There are many reasons you may decide you want to transfer from your initial college. Perhaps the college is different than what you expected: it might be more social, less social, more academic, less academic. Perhaps you have changed or clarified what’s important to you; maybe you don’t want to live as far from home or in an environment dominated by Greek life. Maybe you’d rather be part of a smaller community than a big state school, or you’ve realized that your small liberal arts college is too confining. Perhaps you are now approaching academics in a more engaged manner and want a more academically rigorous environment. Or, on the flip side, perhaps the school you are attending is too rigorous and you want a more balanced social life.

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Every student who wants to transfer is motivated by different factors. But what they all have in common is the need to understand and master the transfer admissions process.

Here is your transfer checklist:

What’s different about transfer admissions?

You

  • Now that you’ve had the actual experience of attending college, you have a better idea of the features that are most important to you.

College List

  • You will probably apply to fewer colleges for transfer than for first-year admissions because you have greater clarity about your best-fit preferences.
  • Your transfer college list may not be as well-rounded as your first-year college list—and that’s OK. With first-year admissions, it’s best practice to ensure you have a plenty of options (from safe to target to reach), but when transferring, your list might skew more toward selective institutions since you don’t necessarily need a back-up plan now that you’re already in school.

Information about Transfer Colleges

  • Each college’s receptivity to transfers changes each year, depending on how many spots they have open; this fluctuates because it is influenced by factors such as the “yield” of the prior year’s freshman admissions process and the number of students taking a semester or year off for study abroad. As a result, data about a college’s transfer admissions history must be evaluated carefully every year.

Standardized Testing

  • Standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT, typically have less importance in the transfer admissions process, if you apply as a sophomore.

What is required for transfer?

Essay

  • Nearly all colleges require a Personal Statement or Transfer Statement.
  • Unlike the freshman admissions Personal Statement, this essay should be chock-full of specifics about the features you are looking for in your transfer college, including your reason(s) for transferring from your initial college, where appropriate. There is certainly the opportunity to be creative in your writing, but this essay has a more specific purpose than the personal essay you wrote as a high school senior. It should persuade the admissions officer that you know yourself well, including your strengths and interests, and that you have done your homework in researching colleges that would be a good fit for your current goals and preferences.

High School Transcript

  • If you are transferring during your first year or sophomore year, your high school transcript will be required. Some allow for unofficial transcripts to be uploaded to the application or applicant portal, while others will require an official document to be sent from your high school.

College Transcript and/or Course Information

  • Your college transcript will always be required, because it gives transfer colleges the best possible forecast of how you would perform at their college. Transfer colleges often require the applicant to order an official transcript through Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse.
  • Sometimes they will also require a Midterm Report to gather information about your current courses and professors’ contact information.

Standardized Testing

  • Like with first-year applications, the SAT or ACT may be required or optional. The testing landscape is evolving, so it’s important to review each college’s testing policy.

College Report: Statement of Good Standing

  • Transfer applications usually require a form from a college official, typically a Registrar or Dean, indicating that a student has a clean record with no academic or behavioral violations. The Common App refers to this as the College Report and SCOIR calls it the Transfer Report.

Interviews

  • Depending on the college, you might receive an invitation to interview with an alumnus or admissions representative.
  • Always take advantage of the opportunity to interview if available.

Recommendations

  • Usually, colleges require 1-3 letters of recommendations for transfer.
  • Each college has its own policy regarding letters of recommendation, but it is common for them to want at least one letter to come from a professor; others can be from a high school teacher/academic advisor, research mentor, employment supervisor, or activity advisor.

What is the timetable?

Application Deadlines

  • Typically range from February 15 to August 1 for fall transfer, and October 1 to December 1 for spring transfer.

Application Preparation

  • For fall transfer, begin during winter break. For spring transfer, begin in the summer.

Admissions Notification

  • Transfer applicants are often notified on a rolling basis. The sooner you apply, the better. It is beneficial to submit transfer applications as soon as possible after February 1 for the fall semester, and as soon as possible after October 1 for spring transfer.

If you decide that transferring is the right option for you, begin by reflecting deeply about which features of your current college do and do not match your interests. Make lists of features that you now seek in a transfer college.

At the same time, stay fully engaged in your current college, even though you’re planning to transfer. You want to perform as well as possible academically in order to be a strong candidate for transfer admissions. And you want to show your transfer college that you are capable of participating fully in the campus community. Transfer colleges want to admit students who can round out the undergraduates already on campus – the more information you provide about how you will contribute positively to campus life, the better your chances that you’ll have a chance to do so!

Whether you need guidance choosing a college, major, or career, contact Collegiate Gateway. As always, we’re happy to help.