College Transfers

By Harini Subrahmanyam Fredrickson
Whether you’re homesick, dissatisfied with your college choice, or seeking more challenges in your major, transferring to another college can present new and exciting opportunities.  But the admissions process will be more difficult now than it was in high school.
In order to make a smooth transition, talk to the admissions office before you apply.  They will give you information on transferring credits, financial aid, and admissions requirements for your course of study.
Find out exactly how many of your credits will be accepted.  Since it’s highly unlikely that all of your credits will be transferred, you may be required to repeat classes or take additional courses toward completing your major.  So don’t be surprised if your graduation is delayed.
A college transfer can be expensive.  The cost of an extra semester, moving expenses, and application fees can add up quickly.  Plus, institutions are less likely to offer lucrative financial aid packages to transfer students.  Because every circumstance is unique, take the time to understand your personal financial situation before you shift colleges.
Since transfer applications don’t require standardized test scores, more emphasis will be placed on your grades, recommendations, and extracurricular activities.  If you want to move to a comparable or better school, you’ll need excellent grades to prove your academic ability.  
It may be difficult to obtain strong recommendations in the limited time you’ve been in college, particularly if you were a student in a large lecture class or only had graduate students as teachers.  Even though it may be awkward, approach your professors or teachers with a positive attitude and provide them with your transcript and a resume to enable them to write you the strongest recommendation possible.
Colleges are now accepting transfer applications for the fall semester.  Deadlines range from February 1st to March 15th, so check your college website for details.
Harini Subrahmanyam Fredrickson is the President of Top Admissions LLC, a college consulting firm located at 195 Nassau Street, Suite 32, Princeton, NJ.  Contact Harini at 609-921-9212 or visit the Top Admissions website at http://www.topadmissions.com" href="http://www.topadmissions.com" class="linkification-ext">www.topadmissions.com