Transferring schools is increasingly common these days. Did you know that more than a third of college students transfer at least once within six years? Transferring flows both ways, too. While many students
transfer from a community college to a four-year institution to finish a bachelor's
degree, more than 50% of students transferring from a four-year institution switched to a community college.
That said, there are still a lot of false notions floating around about transferring. Let's get down to it and debunk three common myths about transferring from one college to another:
While the transfer process can be complex, it does not have to be a mystery. With the right planning and preparation it can be a smooth and seamless process. Issues can come up if a student is not familiar with the application requirements and--most importantly--the school’s admissions policies and procedures (including the all-important application deadline).
When considering a transfer school or schools, it is best to start reading up on what is required and what their general admissions policy is. While some schools are very easy going and do not have a lot of requirements for admission, others are stricter and have very specific guidelines. To ease the process, start by checking out their admissions webpages. Links to over 120 admissions websites can be found on our Transfer Information page. Check out their “Transfer Student” sections to see what is required. Remember: If you need assistance, we’re here to help!
Just as with Myth #1, the best defense is a good offense! Being prepared is the key.
When starting to explore your transfer school, start to also explore what native students
there are taking. Harper College offers 100s of general education courses that are
easily transferrable to 100s of transfer schools. Make sure you are taking the right
courses for your major by doing your research early.
Being a transfer student does not mean that you will graduate later than a student who started at the college or university as a freshman. As with Myth #1 and #2, planning is the key! By seeing a counselor or specialist regularly as well as speaking with the four-year college or university you can ensure that you too will graduate in four years! Many transfer schools work hard to ensure their transfer students can complete in a timely manner.
