Transferring can feel like wading through an ocean. There are hundreds of schools that might feel like a fit, but applying to all of them can be both expensive and time consuming. This article will walk you through the main factors to consider while making your school list.
College isn’t about rankings and school image, it's a place where you will make memories and grow. Can you imagine being happy and satisfied living at his school for the next 2-3 years? What are your reasons for transferring and how will this school help address them?
Here are the key factors to consider:
1. Cost of Attendance (COA)
One of the major factors to consider is the total cost of attendance, which includes tuition, housing, meal plans, books, transportation, and personal expenses. All of these can add up and increase the amount of student loan debt that you might need to carry with you for many years after graduation. Now, this doesn’t mean your dream school is out of reach. Consider internal scholarships and how lenient financial aid is towards transfer students. You may also consider external scholarships to help pay for part of the COA. In-state public schools typically have lower costs of attendance than out of state public schools and private schools. Look into the schools that would fit your budget for school! Many schools have estimated COA calculators that could help you make a decision.
2. Degree Offerings and Academic Fit
Another factor is the academic fit. Does the school you are interested in offer your intended major? Does it accept your current and planned coursework towards graduation? What research programs or work programs are available to help push your career forward? For transfer students, this is where tools like ASSIST, Transferology, or campus articulation agreements become absolutely critical. You want to avoid landing at a school you love, only to discover half your units don’t count toward your major.
3. Location
Location is about more than weather and scenery, though those matter too. Do you want to be close to home or farther away? Do you want to be close to home or purposely farther away? Do you see yourself in an urban, suburban, or rural environment? Are there specific professional opportunities nearby such as hospitals, labs, internships, industry hubs that connect to your future goals? How will transportation work? Will you need a car, or is there solid public transit? All of these questions are things to consider and could narrow down where to apply.
4. Support System
For many transfer students, moving to a new environment can be challenging. Your support system will matter. Will you have family, friends, or community nearby? Does your school have a strong support system for transfer students? What about academic support? School doesn’t need to be like home, but you definitely want to avoid being somewhere that leaves you isolated with no safety net to fall back on.
5. Student Culture and Athletics
Every college has its own “personality,” and it affects daily life more than most people realize. How is the academic culture? Is it collaborative or competitive? Does the school do grade deflation or inflation? What about social life? Heavy Greek life and party scene? Or is the school commuter heavy and slow on the weekends? What clubs are you interested in? Are you big into college sports with a big D1 environment? You can often get a feel for culture by reading student forums, watching campus vlogs, checking out student org pages, and talking to current students if possible.
Turning Reflection into a School List
Once you’ve thought through the factors above, it’s time to build an actual list. A list typically has a few “reach” schools: places you’d love to attend, where odds of admission are lower since your GPA might be below their 25th percentile of admitted students. Several “target” schools: your stats and coursework line up well with their admitted transfer students (25th - 75th percentile of GPA). A few “safety” schools where you’re very likely to be admitted and can afford to attend (75th percentile and above GPA.)
Staying Organized
Finally, it's time to put it all together. Build a spreadsheet that includes the school, application platform (Common app, UC, Coalition app), application deadlines, transcripts, and essays to write. You can also trim schools here to make sure that your applications will fit within your budget. Good Luck on this transfer season!
