How Do You Know if You Are Good for Transfer

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Being a transfer pupil has benefits, just it can exist even harder to navigate than applying as a freshman straight out of high school. Transfer educatee requirements tin be tricky to figure out, as many college awarding guides are written with freshmen in mind.

Despite the difficulty, existence a transfer educatee is worth information technology. Whether you want to transfer because you're ready to move from community higher to a four-year academy or because your school isn't the correct fit, this guide will help y'all learn what colleges wait for in transfer students and how to make your application more highly-seasoned to colleges.

body_gap-1 Knowing the unique obstacles transfer students may face gives you lot a better run a risk to avoid them.

What Practise College Look From Transfer Students?

There are many reasons to transfer from ane college to another. Regardless of what reason you lot're transferring, it's important to empathize that being a transfer student, though beneficial and helpful for many people, isn't necessarily easy.

The acceptance rate for transfer students is generally lower than it is for freshman. That doesn't hateful you shouldn't be a transfer student or that it's a bad option—information technology means you lot need to plan alee and follow through, but as you would if you were a high school student applying to a four-year school.

You can transfer schools for all kinds of reasons, merely be sure you lot take a good reason when yous're applying. You'll be writing essays and potentially conducting interviews and visits, and being prepared to reply the question of why yous're transferring will make you a stronger candidate.

Setting aside people who have no option but to transfer, such equally those reaching the end of community higher transfer programs or people in the armed services, there are lots of reasons you might want to transfer. Simply when you're applying to schools, you should be aware that in that location are some reasons schools will see every bit "proficient"—equally in, reasons that will make yous an appealing pupil—and some they'll run across equally "bad."

What Are Skilful Reasons to Transfer?

Adept reasons to transfer are pretty much the same every bit good reasons to utilise to a college from loftier school:

  • You lot similar an academic program a school offers
  • You tin can see attention helping your ultimate career goals
  • You similar their mission as a college
  • Your current school doesn't offering the plan you want
  • Your electric current school isn't a practiced "fit"

What Are Bad Reasons to Transfer?

Fifty-fifty if i of the reasons y'all desire to transfer is something a higher might see equally bad, that doesn't mean that transferring isn't the right choice for you. Keep in mind that colleges are looking for stronger reasoning—call up more than in terms of your long-term academic growth and potential than any immediate problems. Reasons for transferring that colleges might pout on include:

  • You're not getting along with your roommate
  • Yous're struggling to go along up with classes
  • Yous're homesick

If whatsoever of these are the reason that y'all're thinking about transferring, that's okay. But instead of framing your essay around how bad your roommate is, see if you can notice another manner to expect at that problem. Is information technology really about your roommate, or is information technology because your school culture isn't a good fit?

If it's the latter, how will your new higher fix the effect? Have you washed more research to ensure the same problem doesn't happen once again? These are the kinds of questions you lot should be able to respond to clinch your school that they're the right fit for you and that you won't want to transfer again later.

How To Transfer Without Losing Credits

Most transfer problems occur when trying to transfer credits. Some 40 percent of transfer students receive no credits when transferring schools, equating to hundreds of lost hours and dollars with nothing to testify for them.

That's why it's important to make transferring part of your plan from the beginning if y'all're starting at a customs college—y'all demand to be sure that your time and money are well-spent.

As well few credits isn't the simply trouble. Students can also end upward with besides many credits, which can be a hindrance, especially if you're seeking fiscal aid or trying to become into a new degree plan. Once again, this means that planning is vital. The sooner you tin be sure that y'all want to transfer, the better—a plan will help forbid wasting your time and money.

To exist sure you're on track to transfer successfully, consult with an adviser and start researching your adjacent school's transfer department as presently equally possible. If you can, contact your school's transfer admissions function and encounter if they offering advising sessions or planning assistance.

body_handcuffs-1 Don't feel like you're chained to your higher if information technology's not a good fit!

Basic Transfer Student Requirements

To be a successful transfer educatee, the almost important thing y'all need to do is be a successful college student. The criteria colleges look for from transfer students is much the same as it is for graduating high school students, only scaled up.

Adept grades are 1 of the virtually important things admissions offices look for in transfer applications. If struggling in schoolhouse is one of the reasons you want to transfer, be prepared to explain what steps you're taking to improve them in your college essay. The chief focus of your essay should not be that you're struggling to continue up, but rather that you're addressing the reason for the struggle, such equally a program that isn't a good fit. Fifty-fifty improve, demonstrate that yous're working to meliorate by standing to work hard and amend your grades as you're going through the transfer process.

