Honestly, I would tell DC fine, if you hate it you can transfer (since if they hate they will want to anyway) but I would also say just give it a try at whatever school you pick and see what you think.

Schools are not always what they seem in the rankings or on one 2 hour tour.

In the end, the reason most or many kids really transfer is if they don't find their friend or social outlet --- I don't know anyone that actually transferred because their school wasn't as highly ranked as the school they wanted to attend. I'm sure it happens, but in real life it's mostly about "fit".

So let your kid try and see ---also, if your kid thinks the school is not as academic or as challenging as a higher ranked school, see if they can get into an honors program or take more challenging classes or do a double major - you can make most colleges what you of it.

--mom of kid who didn't pick highest ranking school he was accepted into and is a rock star at his school and loving that.

Love the school that loves you back.

If DC enters freshman year planning a transfer, DC's not going to be making the friends and having the experiences that the other freshman are, because DC will have one foot out of the door. Transfer students do not have the same college introduction experiences as freshmen, and it can be hard to make friends and build relationships that other students have already had a year to build. It's a much harder path.

Being a transfer student (once you transfer) is really hard, and few students who transferred will tell you that to your face because there’s no going back once you transfer. What are you going to do, drop out junior year? No, so you say you’re happy even if you hate the new school.

Anonymous wrote:Why would she apply anywhere she knows she’d want to transfer from?? How is she in this position?

Last year I would have agreed with this. This admissions cycle was more than unpredictable. It left her with options but not ones that made her excited to enroll. Looking for any way to troubleshoot this to help my kid whose going through it.

Georgetown and Columbia take a lot of transfers.

Anonymous wrote:Here's what I have already been considering my current junior: applying to a PG year at a good boarding school while also applying to colleges. If they are unhappy with the college options (or verly likely have none), spend another year maturing and have presumably strong senior year grades to add to the application the following year. Kid had a rough freshman year but strong grades since and we know for the schools they want, the freshman grades are going to hold them back. They have been "rejected" by admissions offices during the sports recruiting process already, so we know this and are hoping a fourth year of grades will suppress the freshman ones. Is this a thing? Do people use PG years for this?

For recruitable athletes, yes, it's a thing. For everyone else, not so much. You should also research which colleges put weight on freshman grades, though. Some don't even consider them and most don't pay them much heed.

Life not like…

Some schools accept transfers before jr year but top schools often don’t. Many kids go off saying they’ll transfer and then don’t and many have no expectation of transferring then do. Our Dk considered it but credits didn’t transfer smoothly and you had to wait until jr year. He’d decided to stay and make the most of it. If she’s truly serious then she should be willing to do community college for those 2 years. Regardless it’s a great opportunity to experience that like is complex and you don’t always get what you want, to quote The Rolling Stones. She’ll get by.

Here's what I have already been considering my current junior: applying to a PG year at a good boarding school while also applying to colleges. If they are unhappy with the college options (or verly likely have none), spend another year maturing and have presumably strong senior year grades to add to the application the following year. Kid had a rough freshman year but strong grades since and we know for the schools they want, the freshman grades are going to hold them back. They have been "rejected" by admissions offices during the sports recruiting process already, so we know this and are hoping a fourth year of grades will suppress the freshman ones. Is this a thing? Do people use PG years for this?

Anonymous wrote:Is that realistic? Lots of places don’t accept transfers before junior year.

I feel like we have had this conversation before, most colleges actually do accept transfers after freshman year. In fact every single kid I know who has transferred, did it after freshman year. Not sure where you're getting this information?

First step (given that she hasn’t chosen yet) would be to compare transfer prospects from different options (and also to look at whether a community college with a guaranteed transfer option might make more sense.)

Is that realistic? Lots of places don’t accept transfers before junior year.

Anonymous wrote:Why would she apply anywhere she knows she’d want to transfer from?? How is she in this position?

That's not a helpful question for OP, although it is important for future applicants to consider.

OP. what is it about the schools she's considering that she's so sure she still won't like a year from now? Location? Size? Placement on the USNWR rankings? Would she be willing to go to an accepted students day? Get connected through a chat board that most colleges have?

Why would she apply anywhere she knows she’d want to transfer from?? How is she in this position?

DC has a couple of acceptances. Whichever she chooses, she's certain that she'll try to transfer after freshman year. I hate to see her going into freshman year already planning to transfer out. Any advice from others who's kids have been in this position? I don't know how to help her.