What's the difference between a freshman and a transfer student?

I'm trying to understand how colleges categorize students. If you start at a college as a freshman, can you still be considered a transfer student, like if you've taken some college classes elsewhere in high school?

Colleges typically differentiate between freshman and transfer students based on where the student is coming from and the amount of college-level credit they have earned prior to their admission.

A freshman student is generally a student who is applying for college directly from high school or shortly after high school, with a minimal number of previous college-level credits, generally earned through dual enrollment or AP/IB classes. These students have not attended a two or four-year college or university after graduation from high school. So, even if you've taken some college classes in high school, you will likely still be considered a freshman status for college admissions purposes. You might come into college with some credits under your belt that could potentially allow you to skip certain classes, but you're still entering as a first-year or freshman student.

A transfer student, on the other hand, is a student who initially enrolled in a two or four-year school and earned a certain number of college credits (usually a semester's worth or more) - and, crucially, is now looking to enroll at a different college or university. Importantly, a student is considered a transfer student, if they have graduated from high school and then enrolled in a regular session at another college or university before the start of their first term at the new institution.

However, do note that the exact definitions of freshman and transfer students can vary from one institution to another. If you're unsure, always consult with the specific admissions offices of the colleges you're interested in.