This time of the year, my firm is receiving calls from parents and students regarding college transfers.  Students who have completed their first semester freshman year (or some who are now sophomores) and have decided that for several reasons, they need to transfer!

Why do students choose to transfer?  

• Did not do very well in high school and did not have many options when they applied to colleges.
• Unhappy at their current college.
• Unsuccessful at their current college.
• Socially not connected to their current college.
• Interested in an upgrade to a more prestigious college.

College Transfer Applications Requirements

• The 2018-2019 Common App essay prompt for the Transfer application:  “Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve.”
• Common Application (transfer) has changed:  With the new Common App for Transfer, the essay has moved from the “common” portion of the Common App. In order to allow each college to choose whether or not to ask the essay question, the essay is now located in the Program Materials section for that college.  As a result, some colleges choose to not ask the Common App personal essay question, so it may not be available for those colleges.  Also, colleges may choose to ask other essay questions in addition to, or in lieu of, the personal essay.   This makes it somewhat more difficult to navigate the college transfer application.
• School requirements: high school transcripts, college transcripts and college reports (filled out by a college official to verify that you are in good academic standing and social standing – have not gotten into trouble or have been placed on academic probation).
• Supporting documents: include letters of recommendations, resumes, mid-year reports and or secondary school final reports and standardized testing results

We have worked with a range of students who have desired to transfer:

• Students who were rejected from Ivy Leagues and highly competitive colleges and choose to reapply in their freshman year to Ivy League schools and highly competitive colleges.
• Students who were unhappy with their currents colleges because of the location.
• Students who were placed on academic probation and wish to transfer.
• International students who wish to transfer from their current foreign college to Ivy League and highly selective colleges.
• Students who were rejected when they applied to freshman year, were rejected again when they attempted to transfer  while in college and who were attempting to reapply to transfer for the third time.

In all cases, developing a meaningful student profile, with supportive documents, and convincing essays was important for our success in student transfers. It’s important that parents understand that transfer admissions (especially to the Ivies and top-tier colleges) is even more competitive and involves even more diplomacy and strategies than traditional college admissions!

“Admissions is a competitive sport!  Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe.

Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs.   The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges,  Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected. and student who wish to transfer to another college:  College Transfer Admissions Advisors.