Finding The Right School
If youve determined you definitely want to transfer, there are a few bases youll want to cover. First, do your research. If you have an academic reason for transferring, pinpoint what exactly that is. For example, say your major is being phased out, or Doe gave the example of a student who has developed a passion for Renaissance literature, and their university does not offer much depth in this subject.
Once youve pinpointed this specific academic lack at your current university, research colleges that offer what youre looking for. If you want to make sure your credits will transfer , include this in your research. This specific academic reason will help you find in another college what youre currently lacking, and this applies to other reasons you may have for transferring. For example, if you are transferring due to location, focus on finding the location that you want when looking at other campuses.
You will also want to use other search and application strategies for finding a new school that you perhaps didnt use when applying to colleges as a high schooler.
You want to use the same discernment that you did when you were looking for colleges the first time, and you certainly want to cast a wide net. Expand your reach, said Doe.
See also: What to Look for When Visiting College CampusesAnd How to Get the Most Out Of It
Common Scenarios And Questions
I want to immigrate to Canada; will a transfer program help me?
It may. There are a number of residency programs that value the completion of a two-year degree from a college. In the past, students have completed a two-year Associate Degree or Diploma, begun working, and used the combination of that education and work experience to qualify for immigration. For students who then transfer to third year university as a permanent resident, they can get a significant reduction of fees.
The admissions standards at my target school are very high. Is there any advantage to seeking a second- or third-year entry to this school, say, from a college or another university with lower requirements?
Yes. Most receiving schools 2nd and 3rd year admissions requirements are significantly lower. Similarly, when transferring, you often do not need to submit language test results as the sending institution already admitted you on the basis of your academic and linguistic profile.
Tip #: Professor Recommendations Matter
As a student with aspirations to transfer into an elite university, chances are you stood out from the crowd in the eyes of at least one professor. In seeking letters of recommendation, target professors who took note of your eagerness to contribute to class discussions, your regular appearances at office hours for the purposes of seeking help and/or engaging in further intellectual discussion, or your research/term paper that ultimately received a very high mark.
If possible, you are seeking more than just a generic He/She got an A in my class type of recommendation letter. If you are presently just beginning your college experience at a community or non-top choice school with the aim of transferring to a prestigious college next year, make it a point to exhibit these type of attributes as each semester unfolds. Remember that the goal is to leave a lasting impression. While your professor may ultimately be sad for their institution to lose a student of your caliber, chances are they will be more than happy to assist you in following your academic dreams.
Also Check: How Much Does One College Class Cost
Consider How Transferring Colleges Will Affect Your College Timeline
Unless youve planned to change schools right from the start and arranged your courses accordingly, graduating on time can be tough when transferring colleges.
If a student chooses to take a different major or must fulfill certain academic requirements mandated by the new school a delay may be inevitable. Transfer students usually take and pay for more courses than necessary because certain universities are strict with the credits they recognize and accept.
A 2014 NCES report showed that 39 percent of transfer students dont receive credit for their previous classes. On average, they lose about 27 earned credits, which explains why they graduate later than non-transfer students.
You should also take into account the possibility that some schools will expect you to complete a specific amount of semester hours before earning a bachelors degree. What this means is that some colleges can demand that you stay for an additional semester or year which will add to your overall timeline.
The 12 Biggest Reasons For Transferring Colleges
Students transfer colleges for a variety of reasons. Some make the decision to transfer before they ever set foot on campus, whereas others want a fresh start after spending a year or two at a particular school. In some cases, the decision to transfer is forced upon a student due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control.
One thing we know is that students are being encouraged to apply for college earlier as more schools offer early application options. While being accepted sooner may be great for some students, for others who aren’t fully committed or who are uncertain about their career path and desired college experience, early acceptance may not be the best course of action.
Here are the top 12 reasons students today are making the decision to transfer colleges.
Data analyzed by the Association of American Colleges & Universities reveals that community college transfers represent around 15% of new enrollments at four-year institutions. The majority of these transfer students attend public institutions. Additionally, community college transfers are more likely to graduate from college than are students transferring from four-year schools or enrolling directly from high school.
Many students about to graduate from high school use community college as a stepping stone toward earning a bachelor’s degree. In other words, transferring was the plan from the start.
