|
The Transfer Application
Process
The application process as a transfer student takes time,
and you should begin to plan your transfer at least 12 months
before the date you wish to start studying at the new institution.
Carefully study the section in each college catalog on transferring.
Often this will include information on the college's policy
on transfer of credit. See 'Choosing
the Best Colleges for You' for more information.
The application process for transfer students differs slightly
from that of freshman applicants. Transfer students often
fill out a separate application form, and the new college
usually wants to know two main things:
- Why do you want to transfer to this institution? You will
be asked to write a personal statement outlining your reasons
for wishing to transfer. This is probably the single most
important part of your application. Note that this should
not be a statement of complaint about why you are unhappy
at your current institution, but instead a statement of
why the new school will better suit your academic needs.
- What courses of study have you taken, or are you currently
taking? What has been your college experience so far? Transfer
applicants are expected to have performed well at their
current institution and to have proven themselves in higher
education.
In addition to the above, you will also need to provide the
same items as freshman applicants to the college, including
recommendations, transcripts, admissions test scores, and
an application essay. See 'Preparing
a Successful Application' for more information.
Lastly, remember that transferring is not an easy way into
the more selective universities; in fact, many of the more
competitive colleges have even more demanding admissions standards
at the transfer level than at the freshman level. Many colleges
provide statistics on the percentage of applicants accepted
for both freshman and transfer admission, which allows you
to get a better idea of how competitive the entry is to a
particular institution as a transfer student.
Back to the top
|
