Transferring makes sense when your college genuinely cannot give you something you need, such as a program, a cost you can afford or an environment where you can do well, and you have tried the obvious fixes. It is less likely to help if the real problem is a hard first semester that would follow you anywhere. Check credit transfer and cost before you decide.
Reasons that usually hold up
- Your school does not offer the major or program you want
- The cost is not sustainable for your family
- You need to be closer to home for family or health reasons
- You have outgrown a community college and are ready for a four-year school
- The size, setting or culture is a real mismatch after a full year of trying
- You want a program that is a better match for your career plans
Reasons to look at more closely
- Homesickness in the first semester, which often eases (see homesickness in college)
- A bad roommate, which housing can usually address
- Low grades, which tend to come with you unless the cause changes
- Friends at another school
- A single bad class or professor
A useful test: write down what exactly would be different at the new school. If the answer is specific (“it has a nursing program”), transferring may solve it. If it is vague (“I’d be happier”), work out the actual problem first.
What to try before leaving
- Talk to an academic advisor about other majors, programs or minors.
- Get involved in one or two activities for a full semester.
- Use campus counseling if mood or anxiety is part of it.
- Ask housing about a room change.
- Look honestly at study habits and routines; see study habits that work.
The practical checklist
Every school handles transfers differently, so confirm these with the admissions office at the new school and the registrar at your current one:
- Credits: Which of your courses will transfer, and will they count toward your major or only as electives?
- Residency requirements: Many schools require a minimum number of credits taken there to graduate.
- Timeline: Transfer application deadlines, and whether you can start in spring or only fall.
- GPA and course requirements: Some programs want specific prerequisites completed before transfer.
- Cost and aid: Transfer aid and scholarships can differ from what first-year students get.
- Housing: Whether housing is available for transfer students, and how to apply for it.
- Graduation date: Whether the move adds time.
Talking it through as a family
Parents: ask questions before giving an opinion. What is not working? What has the student tried? What would the new school change? Students who feel heard are more willing to test whether staying could work, and students who have thought it through deserve support in leaving. Agree on a decision date so it does not hang over every phone call.
Cost deserves its own conversation. Compare the full cost of finishing at each school, including any extra semesters, not only next year’s tuition. A school that looks cheaper per year can cost more overall if credits do not transfer cleanly.
How a mentor helps with the decision
A mentor helps the student separate the real reasons from the stressful semester, set up the “try first” steps as weekly goals and, if transferring is the answer, keep the applications, transcripts and deadlines on track. Mentors are not admissions counselors and do not help with applications as a service; they help the student stay organized and follow through. Sessions are by video in the student’s time zone, with progress updates to parents when the student agrees. See mentoring for college students and first-year college mentoring.
Related
- Mentoring for college students
- Changing majors
- Taking a leave of absence
- Helping a struggling college student
- Should I Study Abroad? A Decision Framework for College Students
- Starting at Community College, Then Transferring: Pros and Cons
Common questions
When is the best time to transfer colleges?
Many students transfer after one or two years, but it depends on the program and on how credits transfer. Check deadlines and requirements at the new school early.
Will my credits transfer?
Some will and some may not, and whether they count toward your major is a separate question. The new school’s admissions office or registrar can review your transcript.
Is it bad to transfer after freshman year?
No, if there is a clear reason. Give the first year a real try, then decide based on specifics rather than a hard few months.
Get started
Thinking about a transfer? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.