Transfers

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Moving to a college offering a bachelor's degree program is exciting. It brings new challenges and opportunities, which require thoughtful preparation and the proper levels of support to ensure a smoother transition. Here is how to do it.

It is also the time to forge ahead into a more rigorous academic environment, offering college majors that can lead to rewarding career paths. Understanding and coping with a different educational and social environment will be difficult, but it can be more bearable when students plan and utilize the proper counseling and support resources.

College counseling services can help with course selections and majors, monitor academic progress, and suggest mentoring programs. They can also provide practical advice about getting things done, and when selecting and enrolling in classes, research courses, and professor ratings are best. Students should research their major (www.mymajors.com), required and 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 being more focused on the decisions they will be empowered to make.

Testing: Students still unsure of their major should seek advice regarding aptitude and 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 whether most tests are take-home, open-book, project-driven, essay, multiple-choice, or true-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, panic disorders, or act as resources with whom the student can vent. Obtaining college or private counseling and/or mentoring is not a sign of weakness but the best way to recognize problems and seek 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 they are transferring to, 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, making the student feel more welcome.

Money management should always be of concern since students will incur increased tuition costs, fees, books, 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 do not go into repayment mode if the lender is unaware of the transfer. Understand how student loans work https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans, especially how and when they are repaid, and about alternative loans that may be needed for the first time. Managing loans effectively improves future borrowing opportunities, especially after graduation.

Living arrangements: Decide whether on-campus or off-campus housing is best. Quantify costs and interview roommates to ensure compatibility and resolve any differences. Students should also know their study habits, how well they deal with distractions, their 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 a feeling of involvement and participation will take the edge off of things and help them 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.