How to Go From Waitlisted to Successful Transfer Applicant
We recently posted about what to do if you’ve been waitlisted. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get into your first-choice college by following that advice. But what if that doesn’t happen? It’s most likely that you will end up going to your second-choice college. But don’t let that get you down, because it’s not the end of the road. There is always the possibility to transfer.
We’ve written about transferring before. Several times in fact. In short, if you want to transfer, you need to start planning right away. When Ivy Link works with transfer students, we aim to get started by July or August prior to their first year of college.
Building Your Profile
As a transfer student, your college record is going to mean a lot more than your high school achievements. Make sure you keep your grades up! We can’t emphasize this enough. Your first semester/year college grades could make or break your chances of transferring. You need to show your first-choice college that you’re thriving academically, not slipping in the face of a new challenge. Work hard and show the college why you are the right fit for them!
Like you did in high school, join academic clubs or do an independent research-based project under the guidance of a professor that shows that you’re intellectually curious and engaged, and that you’re still able to get results for the work that you are doing. This is going to impress the college to which you are trying to transfer.
When transferring, letters of recommendation are extremely important, even more important than applying as a first-year student. So, how do you get good letters of recommendation? You need to get to know your professors. Don’t think that just because you don’t plan on staying at the school that you don’t need to make connections. Professors aren’t going to write you a good letter just because you got an A in their class. They have to know who you are and what you are capable of academically. Be in attendance at every class. Ask questions. Answer questions. Stay after class or visit office hours and talk to your professors. This is how they get to know you and how you get to stand out to them. The more they know about your capabilities and academic or career goals, the more effective their letter will be. For more information about letters of recommendation, check out our blog post.
So if you’re going to your second-choice college for the first year, congratulations! That’s still an amazing accomplishment. But if you’re not satisfied with that then start to plan your transfer so that you can still go to your first-choice college.
Looking for customized expert guidance on the transfer process? Schedule your consultation below.
