September 11th, 2015
If you are considering to transfer from one U.S. college to another for reasons that may be due to a change in your academic major or financial situation, or that you prefer an institution that is a better fit for you, here a few tips to help you with your decision
1. Find out which schools have a transfer friendly policy:
Sometimes, transferring in mid-year can make you feel like an outsider. You need not feel so once you’ve done your research to find which schools have the most transfer students. U.S. News Education has a helpful list at this link: Most Transfer Students. You’ll see that transferring from one college to another is not so unique and many students do it along the course of their studies.
2. Have a plan and plan ahead
If you’re planning to transfer between colleges, especially if you’re transferring from a community college to a university, prepare yourself from the start. Meet with your academic advisers and professors and make sure that you are enrolling in courses that are transferrable to target four-year universities. You want to enroll in courses that are transferrable so you are not going to waste time and money.
3. Understanding Articulation Agreements
If for example you’re currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a community college, knowing what courses to take so they can be transferred to a four-year university is predicated on understanding articulation agreements between these institutions. In the U.S. some community college systems have articulation or prearranged admissions agreements with local four-year universities and identify which courses fall under this arrangement. It is important that you are aware of these articulation agreements and make sure that you have the approval of your community college advisors when selecting and enrolling in a course. You want your transition into the new college and the transfer of your hard-earned course credits to be as seamless as possible.
4. Living on Campus
Image: Brittany Hall, New York University
Once you’ve made the successful transfer and transitioned into the new college, it is a good idea to live on campus so you can become a part of the student community. It is best, if you can, to avoid being a commuter student and at least spend a semester or two living in a dorm on campus. This is one great way to avoid feeling like the outsider.
5. Become part of the new college campus community
If your new college to which you’ve transferred offers an orientation day or week, don’t miss it. This is a great opportunity for you to meet other new students and get to know the lay of the land. And, once you’ve settled into your new college campus life, get engaged and involved by selecting a few extra-curricular activities or joining student clubs. The benefits of this level of involvement not only enhance your experiences at the new college and look good on your resume when you graduate and looking to start a career.
By being prepared, you’ll prevent time consuming and costly surprises, and instead help make your transition as a transfer student less chaotic and more seamless.
The Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI), was founded in 1994 and is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA. ACEI provides a number of services that include evaluations of international academic credentials for U.S. educational equivalence, translation, verification, and professional training programs. ACEI is a Charter and Endorsed Member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators. For more information, visit www.acei-global.org.