The following four questions will help you evaluate if transferring is right for you:
- Is it worth it?
- What are your reasons to transfer?
- When are you transferring?
- What classes should you take before transferring?
First, is it worth it to transfer to another school? Consider this: regardless of where you intend to transfer to, you will have to start over on everything. You will need to familiarize yourself with the new area. There will also be a lot of effort in the move including renting a truck, loading your boxes onto the truck, and unpacking your things. Last but not least is the money factor. You will spend a lot of money on this move.
Another important question to consider is 'what are my reasons for transferring?' There are two main reasons to transfer:
- You believe if you transfer to a 'better' school that it will help you get the education and jobs you want.
- The school you're attending is too expensive and you want to move to another school with similar academics but a lower cost.
Still, there are other valid reasons for transferring. The key is to be honest with yourself about your motivations. Just wanting to see a different place or just to get away from your unresolved unhappiness are not good reasons to transfer.
If you plan on transferring, the next question is 'when are you transferring?' Typically, you need to transfer no later than sophomore year. With varying school application deadlines, you need to often plan months in advance when you prefer to transfer in order to meet the deadlines.
The final question is 'what classes should you take before transferring?' Even though it is last, it is no less important than the others. If you're planning to transfer, it's important that you take classes with credits that will count at the school you transfer to. Otherwise, you may have a lot of units, but only a few will transfer. Since you've already paid for those classes at your old school, you want to make sure you get your money's worth.
In other words, how would you like to leave one school a sophomore only to be accepted as a freshman at your 'school of choice'? Your best bet is to take fundamental core classes that most schools offer. Remember that more specialized classes may not be transferable from one school to another.
Hopefully, considering these questions can help you make a better educated decision. Transferring to another school is a decision that should not be rushed.