Test scores are less important as a higher transfer. Though schools may asking them if you're transferring later on just one or 2 semesters, the further you are into your college education, the less test scores affair. If it's been more than five years since you were in schoolhouse and since you took a standardized exam, you may consider taking the Sat or ACT again then that your transfer schoolhouse has a practiced thought of where you're at academically, but if information technology hasn't been long and your college transcripts are solid, it shouldn't exist necessary.

If you're an international pupil, you may accept some additional considerations. It'due south important to work with your designated schoolhouse official and exist certain all your paperwork, including work and student visas, is upward to date and authentic. As an international student, you'll be contending with all the same obstacles as domestic students, with a few additional hurdles like language barriers, transferring papers properly, and visas. Plan as early as possible to avoid hiccups in the process.

body_study-5 Finding the correct transfer school is its own course of homework.

How To Discover the Right Transfer School

No matter what your reason for transferring is, yous want to know for sure that your side by side school will be a good fit. Transferring is a lengthy process that can result in wasted money if it's non done properly, and the more you try to practise it, the more likely you are to encounter trouble.

To minimize your need to transfer, inquiry extensively. Make certain your new schoolhouse:

  • Has the degree program you're looking for
  • Offers extracurriculars that entreatment to you lot
  • Has a campus culture that you lot can see yourself participating in
  • Has a mission statement that aligns with your values

Those are just some of the things you lot should know before transferring. Imagine that you just go one shot, and whatever school yous cease upwards at will be your concluding. Are you happy with your option? What concessions are you willing to make?

As if you were applying straight out of high school, brand a list of schools that appeal to you and narrow information technology down to a manageable amount. Be sure these are all schools you can meet yourself at until you've completed your degree program.

The Common Data Set and Higher Board can give you valuable information about school statistics, including transfer rates. Transfer rates should be factored into your list of colleges you'll exist applying to, as transfer rates tin can motility a school from prophylactic to reach depending on how many transfer students they admit per twelvemonth. Many loftier-profile schools accept only a handful of transfer students per twelvemonth, so your awarding needs to really stand out.

When you lot're applying, be sure that you're following the guidelines specifically for transfer students. Deadlines may be different for freshman admissions, then go along an middle on when things are due specifically for transfer students. Coordinate with your adviser if you can to be sure that you're on target with everything you need.

The majority of college applicants are high school seniors, and almost of the higher application advice out there is aimed at them. But what do you do if you don't fall into this narrow category? Our eBook on how to prepare for and utilise to higher as a nontraditional student volition walk you through everything you demand to know, from the coursework yous should take under your chugalug to how to get letters of recommendation when you're not a loftier school senior.

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body_lego-1 Y'all don't want your new school to see y'all equally just another interchangeable Lego.

What Do Universities Look for in a Transfer Student?

One of the most important factors in your transfer application is why y'all're transferring. This is likewise true for students transferring from customs colleges—"because I want to finish my degree" is only half an answer, every bit schools will as well desire to know why y'all've chosen to transfer to your new school in detail.

Even if your schoolhouse doesn't crave a "Why this school?" essay equally part of the transfer process, it's good to have an answer in the dorsum of your mind. Information technology'll help inform your answer to whatever essay prompt they require, which can strengthen your writing.

Because transfer acceptance rates are lower, it's even more important that your essay be polished, interesting, and informative. Follow the typical best practices for writing a higher essay, but besides exist certain that your essay tracks your growth equally a higher student and why transferring to this specific schoolhouse is the right move for yous.

Bated from the question of why you're transferring, colleges also want to see good grades. In the same way that AP and honors courses in loftier school demonstrate that yous're gear up for college, success in college courses prove that yous're a strong student. Because higher is an investment in yous as well equally for you, good grades are a reliable measure out of success at your transfer schoolhouse.

The further you are from loftier school, the less your high school grades matter. Your transfer school will want to run into higher courses if you lot take them, so fifty-fifty if your loftier school grades are overall stronger, they're less likely to be a determining cistron in your application if you've already put in a yr or more at your current school.

Distance from high schoolhouse likewise means that your standardized examination scores matter significantly less. If yous're in your beginning or second semester of college, it's wise to include them since yous haven't yet had a lot of time to establish a college-level academic record. If yous're a total year or more into college, you lot probably won't need to include them, with rare exceptions.

If it's been 5 years since y'all final took a standardized examination and your grades aren't quite upward to your new school'due south standards, it might be wise to retake it. You lot can calculate your percentile versus the school average to better evaluate whether or non retaking the test is a good choice for yous.

