Each year, every college updates its transfer requirements and process…
This article leverages the most up-to-date data so you can navigate your college transfer process with ease and certainty. CampusReel contains transfer data on every college and university in the country.
Transferring colleges can be exciting, scary, overwhelming and – well, you get the point…
Rest assured that you are not alone in this process. In fact, 37.2% of college students transfer to another college within six years of starting at the original institution.
There are A LOT of moving parts that go into transferring colleges, so let’s break the process down step by step.
Step 1: Analyze Your Primary Reason for Transferring
Most transfer students change schools due to three types of variables: social, geographic and academic.
Social variables can include disliking your roommates, having trouble making friends, embarrassing yourself at a party, etc. If this sounds like you, I encourage you to think about how the environment at a new school will impact these variables.
This is important to analyze because it will help explain your rationale to a new target school.
Bear in mind that if your primary reason for transferring colleges is a social factor, many of these factors persist on other college campuses…
You cannot escape peer pressure or drugs, for instance – they are elements of virtually every college experience. However , if you are currently at a small school and don’t get along with your peers, then moving to a big school may very well help you find a better circle of friends.
Geographic and academic reasons for transferring are much more straightforward.
Key Takeaway: your primary reason for transferring colleges should be for a concrete and purposeful desire that the future university can fulfill.
Step 2: Maintain a GPA at or above the Average Transfer GPA of your Target Institution
Your current college GPA is going to largely dictate the colleges you can consider transferring to. You should be focused on elevating this as much as possible.
HACK: Consider taking a few easier classes or professors to give your GPA a boost – future colleges won’t know the difficulty of each class or professor, they’ll just be looking at the overall picture.
Also, make sure your current GPA aligns with the average transfer GPA at a college.
You may be thinking, “What is the average transfer GPA for my college?” Lucky for you, CampusReel breaks down transfer requirements, GPAs and more by school.
Step 3: Align Your Course Selection with the Transfer Application
If you apply to be an agriculture major but don’t take agriculture classes, it’s going to be pretty hard to convince them you’re a genuine applicant…
It you don’t know what you want to study, don’t worry – millions of students enroll as undeclared majors.
However, if you know what you want to study and you align your course selections and application appropriately, you will have a much better shot at acceptance.
Universities often accept transfer applicants to fulfill very targeted spots. For example, maybe they need more economics or engineering majors while they are swamped with Spanish majors.
If you actively want to study a subject that fulfills a need in the school’s study body, and your application and essay speak to that desire, they will interpret your application as cohesive and purposeful.
Step 4: Examine the Risks of Transferring
You are changing a lot more than schools – you are changing friends, environments, credits, costs, etc.
All this change can be amazing, but it also has its drawbacks…
Risk #1
Will my college credits transfer?
The most obvious risk of transferring colleges is that you will lose existing college credits that you have earned. The most likely scenario is that some, but not all, of your college credits will transfer. Additionally, many universities have minimum grade requirements for a course to count for transfer credit.
You can select a university from the list below to see a breakdown of its minimum grade requirements:
Risk #2
Will I like the college I transfer to?
If you’re enrolled at a college you know exactly how important the people and community are. No platform in the world provides the same insight into the college experience as CampusReel.
This obviously a difficult question to answer. It’s also exactly why we created CampusReel – watch more than 15,000 student-made videos that show you exactly what it’s like to be a part of their communities… like this:
Risk #3
Starting over…
It’s takes time to find your home within a larger college community. Transferring colleges is not different – in fact, this transition is often even more difficult because many students already have established friend groups.
I recommend checking out the existing transfer population at a university before deciding to enroll. Does it receive 10 new transfer students each year, or 10,000? These numbers can help indicate how many other people will be in your same boat – it’s often easier to make friends with other transfer students first.
Step 5: Transferring Colleges After 1 Year
It’s worth adding a quick snippet in if you find yourself in this unique situation. If you are transferring colleges after one semester or one year, your high school GPA is going to be much more important than if you transfer later on in your college career.
Your transfer colleges, in this case, will likely align closely in competitiveness with your list of colleges in high school.
Step 6: Transfer Acceptance Rates should Align with Your Competitiveness
The average acceptance rate for all transfer students in the US, across all US colleges, is 63.1%. That means there are hundreds of schools above and below that mark.
You should analyze where your grades and test scores fall on the competitiveness spectrum, so select schools that align with your resume.
