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How Do I Decide Which College I Should Transfer To?

Want to transfer colleges but not sure where to go? Here's some expert advice on finding a great college to transfer to and who can help with the process.

Joan Isaac MohrJoan Isaac Mohr
Vice President and Dean of Admissions

Quinnipiac University
As a current college student, you’ve gone through the admission process once, during which you learned quite a bit about how to research schools and how to get information on majors, costs, and financial aid. You also know more about what’s important to you in your college choice, and you can use some of the same tools—interviews, open houses, campus tours (ask questions!), and websites—to learn more about the colleges you’re considering now. But as a transfer student, you have a powerful additional search criterion—transfer student support.

Many colleges are looking for students to transfer to their schools. You’ll see things on their websites like transfer-friendly recognition from reputable organizations, transfer-specific scholarship opportunities, or transfer student orientations. These are the schools you want to look more into! Pay close attention to the qualities that you like and dislike in your current college, and use those in your search criteria too. Don’t forget to investigate deadlines and admission requirements to be sure you have all your information where it needs to be on time.

CX experts generic imageMichelle Lockhart
Former Senior Director of Admissions
Oklahoma City University
Transfer counselors at your current college and the college(s) you're interested in transferring to can be incredible resources for you. Meet with a transfer counselor at your current institution at the very beginning of your college experience to organize your courses and timeline. The key to a successful transfer is careful planning and early action! Work with your counselor to narrow down a list of target schools you're interested in and would be right for you and your goals.

Before you decide on a school, call or visit the admission office and ask a transfer counselor at that college or university questions about everything you want to know—including transferring coursework, student life, academics, extracurricular activities, etc. After you’ve decided where to apply to and get accepted, work with both counselors to address any issues or concerns with your transcripts or classes. When you get to your new college, your work with your new school's transfer counselor is usually complete, but they can still be a valuable resource if you have any questions and don’t know who else to go to for answers.

Visit our Transfer Students—Ask the Experts section for more quick answers to your questions about transferring.

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