Transfer Students

If you are at a four year college and unhappy, please think carefully before deciding to transfer. Being a freshman is tough. Did you find the right balance of classes? Did you try to join some interesting activities? Did you find a way to exercise? If you are doing everything you can, and you are limited academically, socially, or just plain unhappy, then yes consider transferring. If not, give the college a chance. The earlier you transfer, the more colleges will rely on high school and test scores. The later you later you transfer--sophomore year--the more colleges will rely on your college experiences--so do well academically, use your summers, get involved on and off campus. Transferring is complex, and you need to track all requirements for the colleges to which you hope to transfer. See our transfer tips: getmetocollege.org/transfer

Plan. Organize. Each college has its own application requirements. There is no Naviance for transfer students. The Common Application has not yet gone paperless for transfer applications, and schools have all kinds of different requirements. So students planning on transferring need to make a master chart and go to each college's individual websites to find exact transfer requirements for applications, including test score requirements, transcripts, recommendations, high school and/or counselor forms, and more. Deadlines also differ dramatically so students need to start getting ready as soon as possible. Fortunately, the essays tend to be fairly similar, and really focus on what students plan to gain by transferring.

When completing a transfer application it is really critical to make the case for why this is the best fit school for you. Obviously you thought the previous institution was where you belonged, so now you need to make the case for why that didn't work out and this next college will. This time around, you are older, wiser, and hopefully more mature; so take ownership for the past and speak specifically to the future at the next institution and why it makes sense. Good luck!

Before transferring it is important to check whether credits will be accepted and coursework will be counted at the next institution. In some situations this will be a seamless process, while in other circumstances you may have to lobby a little harder, on your behalf. Make sure that you have a valid reason, all of your paperwork in hand, and initiate a conversation with a transfer counselor before withdrawing prematurely. Be prepared to take summer courses to graduate "on time", or find yourself on the 5-6 year plan because of time lost in credits lost.

Transfer admission counselors are looking for much the same criteria as regular admissions counselors. Work already completed at another college will play a larger role than the high school transcript at this point. Rationale for transferring also needs to be sound and logical. Fifty percent of college students transfer at some point in their college career, so it is more common than most realize. Good luck with the transition!

When transferring between programs/majors or schools, it is critical that you meet with an advisor and get in writing any requirements or agreements that are necessary. The place you are transferring to has the final say regarding what will be accepted and what won't.

No college is perfect. Be careful not to idolize your new school and demonize your current one. You don’t have to hate a school to leave and your new school will never live-up. Even with solid reasons and reasonable expectations, transferring is harder than just doing the application. I speak from experience having transfered to Rice my junior year. It is hard to learn a new place with new people, traditions, requirements, and standards. It is difficult to leave friends and mentors from your old school. Transferring is a bit like getting a divorce – you wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, but in some cases it is the best option. It just isn’t quick or easy.

If transferring is your plan from day one, you can take steps to insure your credits will transfer. Meet with an academic advisor and check the requirements of the school from which you eventually want to graduate. I live in Texas and here there is a list of credits that are guaranteed to transfer from community colleges and satisfy core requirements at state universities. However, a lot of students don’t plan to transfer. I left George Washington for Rice University at the end of my sophomore year. I was one of the fortunate transfer students that year; I only lost three credit hours. Some of my peers lost entire semesters. Transfer credit isn’t guaranteed, so seek academic advising and keep every course syllabus, so you can justify why credit should be awarded.

Take your transfer application seriously. When I transferred from George Washington to Rice University, the acceptance rate for transfers was less than half that of regular applicants. Do not assume a few years of solid grades at an established university will open all doors. Spend time on your application and do it well. Try to articulate why you want to transfer without whining or complaining. Even if you are miserable at your current school, focus on the positives. Admissions officers understand if a school isn’t the right fit; they want to hear from you why there school will be a better fit.

Red flags to warn you, the student? Watch for colleges where it will be difficult for you to fit into the social scene. Make sure you won’t lose a significant number of classes when transferring. Remember that no college is perfect and be cautious that you don’t idealize the new school because you will soon find it has flaws too. Red flags in your record that might make transfer difficult? Multiple transfers without solid reason are a sign you don’t know what you want and won’t be satisfied wherever you go next. Low grades or lots of withdrawals. Prolonged periods out of school with no explanation can lead admissions officers to jump to worst-case scenarios in their imagination.