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.

Should I Study Abroad?

While a lot of college students weigh the decision to study at a college in-state or out of state, there’s a third option that is rarely considered – Should I study overseas or abroad in a different country?

At a time when students around the world flock to the US to go to college, it may seem like an odd time to consider going to college in other countries, but for some students it makes sense.

Advantages

Going to college in another country can give students a certain edge in later life, particularly if they are selecting certain courses of study. If they’re interested in cultural studies, languages, journalism, or history, picking a college in another country can give the student opportunities to immerse themselves in a different culture that may provide a more rounded learning opportunity.

Similarly, studying overseas can be an excellent way to build a unique resume for future career opportunities. Amongst a stack of US-based college resumes, a student who can list a reputable international college may stand out.

Finally, an education abroad can be a happy medium for students who are eager to travel and may be weighing a decision between taking a year off to explore the world vs. going immediately into a college education.

Disadvantages

Researching schools inside your own country is stressful – now imagine that you’re doing the same around the world! Between language, distance and time zone difficulties, it’s often hard to get a true picture of a college you’re considering on the other side of the world and campus visits are (as you might imagine) substantially more expensive to undertake.

Additionally, international students frequently pay much higher premiums for college educations than domestic students and face more stringent application processes. Although the currency exchanges may offset some of that higher cost (depending on which country you’re looking at) expect to pay much more for tuition, in addition to travel costs and possibly living expenses.

Also of concern is the quality of education that you will be paying for – while a degree from Cornell is immediately understood by most American employers, a degree from an unknown school in another country may be met with skepticism after graduation.

Finally, consider whether you are going to be able to meet the challenges of living far from family, and often with less contact with people who speak your native language. While studying abroad can be exhilarating, it’s also more difficult.