Transferring: It’s a topic mentioned by your college guidance counselors in passing and considered only as an afterthought. But for many, transferring is very much like a ticket, a ticket out of a place that didn’t end up being what you thought it would be.
My first year I spent at Marist College, a school I truly thought I would graduate from sitting alongside my fellow Red Foxes and admiring the gorgeous view of the Hudson River. But not far into the year I started to realize that I wasn’t really happy there. And as time went on, I only began to feel worse and worse about being there.
I had met many people who were considering transferring. Some had started at Marist with the sole intention of transferring out as soon as possible, only to realize that they had grown to like the school more than they anticipated. I had a friend who didn’t really decide on Marist as much as her parents did for her and thus she ended up transferring at the end of the first semester. Then there were people like me, who just realized they wanted more than what the school could offer. We wanted independence, the ability to venture off campus and explore. We wanted to have things to do and events to go to. We wanted easier transportation to and from the campus. All of these things weren’t available at Marist, and it was for these reasons I started to consider transferring.
So here is the guide that I wish I had had when I starting the transfer process, and what I wish I had known:
It’s okay to consider transferring. If you have done everything you could to make the most of your school — you’ve joined clubs, gone to activities, tried to make some friends — and you’re still not comfortable or happy there, look into your options for transferring. Reach out for help. When I was considering transferring I talked to EVERYONE. My friend who had left last semester, my older brother, my teachers, anyone who I thought would have some insight or advice. If you know someone who has transferred, reach out to them for sure because hearing what the process was like gave me a real insight into what I was in store for. Talk to a counselor. I actually emailed my college guidance counselor from high school and talked to her about transferring and she was incredibly supportive and eager to help. While the application process is similar to when you applied senior year, now you’ll need to address transfer credits, gather new recommendations, and write a new essay. If you weren’t close with your counselor from high school, reach out to your academic advisor at college or a mentor! Notice what you like and don’t like about your current university. By pinpointing the things you don’t like about the school, you’ll know what to look for in a new one. If you’re too far from home, look for somewhere closer. If there aren’t enough things to do on weekends, look for a school in a city or that has easy access to one. If you want to be able to spend time outdoors hiking or walking, look for something more rural.
Just see what happens. Even if you’re still on the fence about whether or not you really want to transfer, put out some applications. Yes, it’s still expensive to apply to schools but try to look for waivers and discounted admissions because sometimes the price is different for transfers. But at least put your applications out there and see if you get any acceptances or rejections. I found that it was during the time when I was waiting to receive responses that I realized that I definitely wanted to transfer. See how you feel. Once you get those decisions, listen to yourself. If you’re really excited or relieved about getting a “Congratulations!” or a “Welcome!” then that’s a good indicator that transferring might be the right move. Ultimately, the decision is yours and the best way to decide is by trusting your gut.
Just know that even if you do decide to stay or to transfer, you always have options. There’s no time limit for when you can and can’t change schools (there are deadlines so pay attention to those), but you know what’s best for you. You’re in college now and you have to do what you think is best. I am so grateful that I transferred and am now getting the college experience that I always wanted to have, but didn’t at Marist.