Transferring From One College to Another
Sometimes people start college at one school, and end of transferring to another. This could be for a host of different reasons. Some schools are designed for students to transfer from if they wish to pursue a higher degree, such as Community Colleges.
Others might not be a good fit, or the student may need to transfer for necessity. Transferring can feel a bit overwhelming but it happens all the time and can be a really good thing for a student’s education.
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Why Transfer to Another School?
There are several different reasons to transfer to a different school. Being in the military, or being the spouse of a service member could mean you have to transfer because of a PCS. When the orders come down, you have to find a school in your new area. Some spouses do decide to stay behind to finish, but that isn’t the right choice for everyone. As soon as you know where you will be moving to, you can start looking at your options.
Another reason to transfer to another college is because of your major. You may have decided to change majors and now need to find a different program that your current school doesn’t have. You may have finished your Associate’s degree but now want to move on to another school to complete your Bachelor’s or even higher degree.
Sometimes the reasons to transfer are because you are not enjoying your current school, lack the motivation there that you need to succeed there, or need a fresh start. Personal reasons can be why you need to switch schools and many people do so for that reason.
GI Bill Transfer Issues
If you need to transfer your GI Bill benefits to another school, start by talking to that school’s admissions office to learn the current requirements for transferring. VA.gov lists the following reasons you may wish to initiate a transfer of GI Bill benefits:
- Switching to a different education benefit at the start of your next enrollment period;
- Transferring to a different school or training facility and getting a new COE;
- Changing the educational program you’re enrolled in;
- Changing the source of your entitlement under Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance benefits.
You can start an online transfer whicgh is the same as filling out VA Form 22-1995 (Request for Change of Benefit, Program or Place of Training).
Where to Transfer to?
To transfer schools, you need to know where you want to transfer to. If your goal is to transfer to a 4-year school, you can either look at the colleges in your general area, plan to move somewhere to attend college, or even attend online.
If you want to change schools because of a program or because you want to escape your current college or university, ensure the new school is a better fit. Research the programs offered by any potential school to determine if switching can enhance your educational journey.
Your Advisor
Talking with your advisor would be a good place to start. That way, you can hear from them and gain ideas about what you might want to do. They can provide you with some clarity and help you move forward with your decision. Your advisor will be able to help you get started on the process and even review which of your credits might transfer and which ones won’t.
Transferring Credits
A potential downside to transferring to another college is losing credits. The school you are transferring from may have different requirements than the school you are transferring to, even for general education courses. This can be an issue for some and may require you to repeat similar classes or enroll in a school where you didn’t need certain courses you had taken previously.
If you are switching to a completely different program, such as from an English major to a science major, there may be more differences in classes based on the requirements for each major. You can also take CLEP exams in order to avoid having to retake a class, as long as the new college will accept them.
You should send your transcripts to the school you are interested in attending, and they can tell you what they will accept and what they won’t. If you are interested in a school that won’t accept them, consider whether switching there will be worth it in the long run; in some cases, it might be.
Financial Aid
If your reason for switching schools is financially related, you should discuss this with your current school first to see if there are any options available to help you stay. There may be options you’re not aware of.
Know that student aid is not going to transfer directly between colleges, and your new school will recalculate your eligibility from scratch based on the information from your FAFSA and the college’s financial aid application forms. Certain types of aid might be portable, but aid such as the Federal Perkins loan and Federal work-study is not.
You will want to ensure you are aware of your current financial status and whether you still owe any outstanding balances to your former school, as you will need to settle and pay that balance. They can withhold your transcripts if you do have unpaid bills. Consulting with financial aid should clarify all of this for you.
You will need to update your GI Bill if you are using it for your education. You can do so by requesting a Change of Program or Place of Training VA Form 22-1995 for veterans and service members or a Dependent’s Request for Change of Program or Place of Training VA Form 22-5495 for dependents.
Paperwork & Applying
There will be plenty of paperwork involved in transferring schools, so you must stay on top of everything. Ensure you are aware of the necessary steps regarding your old school and your new one. You will need to apply to your new school, so it is important that you find out if you are accepted before you move forward with transferring.
Transferring isn’t for everyone, but it can be a good idea. You might even want to do so years after you finish at one school. The key is knowing how to get started at the school you want to attend and being able to leave the school you have been going to without too much trouble. Planning and staying organized will allow you to do so.
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About the author
Julie Provost is a freelance writer, and blogger. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.