9 Things To Know Before You Transfer Colleges

By Lorena Roberts on January 29, 2018

The decision of whether or not to transfer colleges (and where!) can be challenging. When it was time to pick a college, most likely you felt a lot of pressure — like you were making the biggest decision of your life thus far. Even if you felt like you made the right choice in the moment, it’s not unusual to feel unhappy with your choice later on. Maybe you’re unhappy with where you’re located geographically, or maybe you know there’s a better program for you somewhere else. Your financial situation may have changed, or maybe you need to be closer to your family.

There are thousands of reasons why students transfer every semester, and just because you’re thinking of transferring colleges doesn’t mean you’re a failure or you’re any less of a person. However, before you transfer colleges, there are some things you need to make sure you know. You’ve been through the admissions process once already, but when it comes to transferring, things are a little different.

walking down the street, college life, transferring colleges

via Unsplash.com

Ask yourself: Why?

Before you make the final decision to transfer, you should first assess why you want to transfer colleges. Sometimes it’s enough to decide to transfer for a chance at a clean start. Your first year might not have been your best, so don’t feel ashamed of wanting to start over with a clean slate.

Many times, students will transfer closer to home in order to have more support throughout college. Sometimes students will transfer because of financial reasons. Transferring to and from a community college tends to be a popular choice for students who are unhappy.

Because transferring college can not only be time-consuming, but emotionally stressful, you should be sure you’re wanting to transfer college for the right reason. Some reasons that probably aren’t worth your while are:

  • Being far away from a significant other: If you’ve chosen to attend a school that’s far away from the person you’re dating, it may or may not be a good idea to transfer back, closer to them. Relationships don’t always work out and it’s important to remember that changing your entire course of life for one person can end poorly.
  • Homesickness: Sure, everyone goes through normal stages of being homesick, but it’s probably not a good enough reason to completely transfer colleges. You can visit home as often as you’d like, just remember that you’re in the process of making your own life now. A life that doesn’t/shouldn’t involve running home to your parents every time you’re feeling homesick.
  • Disliking your roommate: Roommate arguments or bad situations can always be solved. If you need to put in a roommate change request, don’t be afraid to do so. Don’t transfer colleges simply because you were randomly assigned a roommate that’s not working out.
Deciding to transfer colleges should be a last resort when it comes to issues that can be easily fixed otherwise. Sometimes, one semester isn’t long enough to adjust. Remember to give yourself time to navigate your new life. The first few months can seem strange. But soon enough, you’ll have built your own life and you’ll be quite used to the idea of being in college.

What’s the acceptance rate for transfer students?

Though the national acceptance rate for first-year college students is just under 70%, the acceptance rate for transfer students is a bit less, at 64%. In order to get over this admission hurdle, know that your grade point average is one of the most important factors of your transfer application. 

Additionally, check on what the acceptance rate of transfer students is for the specific college you’re applying to. Some colleges have more room than other to accept transfer students, so be sure you know what you’re up against.

Many schools will list what is required of a transfer student application on their website. For The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a transfer student must:

  • have a minimum of a 2.00 GPA from their college courses (some departments require a higher GPA for admission)
  • have a minimum GPA of 2.50 if they have earned less than 30 credit hours
  • submit a high school transcript if less than 30 credit hours have been earned
  • submit a $30 application fee
Transfer applicants to this university have the option of writing a personal statement and/or submitting letters of recommendation. While highly recommended, it is not required in order to be admitted.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, accepts 56% of transfer applicants, and requires that you complete 60 credit hours at the University.
Most private colleges are stingy when it comes to accepting transfer students. For instance, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale are known for not accepting transfer students. If you’re trying to transfer into a private school, know that you’re up against tough competition.

How will your financial situation change? What options do you have for scholarships?

One of the toughest parts of college has to be finances. The average amount of student debt following an undergraduate degree is on the rise, with 2016 graduates in an average debt of just over $37K. This means the national student loan debt totals $1.3 trillion.

Before you transfer to another college, you should assess your financial situation. Maybe at your current college, you receive lots of scholarships. If you transfer colleges, you should have a solid understanding of the financial assistance you will receive. Check into scholarships specifically for transfer students — most schools will have resources on how to navigate the financial factor of being a transfer student.

A quick google search of “scholarships for transfer students” will leave you with numerous resources to aid you in the financial part of your college transfer. At The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, depending on what your GPA is from your previous institution, you can get up to $1500 in scholarships just for simply being a transfer student.

