When Does A College Transfer Make Sense?

It is estimated that about 30% of college students will decide to transfer to a different school at some point in their college careers. Too often students switch schools for the wrong reasons and find that the grass is not always greener after the move. Here are a few situations in which a college transfer makes sense.

Financial Necessity
Some students simply feel that they can’t afford to stay at their current college. If you're feeling money pressures, be sure to talk to a financial aid officer or your family before deciding on making a transfer. The long-term rewards of a quality degree might outweigh short-term financial inconvenience. Also, realize that a transfer to a less expensive school may not actually save you money in the long run.

Up for the Challenge
If you are not feeling challenged enough at your current school, or you have you earned such high grades that you think you can win admission to a significantly better school, than transfer might be a good idea. A more prestigious college may be able to offer better educational and career opportunities. Remember, however, that being the star of the class at lower-ranked school can also have its own rewards.

Specialized Major
If you discover in your first few years of college that you want to be a zoologist, you might want to transfer to a school that specializes in animals. Similarly, if nothing will suit you but a career as an astrologist, you should transfer to one of the few schools in the country that offers such specialized training.

Family Obligations
In some cases, family has to take priority over school. If you need to be close to home because of a sick family member, transferring to a different school closer to home might make sense. Try to talk to your Dean first--a leave of absence is sometimes a much better solution.

Social Situation
Sometimes the culture at a college turns out to be the opposite of what you wanted. Maybe the seven-day-a-week party scene isn’t for you, or perhaps the opposite is true and you’d like a more active social life. College isn’t just about the academics, so in some cases like these, a transfer might make sense. Don’t jump too quickly though--make sure that the social group that you’re looking for doesn’t exist at your current school and try a change of friends first before a change of school.

Is Social Media Derailing Your College Plan?

A recent survey discovered that over the last few years, colleges have increased their presence on several social media platforms, including Twitter, YouTube, Google and Pinterest. But, colleges aren’t simply using social media to recruit potential students; they are also using these platforms to eliminate students during the college admissions process. During the past year, 35% of college admissions officers admitted that they found something online that negatively affected a student’s chance of admission--for students just starting the college planning process, this should be a wake-up call! The good news is that there are several things students can do to help minimize any negative impact social media may have on their college admissions opportunities.

“Google” Yourself

It may seem vain, but Google is a great way to find out what’s online for others to find. You may be surprised to see pictures or read posts about yourself that may be less than flattering. Taking the time to go through the links and remove any negative content may help to avoid future embarrassment during the admissions process, or help to prepare for questions concerning incidents detailed online.

Strike a Pose
Pictures sometimes speak louder than words, so students should take great care to clean up any questionable shots that may be included on their Facebook page or other social platforms. Photos that include drinking, drugs or other illegal activities will definitely cause more harm than good. Also, consider removing any pictures in revealing outfits or provocative poses. Instead, try to include photos of yourself winning awards, time spent volunteering or images engaging in school activities.

Clean it Up
Although students may just be ‘playing around’ with their friends, quoting music lyrics, or simply sharing a funny video, these activities may be perceived by others as negative, depending on the nature of the content involved. Try to refrain from including profanity or sexually explicit content on any of your social media channels. Instead, consider linking to causes you are passionate about or including inspirational quotes and other positive messages on your Facebook wall and Twitter feed.

Be a “Follower”

Students should also consider following their prospective colleges on several social media platforms. Interacting with the college’s admissions staff and current students online can assist students in determining whether a school may be right for them, as well as showing colleges that they have a serious interest in gaining admission. 

Creating a positive online image is becoming an important aspect of the college admissions process and students should be aware that once something is posted online, it is very difficult to make it disappear. 

Signs Your Child is Academically Burnt Out

Studying, extracurricular activities, after school programs--is there a chance that your child may be academically burnt out? How can you tell? 

