How To Transfer Wisely

If you’re a current college student dissatisfied with your experience thus far, you might be considering transferring schools. While not the right choice for everyone, it might be the right move for you, as there is no use staying in an unhappy situation. However, the transfer application process can seem daunting and confusing. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the transfer process:

At what point in their college career can a student transfer?
You can transfer at any point in your freshman or sophomore years. At this point, college transcripts are going to carry much more weight than anything from high school. Use this time in college to increase your GPA and join some extracurriculars. While you can transfer at any time, it might make sense to wait until the end of freshman year to transfer, giving you the opportunity to make your transcript more appealing to the transfer school. 

When is it time to start preparing?
Now! Transfer applications require letters of recommendation, high school and college transcripts, essays, and other documents you will need to organize. Colleges are looking for smart, engaged students who will be a good fit for their college environment. This means you’ll want to make sure you write thoughtful essays that both explain why you are transferring and what you will add to the college. 

How is a transfer application different from a first-year application process?
Transfer applications are more difficult than first-year applications. These applications involve a balancing act. You need to convince the transfer school that you will be a better fit for you while also remaining positive about your college experience so far. 

At this point, your grades from college are going to be much more important than your grades from high school. So make sure your grades in college are as good, if not better, than your high school grades. 

You will need strong letters of recommendation from your current professors. This can be hard for any first-year college student to find. You need to go to office hours and build strong relationships with your current professors so that you are able to get the letters of recommendation required to transfer. 

Ivy Link advises students on transfer admissions, including helping with strategy and all aspects of the application process. Click below to schedule a consultation.