As the college application season begins to draw to a close (decisions for competitive schools will be released in late March), one would believe that everything is slowing down. But actually, we are in the throes of the college transfer season! Many college freshmen and sophomores, after a semester or so, have already decided that they need to transfer to another college. Throughout the years, I have encountered many students who wish to transfer. It is now becoming a growing trend. In our practice, we are increasingly seeing students who are making the decision to transfer while in their first semester, freshman year. Here are some of the main reasons why the students I encounter decide to transfer:
- They are unhappy: Why remain in an environment for four years where you will be unhappy and miserable – and pay tuition, room and board that will cost you (or your parents) $200,000 – $250,000?
- Fresh start: From time to time, a student may have faced unexpected challenges, disciplinary actions at a college and they need a new college environment.
- Institutional prestige: You may be attending your safety school and you want a second shot or you were discouraged from applying to your dream school. In any case, you desire what we call an UPGRADE.
- Pre-graduate school preparation: Your current college may not have a strong pre-law, pre-med or pre-business curriculum needed for graduate school admissions preparation or employment.
Most of the parents who call us are calling for an upgrade! There are fewer spots available especially in the Ivies and highly competitive colleges.
Students are on their own during the transfer process: No college counseling support will be available from their current guidance counselors or private high school college advisors and there is no transfer help from the college which they are currently attending.
Here is a list of acceptance rates at top colleges:
- Barnard College – 21.8%
- Brown University – 7.7%
- California Institute of Technology – 1.9%
- Carnegie Mellon University – 7.3%
- Columbia University – 6.1%
- Cornell University – 17.1%
- Dartmouth College – 1.5%
- Duke University – 6.6%
- Georgetown University – 6.6%
“Year after year, I hear the horror stories from parents whose kids got in nowhere because they thought the college admissions race was just about grades, SAT scores, their perceived ‘unique’ applications, generic essays and perfect connections.” – Dr. Paul Lowe
“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe
“We provide our clients access to our specialized knowledge!” – Dr. Paul Lowe
Dr. 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. Its medical school admissions affiliate: Medical School Admissions Advisors. 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.
Dr. Paul Lowe - Admissions Expert 