<p>OP - one more question to ask yourself:
What happens if you go to AU and can’t transfer to Georgetown? As with freshman admissions, transfer admissions (with some exceptions that are not relevant here) are not guaranteed. At some schools, it may be harder transfer, since there is no specific number of transfers that they can accept from year to year.</p>
<p>You should select the school you would be happy at for 4 years if the transfer doesn’t work out. Then you can decide if you want to spend your freshman year working on a transfer.</p>
<p>I totally agree with everything Chedva has said. Do not go to a school you would not be happy to be at for 4 years. Aside from the reasons specified by Chedva in his/her first post, I think you’re poisoning the experience of those around you if you come into a school with a dissatisfied, just-passing-through attitude. And if you’re taking merit money from the school to boot I think that’s almost unethical. Do everyone a favor and do not come to American or any school unless you come happy to be there. Sure, some may find their needs have changed over time and they decide to transfer. Nothing wrong with that, but this negative attitude of “I’m better than this school” is not the right approach.</p>