Tag Archives: college transfers

career colleges, college guidance, college majors, college planning, college transfer

Transferring colleges

 

transferring collegesIt can be very difficult for students to choose the school that is going to offer them the best chance for future happiness and career success. And even with the input of parents, counselors, and peers, students occasionally discover that they’ve made the wrong decision and ended up at a college that really can’t offer them the program or coursework they need to get where they want to go. Plenty of students also change their minds about what they want to do after they’ve had a chance to take a few classes and see what their dream job actually entails. Then there are issues like cost and location that may lead students to seek an education at another institution. And many students go from community college to a 4-year institution. There are any number of reasons why students might consider transferring colleges. Here are a few things to consider when helping them make the transition.

Search for acceptable alternatives

In truth, there is little difference between applying for college initially and transferring to a new school except that you’ll need to get more transcripts sent. So the first thing you and your student should do is start looking for acceptable alternatives. The nice thing is that you’ve been through the process once before so you should have a better idea of how to get started, such as by reading reviews and seeking out schools that offer the type of program your student is interested in. If the major study hasn’t changed, you may even be able to repurpose some research on schools that didn’t make the cut the first time around but came in as second- or third-place options. However, if your student is considering a new major, you’ll simply have to begin again with schools that meet the new criteria.

Determine if current credits will transfer

Of course, there may be a few snags to contend with. On the upside, your student has likely completed some credits, which means he/she should have an easier time gaining admittance to a new school. This is especially true of students entering a new institution as juniors with their general education units completed, not to mention those who have managed to earn a high GPA thus far. However, you could definitely face some problems when it comes to transferring those credits. Although most accredited institutions will accept college credit from other such schools, an apples-to-apple transfer is not always possible.

For example, students going from a semester to quarter system, or vice versa, can face problems based on the number of units granted per class. And certain courses may not have an equivalent at a new school, rendering them virtually useless. Plus, every school is bound to have different requirements concerning prerequisites for specific majors. So you should address this issue right off the bat in order to find a school that will offer your student the best opportunity to continue along an educational path rather than having to backpedal and make up units.

Take a look at financial aid

If your student is receiving financial aid via merit scholarships from their current college they will lose that money if they transfer. Transferring students rarely receive any type of merit aid. Do your research and determine whether or not the new college will provide merit aid to your student, even though they are transferring. This might be a strong case to reconsider staying at the current college and finding a way to make it work.

Whether your student is interested in Ivy League institutions like Duke or Brown, state schools like UCLA or the University of Cincinatti, or even technical colleges, transferring colleges can be a trial. But with proper planning and attention to detail you can help to ensure that your kids find that right schools for their wants and needs, even if they’re already on the collegiate path somewhere else.

college majors, college planning, parenting

To transfer or not to transfer-that is the question

 

transferring collegesParents often have to make tough decisions where their kids are concerned. And while you want the best for your child, and that desire influences your every choice, even you have to admit that you don’t always choose correctly – parents are just people trying to do the best they can! At some point you’re going to have to let your teen take the reins and make his own decisions, even if you think he’s making a huge mistake. But as a parent it’s still your job to help him in any way you can. While you might not exert the same influence over a teenager as you did over a toddler, your opinion still matters. So when it comes to ensuring that your child end up at the right institution of higher learning, the one that will help him to maximize his potential and prepare for a successful and fulfilling career, the onus is on you, to some degree, to make sure he has all the facts needed to make an informed decision about his future.

Even with all your input and exhaustive research, he could end up at the wrong college with the wrong major. Here are just a few things to consider when determining whether your kid is at the right college or if he’s in need of transfer to a more suitable school.

What are the reasons?

There are plenty of reasons why a college might not end up being the best choice for any given student, but when it comes to your child you want to be sure. After all, this can be a fairly costly mistake, what with the complications inherent in transferring to a new school. As a parent, your job in this situation is to determine whether your college student is truly miserable and misplaced at his current campus or if he is simply making a mountain out of a molehill when it comes to complaints about his current situation.

Have your student’s interests changed?

You and your student will no doubt put a lot of time, effort, and deliberation into selecting the appropriate college. But things don’t always turn out like you hope. Even with the help of a comprehensive ranking system, information from school advisors, and visits to college campuses, your student may eventually discover that the school he has settled on isn’t what he wants, for one reason or another. Perhaps he’s looking for practical studies and it turns out that the program for his major is largely theoretical, analytical, or historical in nature, just for example. He may decide partway through that he wants to change his major to something that his school of choice doesn’t specialize in or that it isn’t highly ranked in, at any rate (this is more common than you might imagine). So if it turns out that your student went for a major in contract law when what he really wanted was an urban planning career degree, discuss this change with him and determine the financial consequences of his change of interest and/or passion.

Is this a rash decision?

It could be that your student has selected a campus that is far away and the homesickness is too much for him to handle on top of all the other stresses of entering college. If your college student asks to transfer, tread lightly. It could be more than the wrong educational choice. It could be homesickness, not fitting in, or even the feeling that they are overwhelmed. Make sure it’s not a temporary response to stress. Encourage them to finish out the semester and then make a well-informed decision.

If he discovers that the courses offered aren’t going to help him to get the knowledge and skills needed for his career of choice, then perhaps you should consider supporting his move to another school that can meet his needs. A happy student is a successful student.