USA

 What do students need to know about transferring from one college to another?

Why transfer college?

One of the major reasons that students want to transfer their college or university is that they are unhappy with their current program or university. Over the period of a year, students realize that their current college isn’t the best suitable option. Another reason for transfer is that there are fewer options in the current school to explore in your area of interest. Some students tend to choose a program in the haste of a bigger recognized college, eventually rejecting their first choice.

Whatever the reason, do your best at researching your new school/college/university so that you don’t end up transferring again.

Common types of Transfer students:-

- Community college to four-year college transfer: This transfer is from one or two years of community college to a four-year college/school wherein many conditions students gain an associate degree before the transfer.

- Four-year college to four-year college transfer: This transfer is usually when students want to transfer from an already enrolled four-year college/school to another due to financial reasons, choosing another major, etc.

- Military transfer: Military personnel frequently shift to new locations resulting in transferring to a new school/college.

- International transfer: Students pursuing studies in foreign countries may want to complete their studies in countries like the USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, etc.

Things to know before making the move:-

- Accreditation: - Transferring to an accredited institution is always important as it plays a vital role in your credits transfer and receiving of your financial aid. If you have attended a non-credited school then you might experience difficulties in fulfilling school/college transfer requirements as unaccredited programs are rarely acceptable. So, during research make sure you check the accreditation of your new as well as current school/college.

- Articulation: - Articulation agreements are understandings between two or more institutions/colleges for the general education requirements during the college transfer process. ‘Statewide’ agreement refers to all two and four-year public universities that accept students from any two-year school within the same state and system. Check with your respective two-year or four-year schools to know about such agreements.

- Credits transfer: - While transferring credits different universities will have different ways of accepting credits. Some may accept on the basis of equivalency of the course and some may accept on the basis of the level of courses. It is easier for most of the universities to transfer credits from lower-level courses. Transferring credits may also have an impact on whether the university has semester or quarter classes. So based on all these factors you can consult your advisor on how exactly you would apply for your credits in your new school.

- Financial aid: - The transfer of your financial aid from one school/institution to another is difficult but you will qualify for some financial aid. Your aid highly depends upon the new school tuition rates and if you are doing the transfer in the middle of a school year then you may not receive the aid as much as a first-time student. Your FAFSA information tells about how much financial aid you are eligible to receive, so you should be updated with your FAFSA and fill out a form including your transfer schools.

How to transfer college:-

- Research your schools with utmost detailing. Mostly, this will be the second time you will be doing this, so it will be easier to dig out universities and majors that actually fit in your requirements.

- Keep a check on the accreditation of the chosen university and articulation agreements once you have narrowed down the schools/colleges.

- Search for an advisor and get in contact for detailed assistance. The advisor might have gone through the process before he/she can help you with the financial aid, admissions, and credits transfer.

- Be aware of the credits transfer. In some schools, you will be able to transfer your credits to the new school while in some cases the credits won’t be transferred. You can check which of your credits would be transferred by sending your transcripts to the university/college.

- Fill out all the required forms and FAFSA (for every year) to get your finances transferred. Consult a financial aid administrator at the university/college to get a better idea about your financial aid.

- Collect all required documents and apply them before the prescribed deadline of the desired university.

- Application material may include:-

1. College Application

2. High school transcripts

3. Letters of Recommendation

4. SAT or ACT Scores

5. College Transcript

6. Application Fees (ranges between $50 to $85 for resident student or an international student or out-of-state transfer or an online student)

 

What are in-state and out-state transfers?

These simply mean student transfers which are residents inside the state and those who are out of the state. The difference is mainly in tuition costs where the in-state students pay less as compared to those living out of the state. Hence, it is always best to go to in-state schools/colleges for transferring schools.

What if your credits don’t get transferred?

Students often have issues about how much of their credits would actually count while transferring to other colleges/universities. If you think your credits did not transfer you may be able to file an appeal or request to the college or university. It is possible that they might change their decisions and the results. For some schools, you might be required to fill out a form or a written request.

 

 What about existing loans?

In case of existing loans from previous studies, your grace period will start as you leave your current school/college and get transferred to a new one. You can also file for a deferral to postpone your payments while you smoothly complete your degree program.

 Scholarships:-

While transferring your financial aid, in case you are receiving any scholarship aid then you will have to check with your scholarship provider to get details and know whether you would be able to transfer the funds to the new institution/college. Following are some scholarships for transfer students, do check them out and apply accordingly from their official scholarship pages.

 

- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (Amount: up to $40,000 per year)

https://www.jkcf.org/scholarship-programs/undergraduate-transfer/

 

- Clifford H. Spicer Memorial Scholarship (Amount varies)

https://www.cappex.com/scholarship/listings/clifford-h-spicer-memorial-scholarship/-s-d-31112

 

- Hites Transfer Scholarship (Amount: $7,500)

https://www.ptk.org/Scholarships/BachelorsDegreeScholarships/HitesTransferScholarship.aspx

 

- eQuality Scholarship (Amount:$6,000)

http://www.equalityscholarship.org/

 

-Loyola University Chicago Transfer Scholarship (Amount: $1,500 to $17,000) https://luc.edu/undergrad/financialaid/scholarships/scholarships-for-transfer-students.html

 

- The HSF General College Scholarship (Amount: $500 to $5000)

https://hsf.net/en/scholarships/programs/general-college-scholarships