You didn’t get into your dream school when you were a senior in high school… now what? Don’t fret! You still have the option to transfer in! After doing so myself, I discovered 6 things I wish I knew beforehand. If you are thinking about transferring, these will help you get off to a good start!

1. Carefully research the program and school you are interested in. Look through the curriculum and major requirements. Is it something you still want to pursue? It is important to make sure you will enjoy what you are learning. You should also be cognizant of post-graduation options. Will this major help you to achieve your goals?
2. Contact an advisor in the school/department. Most advisors have an abundance of information and will give you great tips for transfers! Personally, my advisor told me a rough acceptance rate for the program I was applying into. This was information that was not available anywhere online. Not only did this increase my confidence in getting in, I was more aware of the program after hearing about how classes are run and where more of the graduates of this program/school end up.
3. Writing your essays for a transfer application takes time. Most schools that you transfer into will ask for personal statements. After writing a rough draft, ask your English major friends or your writing class professor to read through your essay ahead of time. These professors have doctorate degrees in English/Writing and are more than capable of judging your essays. (Tip: Ask them to “destroy” your essay).
4. Use a credit transfer website to see which courses will transfer. Don’t take classes at your current college if you know they won’t transfer to your desired transfer college. You do not want to retake them. Instead, take an alternative class that will transfer or is for fun. You want to save major-specific classes to take at the desired college you are applying into. The more university- specialized courses may not transfer into equivalent credits. I took Honors General Chemistry and it did not transfer to my desired school, so I had to submit additional material in order to get credit.
5. Get close with your professors! College professors see thousands of students some days. Go to office hours, send emails, and actively participate in class. In the end, you can ask for recommendations! Most applications would love to see a recommendation from a professor. It will help them get multiple perspectives of you.
6. Lastly, visit the campus and see if you like the feel. DO NOT simply transfer to a college because of its prestige and “name”. Consider everything in a transfer such as weather, your financial situation, and education quality the school provides. Looking into specific things you enjoy is important. I really like research, so I was looking for a school with well-based research programs for their students. This was one of the main factors that led me to transfer into the University of Michigan. Talk to current students in the major/program you wish to transfer into; they will provide a great perspective of how they feel as current students.

Take time and research the place you desire to attend. Rushing into decisions will not help in the future!