Transferring colleges is part and parcel of college life. Some studies estimate that about 40 to 60% of college students transfer to colleges at least once in their academic lives. College transfers do not mean that one switches campuses or colleges, but it also means that one of the academic credits (that are applicable) will get transferred as well. At the same time, it is also essential to keep in mind that transferring colleges does not mean that you have failed – it just means that you have found your calling during your academic career. Let’s start with Why Do College Students Transfer.
There are many reasons why a college student might academically transfer to another college. However, the desire to be close to home or move on to better things is one of the most common reasons a college student might give when transferring to another college.
Reason 1 To Change College – Change Of Major
So, picture this – ever since you were a kid, you wanted to become an engineer. So you enrolled in a college that has a great engineering program. However, after taking a couple of advanced physics classes, a couple of advanced math classes, and advanced chemistry classes, you found that engineering is not your passion. Along the way, during your freshman year, you took a psychology class that had you hooked.
So, now your plans have changed, and you want to take psychology. But the thing is that your college does not have a strong psychology program, and that’s the reason you have changed your college.
Reason 2 To Change Your College – To Cut Down On Tuition And Living Expenses
One of the main reasons many people drop out of college or just don’t go to college is because higher education is very expensive in the United States of America. These costs will also increase drastically in case you will be living in a metro city. To cut down on the tuition costs and living expenses, a student might go back to their home state where college tuition will be less and the living expenses can be mitigated by living at home with parents.
Some college students have also realized that higher tuition costs do not mean that it has better education quality. Transferring from a private college to a public college can help you save money without having to compromise on the quality of education.
Reason 3 To Change Your College – Social Isolation
Many students might choose to change colleges citing the reason that their social life is suffering and they are feeling alone. In many southern colleges or midwestern colleges, where there is a lack of a diverse student body, many students might want to transfer to a college that has some representation concerning their ethnicity or race. Some college students might feel alone and might transfer to a college somewhere close to home because they cannot function without a strong support network.
Reason 4 To Change Your College – Sports Transfer
Sports are more than entertainment for people. Choosing the right athlete can increase a school’s prestige, and it can also improve the student’s life. These days, athlete recruitment takes place from the senior year of high school itself, and it opens so many doors for students as well. However, some college athletes might look for a transfer because they feel that they are not getting enough opportunities or because their college experience seems lackluster. This might mean rifts in the team or a loss of scholarship that might trigger the need for a college transfer.
Reason 5 To Change Your College – Covid-19 Impact
Owing to the pandemic, many students are opting to take their classes from home itself. But the colleges that they are currently enrolled in might not offer online classes. This is one of the main contributing reasons why college transfers have mushroomed over the last couple of years. Additionally, students can cut down on commuting costs and the costs of living in a huge metro city and stay at home to take their college courses. It also offers them flexibility if their schedule is such that it is composed only of asynchronous classes.
Conclusion
The reasons why a student might transfer to colleges are endless. But there is a common consensus that the reason that students might change their colleges is because of the fact that their colleges are not a good fit for them. For some students, they might complete the first three years out of their four years at a community college to save money. For others, it might be that they have found a better college that can cater to their academic requirements. Transferring to another college is a voluntary process, and many students take this step due to a handful of reasons as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can international students transfer to colleges?
Yes, international students can transfer to colleges.
2. How many adults re-start their college journey?
In the USA, about 40 million adults restart their college journey every year.