Transferring colleges is a common experience for many students. Some start their journey at a community college to tackle their required general education courses and receive their associate degree. After that, they may decide to transfer to a four-year college or university to receive their bachelor’s degree. 

Other students may have started at a four-year college or university, but decided for one reason or another that transferring to another college would be more beneficial for them.

While there are many reasons a student may transfer colleges, knowing what steps to take is key. Use these tips to help you transfer seamlessly!

Talk to your academic advisor

Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your plan to transfer. They can walk you through your college’s steps for transferring, ensure you are taking the right classes to transfer, and support you as you gather the required information to apply to your new college(s).

Do your research

Take time to research colleges that interest you and add them to your list. Be sure to review and collect all the information they have specifically for transfer students. Use our college application requirements tracker to stay organized!

It can be helpful to also search for transfer (also known as articulation) agreements between your college and the college(s) you’re applying to. Articulation agreements are partnerships between colleges that are designed to make it easier for students, and their credits, to transfer. You will want to be able to transfer all of your credits between schools to help you avoid repeating classes, which can be a waste of time and money.

If you’re transferring from a community college, be sure to also research if your college has a Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) with local four-year colleges and universities. DTAs are specific types of articulation agreements between community colleges and four-year colleges and universities that guarantee students the ability to transfer from one to another with junior standing. 

It’s also important to consider a college’s non-academic factors, such as their student life, extracurricular activities, the ways it responds to social and political events, and what steps it takes to ensure a welcoming environment for all students. In-person and virtual visits can help you get a feel for these factors, and can bring you closer to making a decision about where to apply.  

Once you have a sense of the application and transfer process, create a plan to ensure you don't miss any key deadlines. Transferring to another college, especially if you plan to transfer into a specific major, can be a competitive process–so having a plan and being prepared is important.

Consider your major

Your major can play a role in where you decide to apply or attend. Be sure to research whether the schools on your list offer your desired major, and how competitive it can be to be accepted to that major. Some colleges, especially larger ones, may have a limit on how many students per year are accepted into a particular major. Take this into consideration when deciding where to apply, especially if you are certain what you want to major in. 

If you want to know more about a major offered at a college on your list, you can likely email them to request more information or to chat with an advisor. 

Apply

Once you’ve done your research and have gathered everything you need to apply, it’s time to send off your application(s)! Your academic advisor can support you through this process.

Apply for financial aid and scholarships 

Different colleges have different tuition and fees. This difference is especially apparent between community colleges and four-year colleges and universities (which are commonly significantly more expensive per year). Regardless of which type of college you’re transferring to, it’s important to be proactive about applying for financial aid to lower the cost of tuition and fees. This includes things like:

• Completing the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms for the following academic year. Don’t forget to list the colleges you intend to apply to on your application! 
• Applying for as many scholarships as you can.

Compare financial aid offer letters

The schools you’re accepted to will send you financial aid offer letters with a breakdown of their aid offers for the next academic year. We recommend using Scholarships360’s free Financial Aid Award Letter Comparison Tool to compare your offer letters and make an informed decision about where to attend!

Make connections

Once you decide where to attend, be sure to stay connected to your new school and participate in programming specifically for transfer students, like new and transfer student orientation. By engaging in these types of experiences, you will learn about on-campus resources and make new connections–both of which will help you transition seamlessly into your new college environment!

A note for students transferring between four-year colleges and universities

There are many reasons you may be considering transferring. If you are certain about what you want to study at your college, you may be able to re-apply for your major the following academic year or term. If you are open to choosing a different yet similar major, you may find that it’s worth it to stay at your school. If you are absolutely certain that you want to pursue a specific major, and transferring makes the most sense for your academic and career goals long-term, be sure to weigh all the pros and cons carefully, and talk to your academic advisor about your options and next steps. 

We’re here to help you along your transfer journey! If you have any questions, just text #College to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!