If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about transferring schools. Whether you are ready to complete a four-year degree plan or fulfill your degree in a new environment, you are not alone; thirty-seven percent of college students transfer during the pursuit of their college degree. Regardless of how you started your degree, whether at a community college or a four-year university, ensuring that your next destination has everything you need, and most of what you want, is imperative. Transferring schools can be an extensive process that requires you to do much research and sometimes a bit of soul searching.
Once you’ve completed your time at a community college, you need to start thinking about which university will offer the most options from every aspect. While you completed a number of courses, you began discovering what degree plan you’re actually interested in pursuing. You need to be prepared for the new environment you’ll experience at a four-year university. There are more people, more options and more activities in which to participate. Luckily, this adds to your college experience. If your path started at a four-year university, you went in thinking one thing about the school of your dreams and encountered a reality you weren’t expecting. Both situations call for a transfer, and using your current experiences at your respected institution is a must.
Before making a decision about what school you’re transferring to, make sure to do your research. Have a clear sense of what you want to study, what type of environment you want to put yourself in, familiarize yourself with the transfer admission criteria, evaluate the credit transfer process and, finally, picture yourself at each university you are considering. These guidelines will let you handle the transfer process with ease.
Choosing a Major
Sometimes students go into college thinking they know what they want to major in, and after a couple of semesters, classes and exams, that dream career turns into a nightmare. Universities across the country offer a vast variety of majors and minors. Some offering more programs than others, and some offering more highly ranked programs than others. If you’re still convinced you want to continue the same degree plan, then your brainstorming phase is done. If you’re still undecided, create a list of possible options and interests. You can narrow down your possible majors later as you move along the transfer process. Typically, the larger the university the larger the pool of options will be. Doing adequate research to discover the best program out there is crucial. As you’re investing money into your education, you want to make sure you’re receiving the best education you can get. Once you’ve found several universities that offer your program of interest, the next step is to review the social and financial elements of the universities.
At What Cost
Although scholarships are more abundant for first-time college goers, financial aid is still available for transfer students. The price tag for universities vary. While some are relatively inexpensive, others can have a higher tuition rate. Private universities typically have higher tuition rates while public universities maintain a relatively lower cost of attendance. Universities do as much as they can to keep the price of attendance low. Along with scholarships and financial aid, they try to find ways to manage the cost by implementing policies and services that keep the tuition rate from changing or rising exponentially. If you qualify, grants are a great addition to your financial aid package. Find out what university is being pro-active in offering the most support for their transfer students.
While you’re considering the fees and dues, you should also think about what the city and campus have to offer. For those who will work while being a student, research what kind of employment opportunities are available on and off-campus. Finding jobs that offer a flexible work-schedule and a wage that will sustain your budget is essential.
Admission Requirements
Now that you have found universities of interest, you can start looking at the admission requirements. Before you even submit an application or consider submitting any documents, check to see if you meet the requirements to both the university and your program of interest. These findings will create the blueprints of what steps to take next. If you do not meet all of the requirements, it’s worth speaking to an admission counselor. A more in-depth review will inform you about all the options you have and what else, if anything, can be offered to you for admittance. If all goes well and you are ready to continue the path of transferring, begin the transfer credit research process.
Transferring Credits
Perhaps the most pressing question transfer students ask is: if I transfer, will I extend my time in school? Sometimes the credit transfer process can bring frustrating obstacles when it comes to applying your accomplished work to your new degree program. Transferring credits is not the same for every university. Each university accept credits depending on how those credits correlate with the curriculum. A great and free service you can use is Transferology (http://transferology.com). This website allows you to plug in credits from your current university to the one you are planning on transferring to. It’ll then show you which credits transfer, how they transfer and which credits do not transfer. Transferology isn’t used by every university. If utilizing Transferology is out of the question, contact an admission counselor at the universities you are considering. Often, they can connect you with resources to figure out which credits will be brought with you and what you can do to recuperate the credits that may be lost. Degree maps to graduation are extremely beneficial, so asking for one will be helpful. Some universities offer pre-transfer advising sessions which guide you through every step of the transfer process. They give you the resources and information you need in regards to credit transfer, exploring majors, identifying next steps and more.
Tour the Campus
While you may be picking a university based on proximity to your job or home, visiting campuses on your list is still extremely important. Every campus has a different environment made up by the school’s student population, the city it’s located in and the vast options of programs and organizations at the school. Universities offer guided tour sessions that offer informational presentations and sometimes events to help you in your transfer process. The presentations highlight what the university has to offer, the requirements to be admitted, the student organizations at the school and give you the opportunity to get answers to questions you still have. Self-guided tours are also an option which allow you to explore freely and cover the ground you find most beneficial. When you visit the campus, you get a good feel of what it would be like on a day-to-day basis.
Housing
Consider all of your options when looking for housing. Living on-campus has its perks and so does living off-campus. Many universities offer on-campus housing options for transfer students. Living on-campus gives you the opportunity to make new friends helping you settle in much more quickly. You are also closer to your classes and dining halls. Another option is off-campus housing. Apartments in college towns typically have options geared toward students. If you are worried about getting a roommate, there can be assistance for that too. Sometimes universities and leasing offices offer services to help match you with a roommate. At times, a university has public transportation with routes that stop near complexes making the commute to school easier.
The Social Life
Moving to a new city or attending a new school means you need to meet new people. As you already know, making friends in class is helpful, but make sure to venture outside of class as well. These friendships make studying, maintaining a social life and networking much easier to manage. The social environment you will be in is vitally important to ensure you enjoy your time at the new university of your choice. Research what student organizations are on campus. Universities can also have groups on social media that connect you with other transfer students. A solid support system while you’re away from home is priceless and extremely beneficial in helping you succeed.
During the transfer process, it is crucial you explore all of your options. Transferring to a new school will be much different than when you initially applied to college. The transfer process will bring obstacles you have not faced, but you have an abundant amount of resources that can offer the assistance you need. Most of the information you need regarding requirements and programs can be found online. When touring campuses, let yourself explore. If and when you run into a roadblock, ask for help. Admission counselors are more than happy to lend a helping hand. With the proper amount of research, and guidance, transferring from one school to another will be seamless.
Jack Kroll
Associate Director of Transfer Admissions
University of Colorado Boulder
transfer@colorado.edu
We hope you find this article helpful as you begin your transfer process. Please feel free to reach out to our transfer admissions team if you have any questions.
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