I'm taking a Gap Year, but I am taking two classes at my local community college. Regular or Transfer?

[CLockett]

I am taking a gap year to work with a labor union, but I wanted to take a couple classes at my local community college as well. I earned six credits this semester, and am taking the same number next semester. Now, I am applying for college for the fall of 2025.I have run into the same obstacle repeatedly while doing this though; I cannot figure out if I am applying as a regular or transfer applicant. I am not in high school anymore, so I am not a true regular applicant, but I have recommendations from high school teachers and my high school counselor. I have earned some credits at community college but I am not a full time student. I am very confused and I have found little help on any of the college application websites. I am interested in applying to these colleges;

Hunter College
Brooklyn College
Fordham University
Columbia University
Georgetown University
George Mason University
Colgate University
Middlebury College
Hamilton College
Colby College
College of the Holy Cross

[thumper1]

College dependent. Contact the colleges you are applying to…and ask.

[aunt_bea]

Some colleges are strict about a student taking courses, at a CC that are academic. For some schools, if you take any, you are a transfer. (Courses like “underwater basket weaving” might be excused).

[ucbalumnus]

Each college may have its own policy as to whether and how much college course work after leaving high school requires the student to apply as a transfer (as opposed to frosh).

So it would not be surprising if you had to apply as frosh as some colleges but transfer as others.

[coffeeat3]

Please also keep housing in mind - many schools have different policies around the availability of housing for transfers vs freshman and same for financial
aid too. School dependent and you will need to research each school’s policy.

[merc81]

This is information from Hamilton:

How do I know if I am a first-year or a transfer applicant?

A transfer applicant is any student who has previously enrolled as a degree-seeking student at another institution and completed a semester or more worth of credits. This includes students who attend community college and/or are currently enrolled in an associate degree program, unless those courses count toward your high school graduation requirements or are through a dual enrollment program.

To determine your status, you can consider the level that your CC regards as a full semester of credits. If this is more than 12, then you automatically would apply to Hamilton as a first-year applicant. However, if a full semester at your CC is 12 or fewer credits, then you will need to consider whether or not you are currently classified as a “degree-seeking student.” If you would like clarification on this latter aspect, Hamilton’s admission office would assist you.

Transfer Admission - Transfer Admission - Hamilton College.

[Metawampe]

Per @merc81’s example, at a lot of colleges it will come down to whether or not you enrolled into a degree program at the CC.