What should I look for if I am considering transferring colleges?

HI Laurel,

If you have identified the major your are pursuing, I recommend reading the school's catalog to learn more about the courses offered in the major. Do the descriptions resonate with you? Will you be gaining knowledge pertinent to your career aspirations? It is also important to look at the school's internship program. Will you have the opportunity to gain pre-professional experience in your field? Does the college have a strong office of Career Services to help facilitate career development?

Finally as you look at new colleges make sure you strive to honor your preferences in terms of location, size and culture. Good luck!

Reva

You need to make sure that it offers the degree that you need for your career for staters! Also, you need to think about the financial attributes of your shift. Moreover, the school ranking in the field you are interested in. Lastly, distance and if it matters to you.

Hello Laurel,

I applaud you for identifying that your current college is not fulfilling your needs and deciding to take the huge step of transferring to another university. I myself transferred from one university to another midway through my undergraduate studies. Although the motivation behind my transfer was quite different, I do have some areas that you will want to consider when making this decision.

1. Have you spoken with an academics or career counselor at your current school? It might be informative to have the conversation so that you can determine if there are any options at your current school that could support your career aspirations.


2. If you have already identified a school to which you would like to transfer to, contact the admissions office. You will need to have a clear understanding of what is required for admissions into the school, as well as into the specific requirements for your intended degree plan.


3. One thing to really consider is the number of credits that your currently have that will transfer to a new school. Be prepared that different states have different requirements, different schools have different requirements, and therefore you could lose a significant number of credit hours.


4. Aside from the school itself, give consideration to the quality of your life outside of school. Will there be extra curricular activities that you will want to participate in at your new school? Will there be a good representation of students at the school who share similar backgrounds, interests, cultures, affiliations, etc...


5. Make a list of all the things that are important to you, and give each school that you're considering a score based upon each item you've identified. This will help you see quantitatively how the schools compare to one another.

Best of Luck!
Ashley