Hi all. I am about to start my freshman year at the regional university in my town, with plans of transferring to another university for sophomore year. Do you have any recommendations for how to plan my courseload with that in mind? I am planning on being a music major, but I don’t want to necessarily feel locked into the degree plan for that since I won’t be at this institution all four years. At this point I’m hoping to take a good dose of music classes, well balanced by the hardest academic courses I can take. Does that seem like a good plan? How important is it to seem well-rounded as a transfer student?
If you don’t like this place, why are you starting college this fall? It probably would be better for you to take a gap year, and apply to the places you do want to attend.
Financial aid is usually not very good for transfers, and your high school record will still be really important because you will only have one semester of grades and activities on your record when you file the transfer applications next spring.
thank you for the response, @happymomof1 ! I decided to start college this year because I know myself and I don’t think I’d do very well with a sudden decision to take a gap year, made without lots of thought and plans for what to do during. I can take the reality of lower acceptance rates as a transfer if I can give myself the gift of a busy, happy year at this university, one with which I am already well acquainted and comfortable. It’s less that I don’t like this university, more that I don’t think it’s an endgame university for me. For example, I will be a part of the fine arts department, a department that I’ve essentially been a part of since junior year thanks to voice lessons and concurrent classes, and I know that I’m a better singer and pianist than most of the people I’ll be in class with. That’s sort of the reality of rural Oklahoma, unfortunately. Also, I am not concerned about a bad high school record, and I still hope to benefit from decent stats (4.00 unweighted, fairly solid EC, 31 ACT with possibility of improvement). It’s more that I hope to present a well-rounded profile with rigorous classes as a college freshman, since I have made the decision to be a transfer. Sorry about the novel!! And thank you for any and all advice you might have.
I would just do some research on the gen ed and entry level music courses that are required at the school(s) that you plan to transfer to and take a few of those classes at the school in your hometown and excel at them. You don’t want to waste time on classes that won’t transfer or that you will not need in your intended major. Do you have any idea what school you would like to transfer to? Is it private, or selective? Out of state? If so, happymomof1 has a point, you might qualify for some merit aid if you apply as a freshman and the odds of you getting admitted is much higher as a freshman at a more selective school. I’m confused though about you saying that you hope to improve your ACT score. I’m not sure that you can retake your entrance exams once you start attending college. You might research that plan to see if it is allowed. I wouldn’t think so.
I think that you should select classes as if you are going to stay at this university through a Bachelor’s degree, and try very hard to keep your grades up. A strong GPA will help if you transfer, and also help if you end up wanting to get a Master’s elsewhere.
However, in order to maintain a high GPA you might want to show a little bit of caution regarding any classes where you are shaky on the prerequisites.
I am sympathetic with @happymomof1’s post. There are downsides of transferring.
Just checked on the “taking the ACT while in college” issue. From what I’ve read, it varies from one school to another. whether they will accept scores taken after high school or even require them in the transfer admissions process. So you need to contact your prospective transfer schools to see if it would be worthwhile for you to retake the exam while in college as a freshman.
Transferring is inherently risky. There is the possibility that you won’t be accepted. There is a very strong probability that you won’t get enough aid to make the transfer affordable. That is why it is not recommendable to start at a 4-year institution that you do not plan to graduate from.
It appears that you are a musician. You can easily fill your gap year with private lessons, community performances, and suditions at your target colleges/universities. Unless you are willing to stay put if your transfer plans go awry, you should reconsider a gap year.
Thank you all for the advice. I’m definitely going to consider a gap year now (I’m so glad I asked this now, when I have a few weeks left still to decide!).