because there are very few schools that offer FA or scholarship to international transfer student. </p>
<p>If you have any academic credit in your college, you will count as an international transfer applicant, which will be very difficult because transfer applicants’ competition is stiff more than enough, and you being a foreigner will make it even much harder. </p>
<p>As soon as you get ECT credits, yes you’d be considered a transfer.
I remember you were offered admission to USF last year - if you haven’t taken college classes, you can still apply as a freshman there, and be reasonably sure you’ll get in (and, if you have the requisite SAT score, you can apply for Honors College -if you don’t make the SAT cutoff by 20 pts because of CR, you can email the Dean to see whether your application could be considered anyway due to the fact English isn’t your first language and you have an otherwise stellar record)</p>
<p>@paul2752
Thank you!</p>
<p>@MYOS1634
Thanks!
The reason I did not go to USF was because it was too expensive. They offered me admission for Spring 2015 and with the permission to take college classes here up to 11 credit points (but as we write our exams in February and the Spring semester would already begin in January, they wouldn’t consider them anyway).
My SAT Score was only 1050 pts(CR+M) and I don’t have time to study for it again, because of university.
I am studying Industrial Engineering-specialized in Electrical Engineering, but I think of changing my course after taking the exams, maybe to Business Administration. It’s not that it is too difficult, but it is not as interesting as I thought it would be. And you were absolutely right, we are 650 students sitting in the lecture ;). </p>
<p>Now I’m thinking of changing my course and/or my university. Of course I’d love to study in the US, but money is a big issue. And as I’m not thinking there is an university which would give me such a big scholarship/Financial Aid that the costs don’t exceed the costs of attending uni here in Germany, I won’t be able to study there (and I guess universities like West Texas A&M and Chadron State are not worth it). Or do you have an ultimate idea? 
</p>
<p>Considering that German universities are free tuition, I doubt you’ll find a better deal in the US… it’s hard to find cheaper than free 
If you could retake the SAT, or try the ACT (you might do better), you may be able to have more options, but I don’t see your costs being lower than in Germany.
In any case, even if you switch from Industrial Engineering to Business, if you have ECTS credits, you are a transfer.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634
Haha, yes that’s true ;). Well, room and board costs 880$ a month here and I receive almost no financial aid at all, so it is not completely free.
Taking the ACT is a very good idea. But does it make sense to take that exam, even though I am going to receive some ECTS (because I want to take the exams, so that I would not have to start from the beginning again if I switch to Business), so as a transfer student? Anyway, if this does not work I’d spend at least one semester in the US which would be funded almost completely by our government.</p>
<p>But even then I consider transfering to another university in Germany or in Scotland as an alternative. The only thing that really holds me is that the Technical University of Darmstadt is ranked no 3 from employees for my course.</p>
<p>You couldn’t transfer to the US, no. So, the option of spending a fully-funded semester abroad sounds very appealing.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634
Alright, then we’ve found a solution, thank you very much :). I’ll try to spend that semester at USF or at one of the UC’s.</p>
<p>How areyou going to afford 55k?</p>
<p>Well, before you plan on going to USF or the UCs, you have to check what US university your university is partners with, and how many students get to go. Sometimes, it’s just 3 or 4, sometimes your choices are very limited.
If you plan on transferring, that could be a criterion to use (find a school of equivalent caliber, but with a better study abroad program).</p>
<p>@paul2752
Well, our government supports us with up to ca. 15,2k USD. And UC offers special programs for exchange students which are not this expensive as the normal international students program.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634
There is absolutely no problem with that. My university allows us to go to any university abroad which would accept us as transfer students. Also, they transfer all credit points to ECTS, if we have a learning agreement. They call this free mover, otherwise I would have to apply to the only university they have a partnership with and there is only one place each year. Only advantage: I wouldn’t have yo pay any tuition. </p>