Is it normal to transfer colleges

For some students, community college offers the chance to earn affordable degree credits, while for others, it's an opportunity to improve academic performance and boost admission chances at four-year colleges and universities. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, college students are having to rethink and realign their academic plans.

The coronavirus has negatively impacted the financial situations of many students, meaning that paying higher out-of-state tuition fees or attending an expensive private university may no longer be feasible. Some students have to work full- or part-time jobs and plan to put college on hold or take online courses until their situation improves, whereas others are opting for community college.

It's not just about finances, either. Some students may no longer feel safe in their college areas or may choose to stay closer to home to be near loved ones. At the same time, other students are rethinking their major and switching to one that'll allow them to better serve their community.

Students across the U. Some feel they're missing out on the college experience and will consider transferring if their college doesn't reopen soon. Many students transfer because they are unhappy with their social situation.

They may see their friends on social media having the time of their lives at other colleges and feel socially isolated at their own school. Others may feel homesick or find themselves missing their significant others more than they expected to.

Sometimes, the switch from a small high school to a big college can overwhelm a student. For these people, things likely looked much different during freshman orientation, when everything was calm and classes hadn't started yet. On a similar note, some students may choose to transfer because they feel their college is too much of a party school and they're not getting the quality of education they want. Many students change majors at some point in college, with some doing it more than once.

Some students who chose their original school based on their desired major end up transferring to another institution that offers a better program for their new major. There's no doubt that certain colleges and universities hold more prestige than others and therefore look better on resumes. Some students enter college with a plan to elevate their GPA for one or two years before applying to transfer to a more prestigious school.

Financial reasons: If you find yourself in a financial bind, you may want to look into going to a different school since they all vary when it comes down to money.

The expensive institutions wrap discounting with various methods. There are many ways to find money to pay for school, not just taking out loans. Make sure you do your research when looking for an alternative school and financial aid options. How much will it cost you to complete is a different question than how much is the tuition. Just make sure that you think your decision through. Changing career directions: M any students already have a college degree and are looking to shift their focus from what they have specialized in already.

Earning a second college degree in another subject can involve getting credit for some of the course work they previously had taken, like management courses or marketing courses. The practices across schools vary. Life and work experience: How does life and work experience count toward a student's program area of interest?

Courses in a new program of study and major can be skipped when evidence of knowledge is presented. Whatever courses you can skip will surely help your wallet.

Academic challenge: Many students take two, three and even four years of course work and near the end of their studies when their GPA drops below acceptable levels. This happens a lot in the later semesters and terms when the subjects become more specialized and difficult. Some try to find a to improve and stick with the program, others lose credits when they change pathways.

International transfer: Study abroad and students coming to the U. Transcripts are reviewed and course work assessed. Course transfer or some level of rigor to review the validity of the source of international education impacts those that assess.

Study abroad with cooperating institutions nominate students and formally oversee their educational activities. Course work credit and degree requirements are usually satisfied by a block or term base.

Self-paced, open courseware transfer: This will have a huge impact in the future. Students explore self-paced, online learning courses that are offered by across hundreds of universities on the web today. The open courses enable students to study and learn at their own pace, but have little support services compared to traditional courses or other online courses for which a student pays.

Still, these courses do get assessed and the learning is counted as transfer credit. Testing out of courses: Millions of students annually take advanced placement courses with the idea that some of the courses early in their college career can be skipped when their test scores reveal comprehension and knowledge. The course work is treated like course transfer credits when accepted. Transfer can be proactive and reactive. See how your circumstances stack up against the common characteristics leading students to change institutions and their programs of study.

Choosing Your Major: A list of popular college majors and resources you can review such as related occupations, salary and the types of tasks, work environment and expected requirements. Match your interests and explore what majors that will motivate you to finish college.

Generally speaking, it's harder to successfully transfer both academically and socially after your sophomore year. Transfer apps are usually due sometime in the early spring for the fall semester and late fall for the spring semester. Some schools only accept fall transfers, however!

Thankfully, most colleges have dedicated transfer student pages on their websites to detail the processes and deadlines specific to them. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, make sure you have a place to live before you arrive. Once the school year starts, housing will be scarce.

We're huge proponents of on-campus living for transfers. School-affiliated dorms are more straightforward to research and organize as part of your application and registration process. Also, it's just plain easier to make friends in that kind of setting.

Transferring to a new school can be daunting socially since students tend to do a fair amount of bonding as freshmen. Get in on on-campus housing that's geared toward upperclassmen some schools even have special transfer floors!

If dorm living isn't an option, utilize campus resources like apartment listings from fellow students or housing guides published by the school newspaper, and make some inquiries about off-campus buildings and neighborhoods where lots of other coeds reside. And regardless of where you live, get involved when you get to campus. Join academic organizations, study groups, the anime club, a bocce league—whatever interests you—to make your final college years that much more satisfying.

Your high school transcript and test scores will take a back seat to your college transcript. So earn strong grades in college if you hope to transfer some schools will still want to see your SAT or ACT scores as well. Colleges have different policies for transfer students but typically expect you to have acquired a minimum number of credits.

You'll have a harder time transferring if you've completed more than two years of study, even if you abandon some of the credit you've accrued. Of course, transferring can impact your intended graduation date or study abroad plans. Be aware of the policies at your prospective transfer school. Get letters of recommendation from your college professors. High school recommendations are beneficial, but the opinion of someone who has seen you handle college coursework will hold more weight.

Seek out professors who have taken a shine to you especially ones within your major or academic area of interest. Don't be afraid that they'll be unhappy with your decision to leave; ultimately, educators want their students to be content.

If a professor agrees to write you a letter, let him or her know how much it means to you. A thank-you note goes a long way towards making your recommender feel appreciated. Be mindful of transfer application deadlines.