Read Also: Is Rhema Bible College Accredited
Special Transfer Admissions Programs
Many colleges have special transfer admissions programs that make it easier for students to switch schools. Universities and nearby community colleges often team up to facilitate a smooth transfer between two-year and four-year schools. Courses transfer directly, for instance, and degree planning tools are often available to help transfer students transition between partner schools. Some colleges even have two-year transfer degrees that set students up to enter a partnering four-year school seamlessly. Some transfer agreements, both community college-to-university and university-to-university, have guaranteed admission policies. Other schools may have dual enrollment policies, which allow students to concurrently earn credit from either institution, or reverse transfer agreements, entitling students who have earned credit at a four-year institution to get a credit evaluation and receive an associates degree from a partnering two-year college if they are eligible.
Will I Like The College I Transfer To
If youre enrolled at a college you know exactly how important the people and community are. No platform in the world provides the same insight into the college experience as CampusReel.
This obviously a difficult question to answer. Its also exactly why we created CampusReel – watch more than 15,000 student-made videos that show you exactly what its like to be a part of their communities like this:
Read Also: How To Accept College Offer
What Is The Common App For Transfer
The Common App for transfer is an online application that makes applying to college faster and easier. Through a single platform, you’ll be able to search for and apply to any one of the more than 600 colleges that accept Common App for transfer. Whether you’re applying to transfer from another 4-year institution or community college or looking to continue your path towards a degree by re-enrolling, the Common App for transfer can help you get to where you want to be.
The info youâll need to start your application
How To Find The Best Options For You
Unlike community college students, who benefit from numerous articulation agreements, and therefore a ready-made list of lucky contenders for their transfer applications, youll have to do a bit more footwork. In a nutshell, though, there are four basic steps youll want to complete before you apply to your new school:
1. Make a List of Schools to Research
Youll need to figure out which colleges match your needs in terms of major, location, the degree of selectivity in admissions, the graduation rate, size , environment , and affordability. You also might want to consider such factors as diversity, or activities, or even how much of a party atmosphere the school has.
This topic could easily be another article in itself, but we tried to keep it focused and steer you to some excellent resources that can help you narrow your selection.
2. Find Out How Transfer-Friendly They Are
If you dont have any specific colleges in mind, but simply want a quick way to see which schools have high acceptance rates as a way of focusing your search, you might find it useful to take a broad view. Consider the two following resources:
3. Find Their Transfer Admission Requirements
Youve found the perfect school. Its the right size, in the right state, with the major you want. The degree of selectivity is a great match, it has an encouraging transfer acceptance rate, and your research tells you that it is likely to be affordable. What could possibly go wrong?
General Transfer Websites
You May Like: What College Accepts The Lowest Gpa
Transferring From Community College To University
Students who attend community college with the intention of transferring to a university should prepare early and make an academic plan that accounts for their time in both schools. Getting a copy of their schools articulation agreement can be extremely helpful for transfer students.
When planning to transfer, students should ask the following questions:
- Does their community college and intended university have any transfer agreements in place?
- If yes, will admission to the transfer university be guaranteed?
- Does their community college have a transfer degree that makes for a seamless transition between schools?
- Which classes transfer and which do not?
For students transferring between schools that dont have any transfer agreements in place, planning is particularly important. Students should pay extra attention to course equivalencies between their schools so they can ensure as many of their credits transfer as possible. They will also want to be aware of their intended universitys core curriculum, GPA and transfer requirements; some schools will not accept transfer students who dont meet credit minimums or who havent taken specific core classes. Communicating regularly with advisors from both schools can help transfer students keep track of requirements and transferable credits.
You Are Wiser And Will Still Need To Cover All The Bases
This time around make sure that you are considering all of the elements of a good fit. Each school that you apply to will need to be a good academic, social and financial fit. The biggest challenge that students face when transferring is having their hard earned credits transfer. Be certain that your credits will transfer and cross check your plan with the Dean and registrar. If you are currently receiving institutional aid you will leave that behind. Contact the financial aid office of the school that you are transferring to to review your current aid package and get a solid estimate to learn how the packages will compare.
