Is transferring colleges a good idea?

Say your high school GPA has been on a steep upward trend and your SAT score is a 1520 on math and reading (which can get you in just about anywhere). Your high school GPA is somewhat still a bit too low for some schools (it is a 3.5).





Now you have a full ride scholarship to a tier 3 university which is basically free but you and both of your parents want something better.





Basically I am thinking about going to a tier 3 university for my first two years of college and transferring to a better school (preferably out of region) for my final two. I heard that students from my school who go there tend to have GPAs in the 3.8 - 4.0 range since our school is so difficult (all classes are honors). Money will not be a problem because my parents will pay for my final two years of college.





So is transferring a good idea in that case or is that plan destined to fail?





(I did not apply to many schools and the ones I did apply I don't think I will be able to get admitted into). I want some suggestions. I know that going to a better college for my undergrad will improve my opportunities.|||First of all, you should make sure credits earned in your first two years will transfer with you. Not all colleges/universities accept credits earned from others. As long as the college will accept your prior credits earned, it would probably be wise to go to the tier 3 university with plans to transfer. However, a lot can happen in two years. So don't entirely rule out anything. You may decide you like the tier 3 and would rather stay there. Your grades at the college you attend are going to be more reflective than the actual college is once you begin applying to grad schools or looking for jobs. A's at a tier 3 are going to be better than C's at an Ivy League.|||Instead of worrying about what might happen in two years, concentrate on getting the best grades you can. Who knows, you may find this "tier three" college has a superior education to an Ivy League School which may be more impressive but may not have a particular faculty member or focus you will have where you are going. If you are going to college just for the status of saying, "I graduated from _____," you will not be getting out of school what you might get out of it if you go for the education and for an understanding of how people learn as adults.





Make the decision when you have had some time to learn about what college is really about. Opportunities are what you make them. In the real world, it is what you know more than who you know except in business.





When you use terms like "better" school, you are talking about prestige not education.