Transfer Student Checklist
This article provides a checklist that future transfer students can use to complete a successful college transfer. Some steps are specific to students who plan to attend a two-year school followed by a four-year school. Other steps apply to all transfer situations. See the other articles in BrainTrack's College Transfer Guide for more detailed information.
Before Enrolling in Any College
- Verify that the college's accreditation will enable the student to transfer to another school in the future.
- Check to see if there are articulation agreements between the two-year school and the target four-year schools. If there are, they can be used to guide course selection.
- Using articulation agreements or other course equivalency information, determine what courses are most likely to be transferable and to which schools and what majors.
Fall and Winter of Year Before Transfer
- Narrow down target transfer schools and include at least two safety schools.
- Determine application deadlines for each school; they vary by school and can fall anywhere between October and April.
- Obtain references from professors at current school.
- Complete applications and submit them before individual school deadlines.
- Send high-school and college transcripts, standardized test scores and all other requested information.
- Complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before the earliest school's financial aid deadline, which may be as early as February.
- Complete the CSS/Profile financial aid application if any target schools require it.
- Complete individual school financial aid forms if they are required.
- Research private scholarships, including those specific to transfer students.
Spring of Year Before Transfer
- Receive acceptance letters and financial aid award packages.
- Compare schools, make a decision and notify schools.
- Complete federal loan paperwork and apply for private loans, if needed.
Factors to consider when choosing a school:
- Number of credits accepted for transfer, based on initial evaluation
- Tuition and other costs, taking into consideration the number of semesters needed to graduate
- Financial aid awards
- Projected date of graduation for each school
- Each school's reputation and the relevance it will have to obtaining desired job after graduation
- Each school's fit from a cultural and social standpoint
Summer Before Transfer
- Receive final credit transfer evaluation.
- Appeal decision regarding credits not transferred, if appropriate.
- Review course catalog and meet with academic advisor.
- Register for courses as early as possible to maximize chances of getting desired classes and schedule.
- Attend new student orientation.
- Secure housing – consider on-campus housing as this makes it easier for transfer students to acclimate.
- Use social networking sites to find acquaintances that attend the school and make contact with them.
- Read student newspaper, student blogs and forums, etc. to get a feel for the school.
Resources
College Board – Provides helpful information for prospective college students.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - Online application required to receive any federal aid including loans.