Should I Transfer to a Different College?

So you got accepted to the college of your dreams. Congratulations! But after a semester or two, you’re starting to think that this might not be your dream school after all.  You start to realize that your experiences are just not living up to your expectations. Maybe you’ve realized that you’d rather attend a school in an urban setting rather than a rural one.  Maybe you’ve become jaded about the idea of paying extra for a private education and would rather attend a cheaper state school.  Maybe you’ve earned a negative reputation at your school and would like to start fresh somewhere new.  Or maybe you can’t quite place it, but you know in your heart that this isn’t the college for you.

Whatever the reason, something about your college is making you unhappy, so you are considering leaving for a different school. Perhaps a transfer is the right option for you, but before you commit to changing schools, there are several things you need to consider.

Just like when you were searching for colleges as a high school student, tuition is an extremely important aspect to consider. Many colleges, unfortunately, do not have the same scholarship opportunities available for transfer students as they do for first year students. Although many schools do offer a special transfer student scholarship, it is usually much smaller than the merit scholarships awarded to first year students. If you are currently receiving a valuable scholarship, would you be willing to see it replaced with a smaller one?

If you are financing your education through loans and you decide to transfer to a more expensive school, you’re going to spend more time in your adult life paying off your education than if you’d stayed at your current college. However, this doesn’t mean that you should completely rule out transferring to a pricier school because you’re worried about paying for it later. Keep in mind that your happiness is truly invaluable. But before you make any decisions, you must first ask yourself, “Would the switch be worth it?”

Distance:

Again, this factor is just as important to consider now as when you were doing your first college search. Perhaps distance is of no concern to you, in which case, good for you! But many college students still want to remain close to their families and hometown friends, and with transportation costs becoming increasingly expensive, a longer travel distance is sure to be an inconvenience to those students who travel home on the weekends. However, if you feel confident that transferring to a new college would make you happier and less reliant on your parents and high school friends (and therefore less likely to travel home), the problem of distance would be eliminated.

Social life:

An unfortunate reality of transferring is the possibility of having problems making friends. It is important to remember that this is not an issue for every transfer student, but it does affect some. Many college friendships are solidified after one or two semesters, so you may feel intimidated trying to nurture your social life at a new school. The “out of place” feeling and the awkward transition period usually subside after a short time, but it is still important to consider them, especially if you have trouble making new friends. But perhaps you already have friends at your new school, or you think that transferring to a new school will let you be more outgoing, in which case your social life won’t suffer at all, even during the adjustment period.

There are many more factors to consider when you’re thinking about transferring, but ultimately, you’re going to have to go with your instincts. Before you decide to transfer, though, think very seriously about why you want to leave. Would transferring really solve your problems, or would you encounter the same dissatisfaction at a new college? Try making an actual, physical list of the positives and negatives of transferring, as this could help you to determine where your unhappiness really lies.

If you ultimately decide that transferring is your best option, remember that although leaving can be a very scary time, the possibilities are also very exciting. It’s a chance to start over, make things right, and ensure that your college experience is a positive one.