Despite the additional criteria and lower rate of admissions, four-year schools are oftentimes looking for very similar features in freshman students and transfer students. They desire to run across a demonstrated endeavor to do well and commitment to a program, likewise as a plan for how your new school volition help you accomplish your goals. A potent transfer awarding will look much like a potent freshman awarding, but with letters of recommendation and grades from college instead of high school.

body_computer-2 You need to work as hard on your transfer awarding as you would if you lot were transferring as a fresh high school graduate.

What Information Should You Include on Your Transfer Application?

Once again, a practiced transfer application will look very similar to a proficient freshman application. However, yous'll need to calibration everything up—with lower acceptance rates for transfer students, it's even more than of import that your awarding be polished and strong.

When it comes to exam scores, grades, and letters of recommendation, be sure you're getting them from contempo sources. By college, your high schoolhouse biology teacher'southward assessment of you isn't equally relevant as a college professor's assessment.

If you're simply starting out in college, you might accept a hard fourth dimension getting letters of recommendation from your teachers as they may not take spent as much time with you. Seek letters from instructors who know you best, though be sure you know your new schoolhouse's policy on messages from pedagogy assistants. Some schools will but have letters from professors, so wait that up ahead of time.

Don't reuse your high school messages. A positive letter of the alphabet from a higher professor carries far more than weight, so seek those out by meeting with your professors during function hours and by participating in grade.

body_poppy These tips will assist you make your awarding and beautiful and unique as this flower.

Cardinal Tips for Making Your Application Stand Out

Knowing what universities await for in a transfer student is merely one-half the battle—you also need to know how to turn that noesis into action.

#1: Know Why You're Transferring

Of course, yous should know why you're transferring to a dissimilar schoolhouse. Merely you should as well demonstrate that knowledge in your application and interviews—schools want to empathize the reason backside your decision, and it will nigh certainly gene into your application essay.

As discussed above, you should have a strong reason why transferring is necessary. Maybe you've changed programs or you're looking to join a new customs because your current ane isn't fulfilling. Don't knock your electric current school to prop up your awarding—instead, focus on the positive aspects your new school has to offer.

For case, say the community at your school isn't really your scene. Maybe yous were hoping for a thriving arts community, just your school doesn't really have one.

Instead of saying that you expected i affair and got another (suggesting to your new school that yous didn't do enough research, or accusing your current school of misrepresenting itself), frame it equally a time of discovery.

For example, "As I've developed as a pupil, I've found myself more interested in being function of an artistic customs, which [New School] is famed for. When I look at photos from poetry readings on campus or browse the current gallery exhibits, I want to see myself there, too!" is a much stronger way of phrasing detachment from your school community than, "Pictures led me to believe that [Current School] had a lot of artistic events on campus, but that hasn't been the instance. I want to attend poetry readings and encounter artwork produced by students, not just football games."

#2: Focus on Grades

Grades are the biggest gene in transfer applications. Your grades need to be stiff, especially with the limited acceptance rates for transfer students. If you're struggling in your current school, identify the cause and try to remedy it before you lot apply.

Fifty-fifty if you've already made upwards your heed to transfer, that doesn't hateful you should slack off in your electric current school. Transfer applications ofttimes require mid-year reports, which will ask your current professors to evaluate your performance and predict your grade at the terminate of the term. You desire that written report to be adept, and then proceed performing well in your electric current classes.

#iii: Care for Your Application Like a Freshman'south

Despite having some college courses nether your belt, you don't necessarily have an advantage because transfer rates are typically lower than freshman access rates.

Because you lot're not guaranteed a spot, put time and try into polishing your awarding to its finest. An application is your opportunity to make a good impression, so don't lean on your college feel to do the work for you lot. How would you promote yourself if you didn't have information technology?

College experience, even an associate's degree, is like frosting rather than a whole cake. Don't evangelize your school a tub of frosting—deliver them a beautifully baked cake with the additional embellishments that come from college feel.

body_calendar-9 The earlier you start planning, the better.

When Should You Plan to Transfer?

Ideally, you've been planning to transfer from the beginning, and you lot've been working with your adviser and transfer school to brand the process smoother. But that's non always the example—sometimes you don't foresee a plan switch, or maybe you lot're moving due to military enlistment.

The best time to showtime planning for your transfer is when you kickoff schoolhouse. The 2nd best time to start planning for your transfer is now, and then get started right abroad!

Once you're certain that you want to transfer, prepare up an appointment with your adviser and become over your current credits, what credits will transfer, and what additional things you'll need to successfully move to a new school. Create an academic program and follow it.

