Transferring after freshman year vs. waiting a year and reapplying as a freshman?

silly09er · 07-29-2009, 05:15 PM

Okay I'm coming to a difficult decision and I don't really know what to do. Right now, I'm very unhappy with my college I'm enrolled at. There have been numerous personal problems there, as well as problems with getting financial aid, housing, class schedules, etc. I already know I will be transferring after freshman year, but my high school counselor and couple of friends suggested that I cancel my enrollment and take this year to reapply to the schools I want to, and apply as a freshman again, so I can get some decent financial aid? My question is, would that be a good idea? I am pretty unhappy with the school so far, but I don't know if waiting a year would be the best idea?

Would I have a better chance getting more aid if I waited a year than applying as a transfer?
Would it be odd that I'm older than all the freshman? (only by a year, but still...)
Will I have a higher chance of getting accepted if I reapply as a freshman rather than a transfer?
Can I even reapply as a freshman this year since I'm technically enrolled at the school?

I need some opinions...anyone?

Thanks in advance!

happymomof1 · 07-29-2009, 05:56 PM

This is often described as taking a "Gap Year". Often when students do this, they find that their goals have changed, and they apply to an entirely different list of schools. When they begin classes, they often are more focused about their goals and more disciplined about their studies.

If classes haven't started yet, you can apply everywhere as a freshman. If you are currently enrolled in classes for the summer term, whether or not you are considered to be a freshman applicant or a transfer would depend on the specific policy of each college/university that you apply to.

Whether or not you get decent financial aid depends on the figures generated by your FAFSA and/or CSS Profile and on the individual college/university. None of us can predict that.

What will you do with your year off? Work? Volunteer? Write a novel? You need to come up with some kind of plan for how you would spend that time. Google "Gap Year" for some ideas.