How to Transfer From a Community College to a Top University
Community colleges often get a bad rap. Since anyone can get in, they aren’t thought of very highly in terms of their academics. So oftentimes, community college students don’t think that they can transfer into a selective university. They are wrong!
Is it easy to transfer from a community college into a highly selective university? No, of course not. But that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Selective universities love to boast about their diversity. They love to admit students from different socioeconomic backgrounds, first-generation students, and students from diverse races so that their diversity statistics look impressive. And statistically, these are students who often start their college careers in community colleges.
So how does one transfer from a community college to a highly selective university?
Earn top grades in every course. Even when it comes to transferring, high school grades still matter. But if a community college transfer shows a vast improvement in grades between high school and college classes, the admissions officer will notice.
Get involved in activities that show a singular passion. This is the same advice we give students at every grade level. Gone are the days in which colleges want “well-rounded” students. Instead, they want students who show and follow a singular passion in a particular interest.
Get to know professors and advisors. Letters of recommendation are important. However, if a professor or advisor doesn’t really know the student in question, then the letter is going to be very generic. Students should take an active role to help shape the letters. They should stop by office hours to talk with the professors. They should participate in class to show the professor they are engaging with the work.
Students should have a specific hook for college essays. Again, colleges aren’t looking for “well-rounded.” They are looking to know how a student is going to change the world in a specific way. Students should take time and really think about this before writing the essay. And they should write multiple essays, not just one to send to multiple universities.
These are just a few tips to get a student started on the process of transferring from a community college to a selective university. Students can also check out our post on “How To Transfer Wisely.” And, as always, connect with Ivy Link to get individualized help with the transferring process.
