I’m planning on transferring from the school I attend now (freshman) to another school for the fall of next year. Unfortunately, I do not think my grades will be very good by the end of the semester. The hard transition and my dislike of the school combined with the rigor of college work has affected my gpa even though I was a good student in high school.
I can definitely get my grades up next semester, but I’m only able to send in my first semester grades in a transfer app.
Will these grades harshly affect where I am accepted to? Will I most likely end up at a less prestigious school?
You kind of know the answer: of course it will impact your chances and yes it is more likely than not that poor grades at your current university will make it hard to get into an equally (or more) competitive- or ‘prestigious’ one. How much of an impact depends on how bad ‘not very good’ is.
The jump from HS to college is a big one, and lots of students wobble on the landing. If your first term grades are ok-ish, and second term strong you put yourself in a very good position for transferring in second year.
If you are truly miserable, and if don’t have merit or financial aid in play, and if you have a reasonably good university nearby (lots of ifs and ands there) you could move home and take classes as a non-degree candidate while applying to other colleges for spring 2017
Did you turn down any other colleges that now look better to you? did they send you a ‘we’ll keep your application on file’ card?
@collegemom3717
“ok-ish” is probably the way to see it. Just not used to having such a low gpa as I never really had anything less than a B in high school if at all.
The school I go to now ranks in the top 50 nationally, so it would be a shame to have to go to take a step back.
As for going to a university nearby, I would not have that opportunity nor would I want to.
I may reach out to one or two of the schools that accepted me, but I don’t really see myself truly wanting to attend them.
Fair enough. Did you go to this college expecting it to be great, or was it a ‘least-bad’ option when you signed up? A big part of transferring is being sure that where you are going will be enough better than where you are- and to do that you need to be clear on what it is that you are looking for.
Is sticking it out through next autumn and applying to transfer in spring term 2017 possible?
@collegemom3717
i went expecting it to be great and realized i needed a different kind of environment - socially and academically.
if still miserable definitely want to transfer for fall, not next spring.