Planning for a Smooth School Transfer
Transferring schools can be an intimidating and disheartening experience since students' assumptions are not always in synch with the reality of how transfers occur. Not getting accepted into one's target school and not having all one's course credits accepted by the target school are two of the most common disappointments students encounter. There a number of things a student should do to make sure the transfer process goes as smoothly as possible. This article discusses the steps a transfer student should take.
Choosing Target Transfer Schools
After making a decision to transfer, the last thing a transfer student wants is to not get accepted at any of their target schools. Even students with 4.0 GPA's don't always get accepted to their top choices. The higher echelon schools are especially restrictive in the number of transfer students they accept so the competition is fierce for these slots. Students need to research transfer student acceptance rates at the schools they are targeting and learn what grades a student needs to be considered. They should then research their safety schools to make sure their transfer student acceptance rates are high.
Many community colleges offer transfer fairs where representatives from four-year schools are available to provide transfer students with information. This is a quick and easy way to get a lot of information, including acceptance rates, from many schools at once.
Researching Credit Transfers
Beyond researching acceptance rates, students should also understand the target school's policies and practices regarding transferring credits. It's one thing to get accepted to a good school, but if the school doesn't transfer the student's prior work, it may be a poor choice that will result in higher costs and an extended graduation date. Students should look for information about course equivalencies, articulation agreements and transfer credit policies on the target school's website or call the school for information. Information may also be available on a state-wide course equivalency website or on the U.select website, if the school participates.
Another often overlooked issue is that high-school Advanced Placement courses that were accepted for credit at one school may not be accepted at the school a student is transferring into. This is something else that should be investigated to avoid last-minute surprises.
Applying to Schools
One of the most important things a student needs to do is to submit their applications before the deadline. Given the competition at some schools, being late with the application can automatically put the student out of the running. Students will also need to make sure all their transcripts get to the schools. Recommendations from high-school will no longer carry much weight so students will need to get recommendations from professors at their current school, ideally from those within their major area of study.
Finding Financial Aid
Below are some things to keep in mind about financial aid:
- At some schools, there is less money available for transfer students than for freshmen and existing students.
- Each school awards aid differently, so students should research what their target schools' financial aid policies are and what financial aid may be available to them from each school.
- A potential extra source of financial aid is private scholarships available specifically for transfer students.
- All students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) even if they only expect to get loans. Federal Stafford loans are available to students regardless of financial need.
- Some schools require the CSS/Profile application be submitted for the student to be considered for financial aid.
Seeking Advice
Many schools have Transfer Advisors who can be of great assistance when transferring schools. Some two-year schools have advisors to help students who will be transferring to four-year schools. Some four-year schools have incoming transfer advisors who can offer assistance. However, in many cases, these advisor positions are understaffed, making it difficult to get much of their time.
If a student's school does not have adequate staff to advise students who intend to transfer, the student should look for other sources of information and advice. There are a multitude of online resources including those provided by the colleges the student is targeting. There are also numerous online forums where students may be able to get specific advice from other students who have gone through the transfer process before them, possibly involving the same schools. Students should be wary however, of taking advice from a single individual without further verification, since each person's experience is unique to them.
Quick Transfer Tips
- Don't make assumptions – Students who make assumptions about admissions and credit transfers may be surprised to find their plans upended.
- Get transfer credit information early – The number of credits that will be transferred can be a major factor in choosing a school.
- Set aside time to do research - Expect it to take some time to research schools, credit transfers and financial aid so a well-informed decision can be made.
Resources
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).