If you demand to transfer sooner than a plan volition allow, work with an adviser to determine your all-time path forwards. Don't try to do it all on your ain—navigating required credits versus transferable credits tin can be extremely difficult, and having an advocate will make everything easier on you.

If y'all do want to exercise some individual research, you tin can use College Transfer, a tool that helps students compare college transfer programs and find out if credits transfer, to go a skilful sense of how well you lot're prepared to transfer.

When to Transfer From a Community College

Universities and customs colleges ofttimes accept partnerships, chosen joint agreements, to make the transfer easier. These are a huge boon in transferring, as it means there'south already a pathway for success. Accept reward of it if you can!

If your current school and your desired school don't take an articulation agreement, that'southward okay. It just means that y'all'll need to be a fiddling more than diligent in your planning and inquiry—again, the help of an adviser will exist invaluable.

Generally, community college students transferring to a four-twelvemonth university will want to do so after completing the requirements for their associate'due south degree, meaning you lot'll enter your iv-year school every bit a junior.

An associate's degree finer locks your credits in. If yous desire to have some time off before transferring, y'all can do so without worrying that your credits volition depreciate. If y'all transfer before receiving your associate's degree, your credits may actually lose value, significant you'll have to accept more classes to transfer successfully, costing you more money and time.

There's no foolproof time in the year to transfer. Stay on top of your academic plan and your required credits, and plan to transfer when you lot're finished.

When to Transfer From One 4-Year School to Another

There are plenty of reasons to transfer from one 4-yr college to another, simply be sure that if that's your plan, that you're not transferring for frivolous reasons. Roommate issues and homesickness won't read particularly well to admissions offices, and so endeavor to seek other solutions before deciding to transfer.

The most important matter to consider is that many of your credits may non transfer. This might ready you back in time and money, as you may end up retaking courses similar to those you lot already completed. See with an adviser to sympathise how to best select courses that volition help you lot transfer successfully.

There'south no best fourth dimension of year to transfer, though if y'all don't have plenty credits, you may actually be transferring in as a freshman alongside first-time college students. Again, coming together with an adviser is your best bet to make sure y'all apply properly.

When to Transfer if You're in the Military machine

If y'all're in the armed services, the decision to transfer schools may not be entirely upwards to you. Moving is common and often required, which means that the military has measures in place to ensure your education won't be seriously impacted provided you follow the rules.

The GI Nib ensures that you have special allowances to attend multiple schools at the same time, provided that your courses are all part of the same program. These courses and credits can be transferred from one school to another with ease, significant your transfer won't be as difficult as some others.

However, the restrictions mean you lot need to exist sure all your courses are function of your program, or you may run into trouble. Run into with an adviser regularly to be sure that you're on track.

Because you likely won't have much say in when you'll need to move schools, the GI Bill ensures that you don't have to be concerned about when you transfer. But stay on target with your academic plan!

When to Transfer if You're an International Student

International students may transfer from secondary school in their home country to a 4-yr school in the The states, or from one four-yr schoolhouse to another. However, considering of additional requirements for international students, information technology's even more of import that you be enlightened of deadlines, paperwork requirements, and credit transfer.

Your visa may actually restrict which colleges you can attend, so be sure that you're familiar with what schools you lot tin can transfer to. Schools may besides have additional requirements or specific deadlines for international students, and then always bank check that you're in contact with the designated school official also as any advisers you lot have. You should always wait for international student-specific information if it exists to prevent yourself from missing a borderline due to information technology not applying for international students.

As with transferring schools for other kinds of students, there's no hard-and-fast "best" time to exercise it. All other information applies—if you accept an associate's degree, yous may be able to transfer every bit a junior and lock in your credits. If yous don't have an associate's degree, you lot'll be evaluated on a form-by-grade ground. Go on all that in mind as yous're planning your transfer to ensure that the picture you present to your next school is as flattering as possible.

What Next?

No thing where you're at in your academic career, you may be eligible for financial aid. Learn how to utilise for financial aid to ensure you lot go the best honor!

If staying on top of your grades has been an result then far in your higher career, don't panic. There are plenty of great schools with low GPA requirements.

The best way to get into your dream school is to treat your awarding like it'due south for the nearly selective colleges effectually. This guide for how to get into Harvard will walk you lot through what a cracking application looks similar, and how to bandbox up your own application.

Want to build the best possible college application?

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About the Writer

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Available's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring G-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their higher teaching.

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Source: https://blog.prepscholar.com/what-do-universities-look-for-in-a-transfer-student

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