How are you in your college? Hopefully, you are good there and you enjoy everything there. However, some of you may feel that you cannot enjoy your college life and you think of transferring to college. But of course, transferring to another college is not always a good decision, moreover if you are in your final year.
You may think that you entered the wrong major and you want to transfer or you may want to transfer for some other reasons. But, you may wonder whether it is a good time to transfer or not. As explained on the US News site, when you should transfer college depends on a number of factors as said by Gordon Chavis, associate vice president for enrollment services at the University of Central Florida. And it also can be different for every student.
Let’s say that you transfer during your first year. If you do it, your high school transcript may hold more weight. Cited from the US News site, Chavis said that at UCF, admissions officers are more likely to look at your high school transcripts and related materials if you enter with fewer than 60 credits. So, it is important for the prospective transfer students to consider whether their high school grades may help or hurt their odds of admission.
On the University of Bridgeport site, it is explained that the answer for the question “when is the best time to transfer colleges?” is depending on your own goals and situation since there is no right or wrong time for transferring schools. In general, transferring colleges at the start or the middle of the school year is able to impact your application process. According to the University of Bridgeport site, it is also explained that at the end of the day, selecting the best time to transfer colleges will depend on your needs and how ready you are to change schools. If you want to transfer colleges after one year, no problem and even if you want to finish an associate degree and transfer to a new institution afterwards, it is also a good thing. If you want to transfer colleges, you have to talk to the school admissions team to determine whether they suggest a certain time to transfer or submit your application.
Some Questions That You Need to Ask Yourself Before Transferring Colleges
Before you decide to transfer colleges, it is better for you to ask yourself the questions below. It is done to make sure that you are very convinced that you want to transfer and you are ready for transferring colleges.
1. What is the cost to spend for transferring?
Cost is one of the important things in every aspect including in transferring colleges. This thing should be thought of by you before you decide to transfer colleges because it is crucial. Let’s say that now you are attending a school in a part of the country where it is inexpensive. And then, you want to move to a school in a big city. If so, it will increase your cost of living.
2. Where do you want to move to?
There are students who move from their first school because of the location which is far from their residence. There are also students who move from their first school because they want to move further away from home. Whatever your reason is, thinking about where your future school is located is important. As explained on the University of Bridgeport site, in case you want to be a practicing nurse in Connecticut and then now you attend nursing school in Iowa, it does not make a lot of practical sense. It is because where you attend college will impact your network of friends, colleagues, and even future employers. So, you have to make sure that you choose a school where the location can set you up for success. If you think that you want to transfer to another school because the school has a good reputation. However, the school may be very far from you. If so, choosing a college that offers online programs can be a good option for you.
3. Is the school place you for future success?
Preparing you for life after graduation is one of the most important functions. So, it is better for you to make sure that the school can help you realize your ideas. If your decision to transfer colleges is because you want to change your major and your current school does not have the program study that you want, then you can transfer schools. If you also find that your current school does not offer academic advising or career counselling, it can also be a good sign that you have to transfer schools.
4. Which credits will transfer?
Before you decide to transfer colleges, you also have to consider whether or not your credits will transfer. According to the University of Bridgeport site, a 2017 report by the General Accounting Office discovered that a lot of students lose credits when they transfer. It showed that students lost up to 43% of college credits when they transferred, which is the same as about one semester of full-time study. But of course, it does not need to happen. So, before you transfer colleges, it is better for you to contact the admissions department at your prospective school. It is done to find out the number of your credits that are eligible for transfer.
5. How will I adjust to the new college or school?
It is better for you to ask the transfer advisor about the resources that the school provides to enable you to adjust to the school soon. There are a lot of colleges that create a group for transfer students and it enables them to associate and bond with each other. If it is needed, you may be able to visit the campus weeks before you apply for a transfer where it is done to enable you to scout resources to know whether it is suitable with you or not.
That’s all several things that you have to consider before you decide to transfer colleges according to the University of Bridgeport and School and Travel site. If you want to know more questions that you need to ask yourself before transferring colleges, you can access the School and Travel site directly or the other online sources.
