College Transfers
Valuable Advice for Transfers
by Howard Freedman
Copyright 2024 Financial Aid Consulting. All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced mechanically, electronically, by photocopying, or by any other means without expressed written permission of the author. Howard can be reached at finaidguy@gmail.com or 781-341-0234.
Moving on to a college offering a bachelor's degree program is an exciting journey with new challenges and opportunities that require thoughtful preparation and the proper levels of support to ensure a smoother transition. This is how it should be done.
It is also the time to forge ahead into a more rigorous academic environment offering college majors that will pave the way to rewarding career paths. Understanding and coping with a much different educational and social environment will not be easy but can be more bearable when students plan and utilize the proper counseling and support resources to make it a more pleasant journey. when selecting and enrolling in classes, research courses, and professor ratings, things are done. Students should research their major (www.mymajors.com) and required elective courses and clarify which credits are transferable. This should be done well before the transfer, especially when needed, or remedial classes may be offered at less expensive community or state colleges. Most importantly, they should be well prepared by knowing their interests and majors, researching course requirements and prerequisites to use their counselor’s time better, and be more focused on the decisions they will be empowered to make.
Testing: Students still need to decide their major and should seek advice regarding aptitudes, skills assessment testing, and personality and skills inventories. Transfer students should also become familiar with academic testing policies and study groups to improve their grades. Research if most tests are take-home, open book, project-driven, essay, multiple choice, true and false, as each student may fare differently in specific test environments. Depending on the college and major, some grades can also be based on team projects, case studies, and presentations.
Other Counseling: Many colleges also offer different forms of counseling to help students deal with stressors like test taking, studying, subject-specific tutoring, learning skills and disabilities, depression, competition, and panic disorders, or act as resources with whom the student can vent. Obtaining the needed college or private counseling and or mentoring is not a sign of weakness but the best way of recognizing problems and seeking the right resources to resolve them professionally.
Reconnect With the University: It is best to refer to notes from the initial campus visit while in high school or develop a campus checklist to revisit the campus from which the student will earn their bachelor’s degree. This is because a student’s academic status and interests have changed along with the admissions policies for transfer students. Transfer students should follow up with fellow high school classmates attending the same college to which they are transferring since they are already acclimated and can help the newly entering student do the same. They can help arrange for classes to attend, stay in a dorm, attend social gatherings, and make introductions to other students to make the students feel more welcome.
Money management should always be of concern since students will incur increased tuition costs, fees, and book and personal expenses. It is always best to prepare a budget beforehand to detail the costs and sources of funding. Although the financial aid award will detail net costs, discussing loans, work-study, and payment plans is helpful to ensure that any existing loans from the first two years in college only go into repayment mode if the lender is aware of the transfer. Understand how student loans work https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans, especially how and when they are repaid about alternative loans that may be needed for the first time. Managing loans effectively improves future borrowing opportunities, especially after graduation.
Living arrangements: It is always best to decide whether on-campus housing works best. Quantify costs and interview roommates to ensure compatibility and resolve any differences. Students should know their study habits, how well they deal with distractions, values, and vices, and how responsibilities are shared to ensure comfortable and tolerable living arrangements.
Social Interaction-Transfer students should research clubs, organizations, and outside activities before transferring. This allows them to make some initial contacts and feel involved from the start. Gaining involvement and participation will take the edge off things and help develop new associations and university ties.
Being prepared by getting the facts and best advice will be well worth the effort on the way to a hard-earned bachelor’s degree. In the words of Abraham Lincoln:
“I will prepare, and someday my chance will come.”
Learn valuable information before your college transfer.