Causes of Academic Burnout
Many high schools put a huge workload on students and expect everyone to be an overachiever. There is often a competitive environment, and many teachers look down on students that simply do an adequate job. The combination of unending work and constant pressure eventually takes its toll on the psyches of some students. According to the Washington Post, a recent study by the Academy of Finland found that burnout seems to run in families. Students with burnout often have parents with similar feelings about their work, life, or financial situation. The reasons for this connection are unclear, but Scientists have theorized that it could be related to parenting techniques.

Signs of Burnout
Burnout is a gradual process that occurs over an extended period of time. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it can creep up on you or your child if you’re not paying attention to the warning signals. The signs and symptoms of burnout are subtle at first, but they get worse and worse as time goes on.

• Feeling tired and drained most of the time
• Lowered immunity, feeling sick a lot
• Frequent headaches, back pain, muscle aches
• Change in appetite or sleep habits
• Emotional signs and symptoms of burnout
• Sense of failure and self-doubt
• Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated
• Detachment, feeling alone in the world
• Loss of motivation
• Increasingly cynical and negative outlook
• Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment
• Withdrawing from responsibilities
• Isolating yourself from others
• Procrastinating, taking longer to get things done
• Taking out your frustrations on others
• Skipping work, school or activities or arriving late and leaving early

Avoiding Burnout
According to the experts, it's possible for students to avoid burnout by taking more breaks, spending more time on their social lives, and taking better care of their health so that they feel better. Think of the early symptoms of burnout as warning signs or red flags that something is wrong that needs to be addressed. If you pay attention to these early warning signs, you can prevent a major breakdown. If you ignore them, it may eventually lead to burn out.

Common Problems College Students Face - Overcoming Adversity

Every college student wants their experience to be memorable, but in the right way. High school students envision their college years will be full of fun, new social encounters, new experiences, and fond memories. However, there are also many problems college students face throughout their years there, and how they deal with them is essential in their academic, emotional, physical, and social success.

Here are some common problems and some possible solutions for working through them.

Finances - One of the major challenges college students face is that of finances. Many students drop out prior to graduation because they cannot afford the cost. Some have help from parents, others have financial aid, but still with the rising cost of tuition, textbooks, room and board, gasoline, clothing, and other necessities, the challenge is often a difficult one to overcome.

Planning is an essential part of handling the expense of college. Sound money management skills are required, and being creative and responsible when it comes to saving money is essential. Buying used textbooks, finding alternate means of transportation (bicycle, walking, and carpooling), eating out less, and doing without some luxuries can mean the difference is maneuvering your way through school free of debt or having to drop out.

Studies - College usually requires more studying than high school along with more assignments. It is easy to become quickly overwhelmed and fall behind. For those trying to attend school and work part or full time, the study problem is often a great hurdle to overcome.

Don't overdo it, especially in your first semesters at school. It is best to pace yourself and adjust to campus and academic life at college. Carefully consider the number of credit hours you are undertaking as well as their level of difficulty. It might be a good idea to juggle classes so your schedule is not loaded with all the hardest subjects in a single semester. Your advisor can be a valuable resource in helping guide you in your choice of subjects.

Selecting a Major - Many high school and beginning college students stress early on over choosing a major. They become overly concerned with their future professional career and the salary possibilities various jobs offer.

You can begin a broad area of study, such as business, and then narrow the possibilities down after you've got some credit hours on your transcript. Focus on areas of study that you actually have an interest in rather than making it all about the money. Again, your advisor is a resource who can help you make these types of decisions.

These are just a few of the challenges college students face, and if you are dealing with issues of some type you can rest assured you are not alone. Don't struggle in trying to handle the stresses on your own. Discuss your concerns with family, friends, and your advisor; utilize campus resources such as counselors and college staff. Many times these connections have advice and experience that may well offer the solution to your problems.

Problem solving is all a part of maturity and advancing into adulthood; it is what shapes you into the person you are capable of being; it's a part of life.