Transfer Advice

Transfer Students
1

Hi

I’m new to College Confidential but I heard this site is useful for college-related info. I’m an incoming college freshman who is preparing to start the transfer process. My questions are:

-when should I start the transfer application? Now (assuming that colleges/common app doesn’t change essay prompts) or until the application resets in August?

-What are some examples of valid reasons for transferring and invalid reasons? Anyone who has gone through this process, can you please give me examples of your reasons just so I have an idea in terms of the essays.

-What schools (specifically top 50s) are known to be transfer friendly(high acceptance %, etc) AND are good with financial aid (need-based aid)?

-To people who have gone through the transfer process, can you guys please give some important advice/info on the transfer process and how to “succeed” in this process?

Thank you!

2

First, you need to know why you want to transfer. Are you going to begin at a community college, and you need to plan ahead for when you are finished there? Or is it just that you don’t like where you were admitted for the fall and you want to go somewhere else?

If you aren’t happy with where you are headed, sit down and think carefully about not enrolling this fall. Take a gap year and apply to a better list. Most places do not offer good financial aid to transfer students. It is better to get in as a freshman applicant.

Sometimes, the reason for transfer is financial - as when students move to the cheap state U from an expensive private. But to move laterally or up, the reasons for transfer should be academic. “I want a top 50 school, not just any old school.” is not a valid reason. You need to know the details of the program you want to transfer into, and why that program at college X is definitely superior to the program where you are.

3

Financial aid, especially from top schools, is really poor for transfer students. Generally speaking you have to set your sights lower if financial aid is extremely important. Either that, or stick with in-state options.