Transfering to different college?

Cheezy

I'm a sophomore currently attending a small state university, but I want to attend somewhere more prestigious and with less rednecks next fall. How would I go about doing this? What potential pitfalls are there?

deadonthestreet

Start applying like now. Most schools have transfer applications on their web sites.

You may be forced to take an extra semester or an extra year to graduate because different schools have different requirements to get a degree.

mrcheesypants

Check the website for the college you want to transfer to and look for a transfer application. There should information on what you need to do and maybe even a transfer credit calculator.

Remember, not all of your credits will transfer. If you're transferring to a school in the same state, you're more likely to keep more credits.

kaliyama

I mean, no real pitfalls . You look at the website of the school you want to transfer to and do their paperwork. You probably have to do it pretty soon, but you'll have to have good grades.

Cheezy

Anyone know if I'll have to retake the ACT/SAT? Or is that on a school by school basis?

kaliyama

you don't have to retake the SAT. you may have to resend your score. why don't you look at schools you want to transfer to first and then ask questions about the app?

Taximes

You shouldn't have to retake the ACT/SAT, but they may want your scores. Depending on how long you've been at university, they may just want your transcript.

Also, if you're hoping for any scholarships, you probably shouldn't. I transfered to a school that had previously offered me a full ride when I was looking at them two years earlier in high school, and their financial aid office offered me a whopping $0 as a transfer student. I'm now eligible for transfer scholarships, but those max out at $1000 and were unavailable when I transferred (in the middle of the year). I was fortunate enough to get some money from their honors college, so if you're a good student, you should try to go that route.

If your rich and/or money is no concern, your biggest problem is going to be the credits. I transferred between two state universities that are very close to one another, so I didn't lose much. I just talked to a guy the other day, though, who was one semester away from graduating at a private college when he transferred (due to lack of funds), and found himself a sophomore at a state school. Mostly, he said it was because private schools offer more specific courses that state schools have difficulty finding equivalents for, so I'm not sure if it works the same going the other way.

Edit: When I was thinking about transferring, a friend showed me this which, if it has data for both schools, will try to see how your credits transfer. I ended up not using it (talking to actual advisors was much more helpful :P) but maybe it can help you out.

Forbe!

Print off an application or do one online.

My Uni allowed me to apply online. However, they sent a verification letter in the mail for me to sign and return. Also, they required me to have certain forms faxed/mailed over.

Highschool transcripts, College transcripts, and an up to date physical. After that the transferring process is fairly easy (depending on universities). If you have already declared a major, and want to transfer into that major, there may be higher requirements for you to stay a part of that school. For example, UofI has a requirement of a 3.8 gpa for transferring business majors.

Also: Make sure all of your classes transfer. This can be a nightmare. Most schools usually have a section dedicated to transfer students, and there will be a catalog somewhere that lists what transfers and what the equivalent classes are. If not, contact an accademic advisor, they can set you straight.