Is it more difficult to get accepted to a school as a transfer versus as a freshman applicant?

No, just the opposite actually. Transfer counseling is a big part of my job at the community college, so here's a rundown on transferring from a two-year to four-year school:

If you earn enough credits at the community college (usually between 24 and 30 credits), you'll be regarded as a transfer student by the four-year schools. If you earn fewer than that, you'll be regarded as a freshman applicant who just happens to have some college credits under their belt. That means that the four-year school may ask to see your high school transcripts, SAT scores, etc. If you're regarded as a transfer student, it will only be your college transcripts that they'll need to see. Essentially, you get to start over, and you'll be admitted (or not admitted) on the merits of your college-level work. It's a great opportunity to turn things around. It's what I did myself as a community college student many years ago.

The other thing you'll want to check is whether the community college in your area has what are called "guaranteed admission agreements" with local four-year schools. Here in Northern Virginia, my school has guaranteed admission agreements (GAAs) with most of the schools in the state, as well as a couple in DC and Maryland. Essentially, what a GAA says is that, if you earn your associate's degree from the community college AND meet some basic requirements of the four-year school, then you're GUARANTEED to be admitted. Those requirements generally stipulate a certain GPA and perhaps rule out certain degrees that won't transfer. The specific GPA will vary from one school to another, but essentially it removes the uncertainty from the process.

My advice would be to start checking out your local community college, and search their website for transfer information. Pay special attention to "guaranteed admission agreements," "articulation agreements," and the like. Be certain to ask any advisor you speak to there whether such agreements exist at the school. And bear in mind that, to take advantage of an agreement, you generally have to earn an associate's degree at the community college.

Even if you don't earn a degree or transfer under a GAA, the community college is a great opportunity to "start over," resetting your GPA and reinventing yourself as a student.

One last thing: Better than any agreement is a strong transcript. Take this opportunity to really dedicate yourself to your classes, developing an academic plan, and doing some career research. If you earn a strong GPA and take the right classes, you can transfer to the school of your choosing when you're ready.

Don't worry. This could actually be really good for you. And, as an added bonus, you'll be paying about a third as much for your general education classes before you transfer.

Does that make sense?

<span style="background-color: transparent;">Collegeboard.org is a great resource for this! I poured through the pages of universities all over the U.S. when I was a senior in high school. Collegeboard was my go-to site! They put all of the information in one place and it is very easy to use. They even have various filters you can apply to see only colleges that have programs you are interested. To determine academic rigor, look at the admissions requirements, G.P.A. of past admitted applicants, SAT/ACT scores, class rank etc. This will give you an idea of what scores and grades you need to be accepted. However, don't be discouraged your application will be reviewed based on the full picture! College-board will help you get an idea of what is most important to the specific school you are applying to.</span>

This professional recommends the following next steps:

• <span style="background-color: transparent;">Chat with your Guidance Counselor</span>
• <span style="background-color: transparent;">Create a Collegeboard.org account</span>
• <span style="background-color: transparent;">Start using CollegeBoard as a resource to look up schools.</span>