HELP! Is my teen is applying to college soon, and I’m not sure if she should apply as a freshman or as a transfer student?
Earning college credit in high school prompts parents to often ask whether their teen is an incoming freshman or a transfer student. There is always a little confusion around the topic because “freshman” means 2 different things, but they often get mashed into meaning 1 thing – so let’s start with the two different definitions of “freshman.”
Definition 1) The application category.
Definition 2) The year in school / level / number of credits earned (generally 0-30)
Application Category
What parents generally mean when they ask if their teen is going to be considered a transfer student refers to the application process. While it is true that a college may impose their own requirements, most colleges tend to follow similar guidelines when it comes to sorting people into the category “freshman” or “transfer” student.
The reason they sometimes get the wrong answer is that college credit earned DURING high school is almost universally exempt from being “counted” as transfer credit. This small nuance isn’t well known, and likely why admissions counselors often get it wrong.
It’s worth noting that some colleges treat everyone the same – meaning there is no distinction (advantage/disadvantage) of being a transfer student or freshman – before worrying too much about it, check the websites of your target schools to see if they have different application processes. If they don’t, then you have nothing to worry about.
If you have questions about transfer credit, you should always ask the college’s Registrar. They’ll understand exactly what you’re asking!
While it is true that there are sometimes advantages to being admitted as a freshman, that is not always the case. As such, if your teen falls into one category and you’d like them to fall into the other, it’s ok to ask the college to make an exception.
Determine Your Status: 4 Questions
(1) My student is in high school now and taking college classes
Your teen is not earning transfer credit while they are in high school. The credit they are earning now won’t “count” against their freshman admission status. They will still get to transfer it in, but they won’t experience a bump in level until they’re enrolled and the credit is applied to their college record. Apply as a freshman.
(2) My student will be under age 21 when they apply
Most universities consider students under age 21 to be traditional age. If your teen is under 21, they should apply as a freshman unless they meet other criteria that would bump them into the transfer category.
(3) My student has earned more than 24 college credits
Not all credits will count toward the 24 credit limit for admissions. Do not count any credit by exam (CLEP, DSST, AP, UExcel, or TECEP) in this number, and do not count any credit earned before high school graduation. If that number is less than 24, apply as a freshman. If that number is over 24 (or the number they provide on their website) then you’ll likely apply as a transfer student.
(4) My student has a college degree
This can go either way. In many states, earning an associate degree in high school does not change an applicant’s admission status- you’ll still apply as a freshman. However, this is not universal, so if your teen is on track to earn their degree either during high school or shortly after graduation, contact the college directly for clarification.
For teens that hold a bachelor’s degree, and are applying for a SECOND bachelor’s degree, they will likely apply as a transfer student.
If your teen has a bachelor’s degree and is applying for a master’s or doctorate degree, they will not apply as a freshman or a transfer student- check the college’s website for instructions about applying as a “graduate” student.
Why does it matter?
Freshman applicants
- typically have to have specific high school courses on their transcript.
- must submit SAT or ACT scores
- must live on campus
- are eligible for “freshman” scholarships
- compete for spots against other freshmen
Transfer applicants
- are exempt from meeting high school course requirements
- are exempt from submitting SAT or ACT scores
- may live anywhere
- are eligible for “transfer student” scholarships
- are subject to transfer admissions guidelines
Your year in school/level/number of credits earned
This is the “other” type of freshman – the student with less than 30 college credits. In this case, it’s nothing more than assigning a year in school, or level, to your student. This assignment tells you how many credits your teen has and how close they are to earning their degree.
- FRESHMAN — 0 to 29 credit hours of earned credit
- SOPHOMORE — 30 to 59 credit hours of earned credit
- JUNIOR — 60 to 89 credit hours of earned credit
- SENIOR — 90 credit hours to graduation
Note that both freshman applicants and transfer students could have 0 college credits when they apply (an applicant over age 24 could be an example of this) or 90 college credits (high school students sometimes earn 90 college credits) so their designation here has nothing to do with their application status.
It is typical that after matriculation (becoming an official student) your teen’s record will be updated with everything they’re bringing to the college. This will include the evaluation of their prior credit, degree, exams, etc. and then an adjustment of their level will take place. This might be a “bump” in their status after their first or second semester.
Whether or not your teen applies as a freshman or transfer student, the ultimate goal is to get out of college – and the only way to do that is to start earning college credit!
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Dual Enrollment Advice from Parents
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