CampusReel also provides acceptance rates and requirements by school:
Step 7: Write an Amazing Essay
I know, you’ve already got to write 5 essays for the classes you’re already in…
Unfortunately, you need to add 1 more to that list ?
But this one could completely change the trajectory of your college experience.
We could spend hours explaining how to craft a perfect college essay, or you could watch this video from the College Essay Guy.
The most important elements to keep in mind when writing your essay is that it is succinct and specific.
Again, think critically about your reason for transferring. What do you want to accomplish? What are you lacking at your current college or university?
It’s paramount that the target university will be able to fulfill your biggest wants and needs. If any college can satisfy your requirements, then why should they select you? Your problem and solution should be as specific to the institution as possible.
For example, maybe you want to study marine life and you are currently enrolled at a land-locked institution. It makes perfect sense for you to apply to UCSB…
As a rule of thumb, you should not be able to interchange the target university’s name in your essay with any other institution.
If your application essay works regardless of the institution, you should consider adding more detail and purpose.
So how hard is it to transfer colleges?
The easy answer is that it’s just as difficult as applying to colleges normally, but the process is slightly different. Your college GPA and course load will be a larger factor than your high school GPA, unless you’re transferring after one year.
If you’re dead-set on transferring colleges, there are hundreds of schools with relatively high acceptance rates and you will likely find one to attend. However, if you’re trying to transfer into a competitive school then the process will be tough.
should i transfer colleges
You’ve finally made it to college and are excited to begin your life of independence away from the confines of home. Your goals are simple: make lifelong friends, earn your degree, land an amazing job, and live happily ever after.
But after a year or two, your circumstances change, and you come to the realization that the path you’re on at your current school is no longer the path you want or can afford to stay on.
Depending on the school, transfer students can account for anywhere from 15-40% of all newly enrolled undergraduates.
You wouldn’t be the first to come to this conclusion. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, around one-third of college students transfer schools before earning their degree. The number of transfer students varies by institution but generally falls somewhere between 15% and 40% of all newly enrolled undergraduates.
For example, UC Berkeley puts its number of transfer students at one-third of new enrollments, while UCLA’s percentage is slightly higher at 36%. The percentages are much lower at schools like the University of Washington (15%) and the University of Michigan (16%).
The 12 Biggest Reasons for Transferring Colleges
Students transfer colleges for a variety of reasons. Some make the decision to transfer before they ever set foot on campus, whereas others want a fresh start after spending a year or two at a particular school. In some cases, the decision to transfer is forced upon a student due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control.
One thing we know is that students are being encouraged to apply for college earlier as more schools offer early application options. While being accepted sooner may be great for some students, for others who aren’t fully committed or who are uncertain about their career path and desired college experience, early acceptance may not be the best course of action.
Here are the top 12 reasons students today are making the decision to transfer colleges.
Is Transferring Colleges a Smart Decision?
Whether you should transfer colleges ultimately depends on your own circumstances and why you are choosing to transfer. Not all transfer students are satisfied with their decision, and some even experience a condition known as “transfer shock.” Nevertheless, the majority of transfer students have a positive experience and go on to earn their degree.
Before you commit to transferring colleges, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. Ask yourself the following questions:
Does transferring make sense financially?
Transferring from a community college to a four-year institution to earn your degree is almost always a smart decision, as most high-paying jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree. A 2017 CareerBuilder survey found that over a period of just five years, 38% of employers raised their educational requirements for open positions.
Transferring colleges for financial or family reasons can be a wise choice, too, as long as you understand the fees and associated costs you’ll be responsible for. Remember that you always have the option of applying for financial aid and looking for part-time work.
If you’re considering transferring because you don’t think your current school is the right fit for you or you’re feeling socially isolated, try consulting on-campus advisors and counselors — they should be able to help you make an informed decision.
Transferring from a community college to a four-year institution is almost always a smart decision, as most high-paying jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree.
If academics are influencing your decision to transfer, you might first consider getting assistance from your professors, looking for study groups to join, and/or hiring a tutor. Those still set on transferring who have a GPA below 3.0 or even 2.5 may have trouble finding a good college that will accept them as a transfer student.
Before making the decision to transfer, do your research. Visit the campus of the school you’re thinking of transferring to and talk with students and advisors within your prospective major department.
The last thing you want is to transfer schools only to discover that the grass growing on your new campus isn’t any greener than that on the campus you just left.
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