OwnerMilne Collegiate Consulting
Also Check: When Do College Credits Expire
Evaluate If Transferring Is The Best Option
Before you start researching and applying to schools, take a step back and decide if transferring is absolutely necessary. The transfer process will take up a fair amount of your time, and you will have to essentially start over socially and culturally at a new school. So, if the problem youre having at your current school is fixable, it may be worth it to stick it out.
Do a very clear assessment and a reality check of what it is thats making you want to leave the school. Are you homesick? Are you missing your boyfriend or girlfriend? Do you have a lousy roommate? These are all factors that one can work with versus leaving, said Doe.
Its also important to keep in mind that the admissions for transfer students is even more restrictive than it usually is for incoming freshmen. So, if youre re-applying to a school you didnt get into the first time around, your chances for getting in tend to be lower than they were before.
If the reason you want to transfer is because you didnt get into Harvard and youre at Cornell, but you still want to try one more time to get into Harvard, save your time and save your money and shift your attitude, because Harvard only admits 15 . You were denied and nothings changed since you applied, said Doe.
Benefits Of Getting An Associate Degree Before Transferring To A Bachelors Degree Program
There are many benefits to earning your associate degree before pursuing a bachelors degree. Many of these benefits depend on your personal circumstances and which degree is the best fit for your needs as a student.;
Four of the top benefits for many professionals include:
Read Also: What Is The Marine College
What We Look For
Through our admissions process, we strive to give you ample opportunities to best demonstrate your interests and accomplishments. We welcome candidates who have gone directly from high school into college as well as those who have followed less traditional paths.
The Admissions Committee looks for achievement in a rigorous program of study, especially in your expected field of specialization. Beyond strong grades, test scores, and recommendations, the Committee considers other non-academic factors such as significant extracurricular engagements and talents. We also consider an applicants personal qualities such as a capacity for leadership, creativity, resiliency, intellectual curiosity, and independent thinking.
In addition to our standard application materials, you may submit supplementary materials showcasing exceptional or unusual talents, including musical performance, artistic work, and research material.
Tip #: How To Approach Transfer Application Essays
There are two main things that you want to highlight in a transfer admissions essay: 1) Why your prospective transfer school is a perfect fit for you; and 2) What unique attributes and talents you will bring to campus.
This is also a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your record of involvement on campus. It is far easier to sell yourself as someone who will be a contributing member of the campus community if you displayed these qualities at your previous college. Students with an eye on transferring are sometimes so focused on escaping their first institution that they fail to become involved in anything outside of the classroom and thus miss out on valuable opportunities to demonstrate leadership and passionthe very traits needed to transfer to a prestigious school.
Also Check: How To Get Your College Loans Forgiven
Why Is The Acceptance Rate Lower For Transfer Students
Knowing the reasons transfer acceptance rates are lower will help you better understand what schools are looking for. You can address these concerns about transfer students in your essay, demonstrating that you’re a great candidate. Don’t panicit’s not impossible to be a successful transfer student!
Reading transfer rates might make you feel like this, but don’t get discouraged!
Because transfer students have already proven that they can succeed in a college setting, it seems counterintuitive that their acceptance rates would be lower. However, due to a lack of information on transfer student graduation rates as well as many misconceptions about transfer students, it’s only recently that colleges have begun to court them.
In the past, many colleges assumed that accepting transfer students would lower graduation rates. The truth is that transfer students and students who start at a four-year school have the same graduation rate of 60%.
The difference is that only 28% of community college students overall graduate within four years, and 60% of them never transfer. The low graduation and transfer rates might signal to colleges that community college students in particular aren’t ready for four-year education, despite their graduation rate being the same as that of four-year students.
Good news! College transfer acceptance rates are improving!
The Pros And Cons Of Transferring From Community College To A 4
Lots of students go to community colleges with the intent to transfer to a four-year school. Is it the right choice for you?
Originally Posted: Mar 18, 2016
Where to go to college is a huge decision. For some students, it means going straight into a four-year college or university; for others, its going to a community college first and then transferring to a four-year school. There are good and bad aspects to either option. Here are some of the pros and cons of the transfer route.
Also Check: How Much Is College Tuition For 4 Years