There are numerous scholarships for transfer students at any state school. It’s probably tougher to find these scholarships at private colleges. However, don’t stop searching for ways to lessen the pressure of the financial burden we all know college brings.

Will your credits transfer with you?

As much of an inconvenience as it can be, some schools will not accept credits you’ve previously earned from other schools. According to US News, 10% of transfer students will lose their credits when they transfer colleges. You can easily avoid being part of this 10% by ensuring your credits will transfer before you complete the application and sign on the dotted line. Worst case scenario, it will take you longer to complete your degree at your new university. However, when it comes to your happiness, there’s nothing wrong with taking an extra semester (or two) to complete your degree in the most successful, supportive environment possible.

 

Infographic by Lorena Roberts via Visme.com

How supportive will your new school be of transfer students?

You should look into how supportive the students are of transfer students. Are you going to feel out of place? You don’t want to end up in the same unhappy position, dying to transfer again. So instead, make a trip to campus, look into resources for those who have transferred colleges. If you can find a student who transferred in, they’ll likely be the most beneficial contact you can make during this process.

Some colleges will match you with a peer mentor because they know how tough it is to enter college as anything other than a freshman. Transfer students can often be lost in the mix, and you might end up feeling a bit left out of the social scene on your new campus. Researching transfer student resources beforehand may help you in making a decision about where to transfer. You’re going to want to be in a place that will fully support you and give you a place to exist.

Do you have everything you need in order to apply?

Deciding to transfer colleges takes a lot of time and effort. You’ll have to stay organized and dedicate time every day to getting your materials together. Some schools will require that you submit standardized test scores, even if you’re two years through college. Other schools will require letters of recommendation, mid-year reports, or other documents stating why you would like to transfer colleges.

When writing your personal statement (if required)…

Try to focus on the positive reasons that you’re looking to transfer. Trash talking the university you currently attend will only make you look bad. Discuss your opportunities for personal growth and the legitimate reasons you ended up deciding to transfer colleges. Those who read your personal statement will be interested to know your story — why do you desire to transfer in the first place?

Can you complete the application in time to meet the due date and criteria?

As you’re getting your materials ready to submit to transfer colleges, it’s important you have a timeline of when your application is due. The last thing you want to do is start the transfer application a few weeks before it’s due. You probably need at least six weeks to get your application materials together and submit the final copy.

In order to stay organized, I’d suggest creating a timeline for yourself. When will you have your personal statement completed? When will you ask for recommendation letters? When will you fill out scholarship applications? Will you make a trip to visit the campus and speak with an advisor who specializes in transfer students and their situations?

Are you able to take a leave of absence and attend your original school at a later time?

Sometimes you need more than just the opportunity to transfer colleges. Sometimes you just aren’t ready to build a home away from home. There’s always the chance you’ll want to go back to your original school – so take a leave of absence in order to leave the opportunity open for you to go back. If you need to take a leave of absence, this doesn’t make you a failure. Look into all of your options — community college, taking time off to just work, or spending time traveling the world to discover who you are and what you want.

Do you have housing options should your application be accepted?

Sometimes it’s tough to transfer colleges and find a place to live. If you feel like you’re too old to live on campus, don’t be afraid to reach out via social media to find roommates! Oftentimes, these will be the people who can keep you “in the loop” as far as the social scene. They may be able to keep you from feeling like a lost transfer student.

Facebook groups for roommates tend to be pretty successful. You’re able to meet lots of different people with similar interests and living behaviors in an efficient manner. It’s quick and easy to post in a Facebook group announcing that you’re a transfer student and you’re looking for housing. What you don’t want to do is transfer to a new school and have no clue where you’re going to live, with no starting point.

Before you submit an application to transfer colleges, make sure you at least have an idea of where you’ll look for a living situation once you’re accepted.

The decision to transfer colleges doesn’t come easy. Sometimes it takes months to decide whether or not you want to embark on a journey that’s both emotionally stressful and personally liberating. Finding a school that you think will be a better fit, analyzing your financial situation, identifying ways you can get involved on campus, finding a place to live where you can feel comfortable… it’s all part of the demanding process. The most important thing to remember as you prepare yourself to transfer is that you aren’t a failure, you have not let anyone down, and life will keep going – no matter where you decide to take your studies. Whether you’re going to study something completely new, or you’re sticking with the same major; no matter how long it will take you to finish; no matter how many credits you can take each semester; know that you’re making the best decision you can for yourself and believe that life truly will get better.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format