Applying to College (Again)

By Will Lieber, 20, Illinois

College applications aren’t easy. They require lots of introspection, way too much writing, and fistfuls of cash. For some, this grueling undertaking is only endured once. For others, myself included, another round is needed. My experiences have uncovered eccentricities within the transfer process that will entertain the casual reader or inform the prospective applicant. Though transferring can be a complex decision entailing some challenges, with thoughtful contemplation of one’s needs as a student, it can be rewarding.

From an admissions standpoint, transfering is a different game compared to traditional applications. You are entering a pool that includes any students transferring laterally, from one university to another, but also any nontraditional students, such as service members who have taken time off from school. Moreover, transfer students are usually sophomores or juniors, and therefore they are not associated with freshman admittance rates or housing. For schools such as Vanderbilt, transfer students help fill upperclassmen housing while maintaining the appearance of a selective first-year acceptance rate: Vanderbilt’s transfer acceptance rate is roughly 25%, while their first year regular decision acceptance rate is about 7%. 

Though these improved odds may seem like a hidden gem to some, they are not universal. Stanford typically only accepts a ballpark 27 transfer students each year, dipping their acceptance rate to around 1%. Duke’s sits around 5%. Transfers are also not offered early decision options, which afford first year students a higher chance of admission. Due to the fluctuation of acceptance rates and the wide variability of the admissions process, the transfer portal is not exactly a fast track to the Ivy Leagues.

By electing to transfer schools, you place yourself in an interesting predicament. You are basically deciding to hit the reset button on something that is not particularly easy to reset. It takes a lot of effort and time to establish friendships, academic connections, and all of the activities you choose to involve yourself in. Transferring requires a new start, and by extension, a reconstruction of all of these relationships. 

Additionally, transferring means you have deemed your current college unfit for you. You then typically have to stay at this institution for the remainder of the year in a bit of limbo. Assuming there truly is a valid reason to transfer schools (with the exception of community college transfers), this can be quite difficult; however, it presents a lesson in making the most of wherever you are at.

Although transferring can be difficult, in actuality it is quite a privilege, and it can be helpful for some. Shifting academic interests, personal needs, and overall fit are valid reasons to change schools. Speaking from my experiences, though I absolutely had all the tools I needed for success at my previous institution, my current university has been a better match for my personal and career aspirations. It is difficult to know what you need from a college when you haven’t ever attended one before. It is only logical that sometimes your first choice may not be exactly what you expected. While college obviously plays an important role in molding you and your career, it is worth mentioning that many schools offer wonderful academic programs that are fully capable of leading you where you need to go. Work hard wherever you are at and good things will follow.

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This writing was inspired by my personal experiences with the transfer process.

Photo by Michael Marsh