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Shopping for a School
Define Your Goals
It is likely that many factors contributed to you becoming a transfer student. Likewise there will be many factors that you will take into account when transferring to a new school. Take a step back and look at your past academic experiences and think about where you would like to go with those experiences. For some students it is simply a matter of earning the credits necessary to get the degree of their choice. For others the selection of an institution may encompass many other factors including types of degrees offered, convenient locations, and flexibility in scheduling including evening and online course offerings.
Check Online Resources
There are a large number of resources online that will help you search for schools that offer a particular degree and major. Once you have found some schools in which you are interested, be sure to visit the school's web site. You will be able to find information on academic programs offered, specific courses and descriptions, faculty members, campus activities, etc.
Check for an Admissions or Prospective Students section on the school's web site and look for details on applying as a Transfer student. You may also find listings of transfer course equivalencies or transfer agreements with other schools that will be helpful in assessing the likelihood of your courses transferring.
Take Time to Visit in Person
No amount of online research can substitute for a visit to campus. Call the Admissions office and set up an appointment to meet with a counselor. Be sure to let them know that you are a transfer student, since most schools have counselors who specialize in working with transfer students. Check to see if there are other on-site opportunities such as a campus tour, meeting with a current student or sitting in on a class.
Evaluation of Transfer Credits
Once you have chosen the school(s) in which you are interested and have applied, for a transfer student the task is a bit more complicated. You may find yourself trying to choose between two different schools that may be offering you different amounts of transfer credit.
In many cases, you will not receive an evaluation of your transfer credits until you have applied and been accepted. Keep in mind your primary goal, whether it is graduating with a degree, any degree, as quickly as possible or graduating with the degree that you have decided is the one which will be the most satisfying to you as you move forward with your career.
Knowing what is most important to you will help you to choose the best pathway towards achieving your degree.
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