<p>Well, it looks like a transfer is in the cards for my daughter. She has a school in mind, on the West Coast.</p>
<p>What things should be considered in making a decision to transfer? Any tips/advice appreciated. She is not having any major problems, except for being unhappy where she is, not liking the winter, the lack of things to do in the small town where her school is, lack of decent food (we are truly spoiled here in the Bay Area) things like that.</p>
<p>bump </p>
<p>I rarely bump, but will give this one more try . . .</p>
<p>mstee
I’m moving this to the Transfer Students forum where you will get some help. The sticky thread at the top of that forum is extremely helpful: Transfer Admissions 101.</p>
<p>Thanks . . . . . . .</p>
<p>there are no set formula’s for transfer admissions, it would be a lot more helpful if you could specify the school</p>
<p>however</p>
<p>appearing “involved” in your school through ec’s and the like (not just fillers, but one that she has genuinely invested herself in) always help</p>
<p>It sounds like your D has some valid reasons to want to change schools. I transferred from a rural, cold weather school to a city school and it made the difference for me. Some people just aren’t cut out for rural life, especially coming from a more cosmopolitan background.</p>
<p>I’m not worried about admittance to a transfer school, more about how to make a successful transition.</p>
<p>Ah ha, sorry, mstee, between this thread originally being posted on the Admissions thread and this:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I (and others) assumed that your question was aimed more at admissions than the transition. There are several students that transferred this fall and should be able to help with some ideas. </p>
<p>I guess the first thing that will help the transition is the student knowing that they gave their first school a chance, but that it just wasn’t the right situation for them. </p>
<p>As far as what to do at their new school, where they live will matter make a difference. For instance, my D is having some problems with this as in her new school she’s in a suite that has a separate entrance rather than having a long hall to walk down with open doors to other rooms, which would give her an opportunity of meet others in the dorm. However, it’s a residential college and most kids stay all four years, which was is a positive for meeting people; at her old school, many kids moved off campus sop and particularly jr year.</p>
<p>Also, her school offered a week long program of community service before school started in the fall. She attended and met about half of the transfers as well as a couple of her suite mates and other sophomores. </p>
<p>Other than that, she’s joining clubs and is taking one small seminar class which hopefully will help her to meet people. </p>
<p>In general, her school was not particularly good in helping transfers get up to speed. One hard part at the beginning was understanding how the shopping period worked and how to register for courses. A group of transfers had to proactively grab some regular sophomores and have them explain the best way to navigate the system.</p>
<p>Hope this helps, I’ll post more as things go along.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips!</p>
<p>My daughter is seriously thinking about transferring, but nothing has been set in motion as of yet. It looks like she is ready to start the process, however, and is even thinking of transferring mid-year, if things work out.</p>
<p>If this happens I want to be able to help her do things that will help with a transition, help with fitting in socially, etc. I know it can be hard, as a transfer student, coming into a situation where everyone has already been around for a year or two, formed friendships etc. It is different than coming in with a group of freshmen, where everyone is new, everyone is in the same boat.</p>
<p>I think Facebook is a good tool for transfers. Some colleges have a Facebook transfer group or your D can join the Facebook group for her graduating year and ask for help in transitioning to the new school. She can get info from students who know the ropes and make some connections before she gets there. She could even search for others who live in her area and contact them. </p>
<p>Some schools also have lists of students that have volunteered to be contacts for incoming students. It would be a good idea to contact the schools she is considering and ask what support they have for transfers.</p>
<p>Would it be a good idea for me to tell my advisor that I plan to transfer this early in the year? Also would it be wise to ask my professors what they think about other schools?</p>
<p>Yes and yes. You want to let your professors know so that you may ask them about letters and pick their brains about schools. That said, if you feel telling them would jeopardize your relationship, keep mum (though I very much doubt that would ever be the case). Check Andale’s TRANSFER 101 for tactical advice. His tips are excellent and, as a successful Ivy League transfer, I can vouch for them.</p>