DS is a Sophmore at UC Berkeley and seeking to transfer to Georgetown or George Washington University for Fall 2021 and we are contemplating getting a college consultant for help with application. He feels very isolated on the west coast, really wants to be D.C. and is very unhappy at Berkeley. He wanted to be in D.C. from the start but didn’t get into these two schools and chose UCB over American.
Has anyone worked with a college consultant on transfer application?
The transfer application process similar to the standard freshman application, except for the timing. I believe that transfer apps are due on Feb 1 for most colleges. The admissions review focuses more heavily on college GPA instead of HS/test scores. They also want to know “Why transfer”. So make sure he has a good answer. Generally the best reasons to transfer are academic ones.
Also keep in mind that financial aid for transfers is more limited.
Biggest factor in transfer admissions will be college courses and grades…
^^^ this!!
Both schools will probably look at the old application (on file) and the new application. Keep this in mind when it comes to essays and recommendation letters. Will he be able to get a recommendation letters from one of his professors?
Worth an email from your son to American to find out how difficult it would be to transfer?
I was a transfer student years ago. My HS GPA was a non-issue, I don’t think they even looked at it or even requested my HS transcript. My college GPA and SAT and essays were the only factors. I had a very very unique essay that drew attention. I wrote about my experiences working on migratory wheat harvesting crews on the great plains.
Although I did like the school that I transferred to, I discovered that most friend groups are really formed during freshman year. I transferred the middle of my sophomore year and spent my entire 2.5 years there sort of as an outsider, never quite feeling like I was ever really part of the in groups. So I wouldn’t necessarily look to transferring as any sort of solution for missing social life or something.
If he REALLY wants to be back in the DC area, might also be worth looking at some “safety” options like Maryland and American.
Transferring as an incoming junior will depend upon his college grades at UC-Berkeley & upon his reasons for wanting to transfer to the target school.
As an aside: Vanderbilt & Northwestern are both transfer friendly and might be worth considering if well qualified academically willing to look beyond Wash DC.
Would your son be comfortable at the University of Virginia or at the College of William & Mary ?
If his academic performance (GPA/grades) are good at UCB, then GWU should accept him.
P.S. I do find it to be a bit perplexing that your son was accepted as a non-resident at Berkeley while being rejected at GWU two years ago.
Also, why does he feel isolated ?
Why is he unhappy at UCB ?
What is his major area of study ?
Why Wash DC ?
All of these questions are important to consider. More important, however, is “Why Georgetown ?” and “Why GWU ?”.
Georgetown appears to consider HS transcript of all transfer students.
https://georgetown.app.box.com/s/sty6w23zh0te8rnsbnndy62afivfdaz1
Section D
As does GWU.
https://irp.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2501/f/downloads/2019-2020_Common_Data_Set_FA1920.pdf
I would start with American as well.
Unless he has very good grades at UCB, and is full pay, I’m not sure his chances at GU and GWU are better now than when he was not accepted a couple of years ago.
Of course still apply, and sharing some additional information would allow posters to make better recommendations.
@Erin’s Dad: While high school transcripts are required for all transfer applicants, the significance should be greatly diminished for those applying as juniors.
High school transcripts are required because most transfer students apply with just one year or less of college. This is not the case for OP"s son who will have completed his sophomore year at UCB prior to transferring.
Interesting to note the minimum number of college credits required in order to be considered at transfer applicant at each school. For Georgetown, if I read correctly, it is just 12 hours of college credits.
Is COVID a factor in his feelings of isolation? I know the fires have also contributed to misery in the Bay area. If he didn’t consider transferring last year, I would wonder how much the current dystopia we are all living in is contributing to his unhappiness. A lot of young people seem to be returning home, especially if classes are online. Just a thought.
@Publisher I don’t disagree with you. The longer you’ve been in college the less weight HS info has. I did want to make clear that anecdotal information from one college does not apply to all. The Common Data Set specifically states what info is considered for transfers.
Agree that we do not disagree as high school transcripts are clearly required.
My understanding was that high school transcripts were required for transfer applicants, but that what is considered may vary on a case by case basis with less consideration given to high school records for those with two or more years of college completed.
It is surprising that a kid that got accepted to UC Berkeley did not get into GW. GWU is one school that manages enrollment such that they may reject or waitlist candidates they don’t think will attend.
I agree with those that say your ds has to figure out why he is so unhappy at UCB. Is it the classes or is it not finding his “people”? If it large classes, often class size reduces as kids move into upper level classes. Did he want to change majors? Or is it something internal like mild depression. It can be difficult (but not impossible) to break into friend groups as a junior. Has he considered doing a year abroad (or at least a semester) instead of transferring? That might make staying a Berkeley more palatable.
Check out this post on Transferring:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/2141857-should-i-transfer-or-do-i-hate-my-college-or-am-i-just-depressed.html#latest
Again, how can anyone be happy at school with what is going on with COVID?
Then the question is whether the student is unhappy because of factors relating to the specific school, or factors that are likely to be found at other schools that the student may transfer to.
Why didn’t he choose American?