College Student Transfers – An Overview
College students who transfer between schools at some time during their college career are very common and are a growing trend. About one third of college seniors have transferred schools at some point during their college career. A number of factors including rising tuition costs, an increased national focus on higher education and recent economics, are all contributing to an increase in the number of students transferring between schools.
Due to sky-high tuition costs that continue to climb, students these days are more focused on the reality that their college education needs to result in a definitive career, while also trying to keep costs down. As a result, today's students are more likely to attend two-year colleges before transferring to four-year schools and are more likely to transfer between schools when they find their school isn't a good fit. The different types of college transfers and the reasons students choose to transfer schools is discussed below.
Vertical Transfers
Vertical transfers refer to transfers from two-year schools to four-year schools. About 40 percent of students at two-year schools transfer to a four-year college. Most two-year colleges, whether private or public, have substantially lower tuition rates than the typical four-year school. Many vertical transfers are planned before the student even begins their studies at a two-year school. In these cases, students have typically decided to start their education at a two-year school to save money. They save on tuition as well as housing costs since it is common for these students to live at home.
Other students may choose to start studying at a two-year school because they haven't decided what major to pursue and want to explore their options at a lower-cost school. In these cases, the student may not complete two years of schooling before transferring to a four-year school.
Horizontal Transfers
Horizontal transfers occur between two four-year schools or between two two-year schools. For many students who go to college right from of high school, choosing a school and a major is a guess at best, since it is difficult for young people to make such major decisions at this point in life. As a consequence, it is quite common for students to realize their choices were not ideal once they start college. They may realize the academic path they have chosen is not a good fit or that the social aspects and culture of the school are not what they are looking for.
Another reason students transfer between four-year schools may be that they were not accepted at their first choice school. They put their energy into getting good grades at a different school and then reapply to their first choice school with their improved qualifications.
Students transferring between two-year schools are a less common occurrence since two-year colleges offer less differentiation in their programs. Additionally, since students typically live off-campus, the social and cultural aspects of school life are of less consequence.
Reverse Transfers
Reverse transfers refer to when students transfer from a four-year school to a two-year school. More common than many people would think, reverse transfers have become more common in the recent past. Often as the result of financial difficulties, reverse transfer students may be forgoing a higher-priced four-year school for a reasonably priced education at a two-year school where they can earn an associate's degree and get into the working world sooner.
Other students change tracks due to a change in career goals. A student in a four-year degree program may determine they no longer want to pursue their original career goals and rather than start over in another four-year program, may opt to start their career sooner by obtaining an associate's degree in their field of choice. Reverse transfer students often pursue higher level degrees part-time, once they've started working.
Quick Tips
- Plan ahead – If a college transfer is potentially in one's future, obtaining information about transfer options before ever starting college can be very important to avoid wasting time and money.
- Research career options early – To avoid unplanned college transfers, students should research possible career options for those in their major, before starting school.
- Get advice from others – High school counselors, teachers and others who know a student well, can provide valuable advice as to what type of school would be a good fit and may save a student from having to change schools later.
Resources
College Board: Transferring from a Community College
Student Gateway to the U.S. Government – Provides links to federal government higher education resources.
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