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So you applied to many colleges and narrowed down your choices. You found your perfect school and you already completed your first semester or so. Now you find that the college you thought was “it” is not really as perfect as you thought and you want to transfer. Well if done correctly, you can make transferring colleges a smooth transition, without losing many credits if any at all.
Why are you Transferring?
Before you jump the gun and transfer colleges, you first need to assess your reasoning behind your decision. Do you want to transfer because you are not happy with the academic program at your current school? Or is it because your significant other just transferred? Make sure the reasoning is valid enough to warrant a big move to another school.
Assess Your Transcript
If you are thinking of transferring and you are early in your college career, such as a freshman or sophomore, then transferring your credits should be no issue. However, if you are in your junior year or further, then transferring will be harder and you will be risking the loss of many classes that you have already taken, thus losing your money. You should check with counselors at your intended school(s) to see if they will take any or all of your credits. If you are a community college student, and you are looking to transfer to a four-year school, you may want to check with universities in your area. Most schools have articulation agreements with local community colleges to accept all credits from students transferring into their school from a two-year school.
FINANCIAL AID
If you have received financial aid at your current school, you first need to see if you can get your financial aid award transferred to your new school. Transferring loans should not be an issue, however if you were awarded state grants, scholarships or fellowships, you may not be able to transfer those and you may lose the funds. You should speak with a financial aid counselor at your intended school to see if you would be able to transfer any or all of your award money.
TESTING
Chances are, when you were admitted to your current school, you took some kind of placement test. Well not all schools are alike and most schools may want you to take their individual placement tests.
DORMS
If you are trying to transfer to get into a school for a spring semester, you may want to assess the dorm situation first. Most times, there is a wait list for dorms during the school year. If you transfer and you will need dorm housing, you should make sure that it will be available to you once you start, otherwise you should arrange for alternative housing in case you are wait listed.
Remember, transferring is not a difficult process. If you are prepared and if done right, you can transfer schools, without losing credits and without much interruption on your academic life. Just be sure to assess your reasoning, and properly prepare and you will be fine.
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