<p>I’m an entering freshman for fall of '08 and I made a huge mistake in applying. I’m a Michigan resident and every school I applied to I recieved a full ride or the school’s maximum scholarship…problem is I applied to mostly low tier schools. My cumulative GPA is a 3.869 weighted and about a 3.65 unweighted, and a 33 cumulative ACT. I’m going to a satellite campus of the University of Michigan this year, and already have started working doing research and will be on the honors student council, student council, a tutor, and a SI leader.</p>
<p>One year is plenty enough for me, as I don’t think I’ll be challenged at a school where I’m so far above the average student body (not trying to sound pretentious, but the numbers and my drive for academics don’t lie).</p>
<p>What are my options; do schools often let you transfer after freshman year? What are some schools I should look at? Financial aid is very important to me. I prefer smaller student bodies and LACs. My major is biochemistry.</p>
<p>It depends on the school, but I know of plenty LACs that have a minimum requirement of 30 credits before applying, which would mean you can transfer in as a sophomore. </p>
<p>The trick is to pick schools you’re interested in first and then look up their specific transfer policies on the websites. Why not grab a list of more selective LACs and go down the line? I’m sure some posters will throw in a few good recommendations for a particular school here or there, but you could be looking them up easily on your own too while you wait!</p>
<p>I’m sure you could apply while you were still finishing up those last 15 credits in your spring semester under the presumption that you’re not going to fail any courses!</p>
<p>Read the Transfer Admissions 101 thread if you already haven’t. If you want to transfer for Fall '09, you will be applying part way through your first term as a freshman. Application deadlines for fall 09 will range from (roughly) 11/08 through 3/09 for the more selective schools. YMMV.</p>
<p>IE, you can’t wait until the summer to apply or you will have missed most, if not all, of the deadlines depending on which schools you are targeting. Some of the schools will ask for mid-semester grade reports for your spring term. Some won’t bother and you would simply send a transcript of your final grades to the school where you are accepted.</p>
<p>Why is it that you applied only/mostly to schools that you consider “low tier”? </p>
<p>If financial aid is critical to you, that is an issue for transfer, as schools can be less generous with transfers than with freshman admits. If it is need-based aid, that is somewhat more available, but you need to check policies before you apply. If it is merit aid you are seeking, that is close to impossible for transfers (although not impossible).</p>
<p>So… it might be that applying while you are a freshman will work for you. Or it might be that you would be better off taking a gap year.</p>