If your current situation isn’t working, you can contemplate transferring colleges! There are tons of options out there that may be a better fit. No matter your reason for transferring, there are plenty of paths you can take to make the most of your college experience. Examine these factors as you move forward in the transfer process:
1. Plan in advance
Students considering transferring colleges need to consider all the logistics in advance. This is a gradual process, so give yourself plenty of time to acquire the proper documents and meet with your advisor. Remember that your counselor is likely occupied with other students, so don’t spring this on them at the last minute.
2. Figure out your class credits
Make sure your existing college credits carry over to the new curriculum. There’s nothing worse than spending time and money on a course, and then finding out it won’t count towards graduation. Simplify this step by checking out a service called Transferology. This program lets you input the college classes you’ve already taken and compare them to another colleges degree plan. That way, you’ll see if your classes will count at your new school!
To get the most out existing credits, you might want to consider transferring to a school with an articulation agreement. This means that both schools have a partnership that draws parallels between their programs and degrees, giving you class credit security for your transcript.
If you’re looking to transfer to another university without an articulation agreement, consider sticking to the same or similar degree path. By keeping a degree that has a lot of the same core curriculum covered, you won’t have to spend more time and money taking another set. The end goal is to earn the degree you desire without breaking the bank.
3. Meet with your advisor
Speaking with an advisor at each university will help you navigate between educational plans and degree paths. They are experts in their field with in-depth knowledge of their college’s curriculum and credit system. Check in with them before making any major moves on your own.
Transferring to a new university may mean submitting all your old high school test scores. Many transfer students may be required to present a high school transcript as well as ACT/SAT results. Depending on how many years you’ve spent in college, different universities use previous scores to help determine your acceptance. Make sure to check with the school advisors and admissions office so you have those files in reach if you need them.
Ask your advisor when the class registration period for transfer students ends. Since college courses fill up fast, waiting until the last minute to sign up for class might set you back a semester. Don’t limit yourself to taking an incomplete schedule if you don’t have to.
4. Get to know your new surroundings
Strongly consider living on campus for the first year. It’s not just a freshman thing, many students live in dorms throughout their college experience because there’s always something going on. Plus, you’ll get to run into or meet new people throughout the day that wouldn’t be available to you if you decided to live in a one bedroom apartment.
If you choose to live off campus, consider a townhome or cottage style apartment with lots of roommates. You get the freedom of having your own room without the sacrifice of living alone. You make friends with the people you live with, and the more people you live with: MORE FRIENDS!
Make sure to attend student orientation. Again, it’s not just a freshman thing. You’ll get to know the lay of the land and meet students that are just as new to the environment as you. Depending on the school, you may even have events dedicated to transfer students!
Check out the resources that colleges have to offer. Whether it’s a sport or a club, the best way to feel at home is to get involved on campus and meet people who like doing the same things as you. You’re ultimately there for the degree, but it’s also important you make yourself feel at home.
A critical step in fostering the best possible college experience is making yourself comfortable in the environment you’re in. Don’t hesitate to look into transferring colleges based on preference or education. There’s plenty of help out there to get you into the college that is right for you.