Applying to College: First Year vs Transfer?

As a high school counselor at an Early College, I get this questions A LOT! Most Early College students enter into their high school experience with the expectation that they will "transfer" into a 4 year college as a college junior. While they aren't "wrong," they also aren't exactly right. Let me explain! But first let's look at the differences between college First Year status and Transfer.

Transfer

A college transfer student means that a student is transferring from one college to the next. When a student applies as a "transfer" student, only their college classes/credits/grades are taken into account

Pros

If you don't have a qualifying GPA or College Admissions test score, these items are not taken into account during your admissions decision.
Students wishing to commute to college are not required to have on campus housing
Parking for students is usually closer to campus and a little less expensive.

Cons

students are not always eligible for on campus housing
some scholarship options are not available
financial aid offers can be impacted by the status of "Transfer"

First Year

Students entering into college under the title "First Year" are experiencing their FIRST YEAR on that college campus. (This is actually why many colleges have done away with the verbiage of College Freshman. Many more students are going to college with a number of college credits already banked in their account. By changing the terminology to FIRST YEAR, it is more easy to understand. We would all agree, if you have never been to that college, it truly is your first year enrolled at that campus.

Pros

Your high school counselor can access your college application (Common App) and can upload important documents on your behalf
There are TONS of scholarship options
You have guaranteed housing on campus
First Year College Experience (workshops, classes, college orientation)
Financial Aid opportunities are increased

Cons

Many schools require first year students to live on campus
Parking for 1st years is typically more expensive and much further away

When you graduate from an Early College and have fully completed the Associates Degree Program, you will graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associate Degree. I know this may sound counter productive. Why would you essentially "start over." Trust me, you aren't. I know the term First Year could throw you off. But again, it's just the agreement that this is your First Year on that college campus. As long as you go to one of our "partner schools" - at our particular school that means any of the 16 UNC system schools, Meredith, Barton, Campbell and a few others.... your classes you earned a "C" or better in from the Community College are guaranteed to transfer. You are not transferring an Associate Degree, you are transferring individual course credits.

Of course, there is an exception to every rule right! Can you apply as a transfer? In short yes you can. But you want to make sure you are applying as Transfer for one of these reasons ONLY!

You do not have a qualifying GPA to apply to your college as a first year. (For MOST schools this is a weighted 2.5)
You do not have a qualifying ACT/SAT test score for first year application.
- ACT Minimum: Composite 17
- SAT Minimum: Combined 930

In rare cases, if you apply as a First Year and get denied admission, you may be able to ask the admissions team to look at your application from the status of Transfer. Not all colleges will do this, but it is worth asking!

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