<p>Timing
You can transfer in as a sophomore or junior. Most commonly you transfer into the new school for fall term, but it is possible to transfer in for spring (or winter, if it’s a quarter system). It is also possible to transfer in the spring of Freshman year, but at many fewer schools. Most schools require you to be enrolled a minimum of two years and obtain a minimum number of credits at their school (eg, 60) to obtain their degree. Hence, transferring after junior year is not common.</p>
<p>Application deadlines for fall transfer can be rolling or have deadlines ranging from late November through the summer. Most common timetable is a March application deadline for fall transfer.</p>
<p>Requirements
Transfer applications include some or all of the following;
College GPA
College recommendations
Essays
High school record
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
ECs/outside work experience
Dean Statement of Good Standing (“Dean Rec”)
Mid-term grade report</p>
<p>What Matters Most?
No one can really say, but here is the common wisdom: College GPA and college recommendations matter most.</p>
<p>Your college GPA should be as high as you can get it. Equally important is the rigor of your course selection. Don't worry about needing a 4.0 (no matter how many times you read about kids here on cc obsessing about it . It's not necessary). 3.5+ is a "magic number" of sorts; kind of an informal cut-off for some schools; formal cut-off for others. BUT… if you search even here on cc…. you will see students with great transfer success to top schools who do not have a 4.0, or even the 3.5+.</p>
<p>Your high school rank/GPA/ECs will be looked at. But you can't do squat about them at this point. So focus on your strengths. If they are great, rejoice. If not, pay attention to what you can control – your current coursework, your essays, your recs, picking the right list of schools for transfer applications.</p>
<p>Test scores will matter more at some schools than others. Some schools will allow you to take SATs after you have matriculated at college. You have to check each school’s policy. </p>
<p>Scores and high school record will matter less and less the further along you have gotten in college (at the schools which consider them at all). And you can overcome them with an upward trend, great recs and showing that you are a different person academically than you might have been in high school.</p>
<p>Essays
When applying, make your "Why transfer" essay very specific as to why this school is the one for you. Know more about the school than general man-on-the-street knowledge plus its ranking. Research in-depth about your major at the school, faculty research interests, special programs. Maybe do the same about ECs of interest for you. Show how the school fits your needs in ways that your current school doesn't. But do not diss your current school. Show what you will contribute to the school.</p>
<p>Recommendations
Most applications want two college teacher recommendations (the “prof recs.”) High school recs are not good substitutes. Many students worry that they do not know profs well enough, especially if you have only been able to take large classes thus far, with TA’s. Transfer admissions officers understand that. TA’s can write recs, alone or in collaboration with the prof (see below).</p>
<p>Your list
As with Freshman admissions, you need to think about safe/match/reach schools. If your current school is a place which fits you okay, which you would be happy to stay at if your transfer plans don’t work out, then you don’t need a safety school, or maybe even a match school. Go for those dreamy reaches only. But IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO STAY AT YOUR CURRENT SCHOOL YOU NEED SAFETIES ON YOUR LIST. </p>
<p>The sticky thread by brand_182 with transfer acceptance rates is helpful in this regard. Also consider how your scores and high school record compared with the typical freshman profile and how your college record so far compares with whatever information you can find on transfer admissions. If you definitely want to transfer, make sure you come up with a <em>range</em> of schools of differing selectivity that you would like. Look at your reach schools and, if they very selective, then, even if you do well, you might not get in. So find others, which have the same elements that appeal to you, but that accept 30-50% of transfer applicants, where your chances will be even better. If you won't be happy to stay at your current school, add a school or two for a safety, that accept 2/3 or more of transfer applicants, ideally. For a truly safe school, you want a 40% acceptance rate AT LEAST.</p>
<p>Financial aid matters
Consider your financial needs carefully. Merit aid is far far scarcer for transfers than freshmen. If you qualify for need-based aid, you need to know whether schools you are considering tend to meet the same % of need for transfers as they do for freshmen. Check this out <em>before</em> you formulate your list of target schools.</p>