Transferring schools means you’ll have to start all over with your application, and you’ll have to show college officials that you have a solid go-to plan on how you’ll pay for school. The good news is that even if you fail to meet some of your college’s admission requirements, there are chances that you can still apply.
Most college students are high school seniors. This means they just finished their 12th-grade educational experience and are getting ready to face new challenges, especially college. When applying to college, prospective students want to find out as much information as possible about an unfamiliar institution.
Here are 5 tips for transfer applicants:
Think about your choices
Are you applying to transfer to a different school after you’ve decided to give up on your first-choice college? Congratulations! It’s a big step, and you should be proud of yourself for making the change. But before you get too excited, you’re going to want to research your choices to make sure you’ll make the best school for your goals. Did you know that transferring to your new college or university doesn’t have to be stressful?
Consider your needs
The transfer application period is in full swing. Transfer applicants, particularly freshmen and transfer students, are challenged with developing a strong transfer application that will best demonstrate their academic potential and fit within the university’s academic, social, and geographical context. Although transfer and freshmen applicants face the same assignments, transfer applicants’ experiences within the university also provide unique perspectives on academic and social culture.
The first step to getting into a good college is choosing the best school for you. While there are many factors to take into consideration, such as cost and location. The most important decision here would be to ascertain which college admissions program works best for you.
Check your school options thoroughly
Many students applying to colleges across the country now have the option to apply for an exemption from their local school districts. This exemption grants students the ability to move around between districts within their state, giving them the ability to attend college in any district they choose. This opens up many doors for students looking to attend college, but the process of applying for this exemption can be complicated. Do enough research on the specific school of your interest and apply accordingly.
Do not forget your credits
Now comes the hard part—transferring credits to your new college and figuring out how to complete your new schedule. Transfer admissions standards vary, but most schools require at least 24 transferable credits, equivalent to two years of full-time study. And, if your new school requires you to complete additional coursework or remedial courses, you’ll have to decide if you want to tack on another year or two of school.
Pass your application early
If you’re a transfer applicant, you know how important it is to get your application in on time. But did you know that the admissions process starts well before your admissions application? By filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you can determine what kind of aid you might qualify for. Better yet, by filling out the FAFSA early, you can beat the rush, which is especially important if you’re applying to a highly competitive program.
If it has been two years or more since you passed high school, then transferring to a college or university may be an option worth exploring. Alternatively, you could also complete your general education requirements at a community college, and then transfer to a four-year school. This way, you can earn a bachelor’s degree without spending four years at a college. Most four-year colleges have transfer programs to help graduates get from a community college to a four-year school. That said, transfer students are still subject to most colleges’ admission requirements.