The application process as a transfer student takes time, and you
should begin to plan your transfer at least 12 months before the
date you wish to start studying at the new institution. Carefully
study the section in each college catalog on transferring. Often
this will include information on the college's policy on transfer of
credit. See 'Choosing the Best College for You' for more
information.
The application process for transfer students differs slightly from
that of freshman applicants. Transfer students often fill out a
separate application form, and the new college usually wants to know
two main things:
- Why do you want to transfer to this institution? You will be
asked to write a personal statement outlining your reasons for
wishing to transfer. This is probably the single most important
part of your application. Note that this should not be a
statement of complaint about why you are unhappy at your current
institution, but instead a statement of why the new school will
better suit your academic needs.
- What courses of study have you taken, or are you currently
taking? What has been your college experience so far? Transfer
applicants are expected to have performed well at their current
institution and to have proven themselves in higher education.
In addition to the above, you will also need to provide the same
items as freshman applicants to the college, including
recommendations, transcripts, admissions test scores, and an
application essay. See 'Preparing a Successful Application' for more
information.
Lastly, remember that transferring is not an easy way into the more
selective universities; in fact, many of the more competitive
colleges have even more demanding admissions standards at the
transfer level than at the freshman level. Many colleges provide
statistics on the percentage of applicants accepted for both
freshman and transfer admission, which allows you to get a better
idea of how competitive the entry is to a particular institution as
a transfer student. |
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