Recommendations for a Smooth Transfer to Another University

It's not uncommon for ideas and goals to change throughout your lifetime. This is especially common when you're young and trying to figure out what you'd like to spend the rest of your life doing. Because of this, many college students opt to transfer universities. In fact, 60% of 4-year college graduates transfer at least once before finishing their degree every year, according to CollegeTransfer.Net. Before students decide to transfer universities, they must look into what makes a good transfer candidate. Tulane SoPA proudly accepts transfer students and can recommend the steps necessary to transfer successfully.

When Is the Best Time to Transfer?

Most transfer students decide to make a move at the end of their freshman or sophomore year after most prerequisites are done and before program coursework begins. But, at most universities, there is no set time for when you should transfer. The right time to transfer depends more on coursework completed than what year of school you're in. You can transfer credits from one university to another even if you have taken a few years off. It is recommended that you apply to the university you wish to transfer to at the beginning of whichever is your last semester before you intend to transfer. For example, if you want to start at your new university in the following Spring term, you should fill out your application at the beginning of your current Fall term.

Know the Difference Between Being Accepted to a University and a Degree Program

One of the main reasons why many students wish to transfer is that they want to start a degree program not offered at the university they are currently attending. That is why transfer students need to know the difference between being accepted into a university and being accepted into a degree program. Some degree programs may have higher GPA requirements than their actual university. This is especially true for challenging programs like medicine and engineering. Be sure that you know the requirements of the exact program you are transferring into before deciding.

Be Sure Your Credits Will Transfer

There is no standard set of rules that determines whether credits will transfer or not. At most universities, the transferability of your credits depends on:

• What university you earned your previous credits from
• What grades you earned in the courses you are trying to transfer
• What university you are trying to transfer your credits to

Because there is no certainty in if your credits will transfer, it's wise to meet with an advisor at the university you wish to transfer to before applying. An advisor can help inform you on which of your courses will transfer over and which courses you should take at your new university to ensure you are on schedule for your desired program.

Get Your College and High School Transcripts Ready

When transferring to any new university, you will have to send them your current transcripts. If there has been a gap in your education, you should still be able to get your transcripts from your old university. Not all universities require your high school transcripts when you transfer, but it doesn't hurt to have your high school transcripts ready if they are necessary.

Look for Services Offered to College Transfer Students

Like any other significant change in life, transferring universities can cause stress and anxiety. Many universities have programs and services for transfer students to make the process much more manageable. Reach out to your advisors for more information on programs available to transfer students. Some programs commonly available to transfer students include:

• Clubs
• Advisory boards
• Social gatherings for transfer students to meet
• Campus tours

Learn How to Transfer to Tulane SoPA

At Tulane SoPA, you can earn your bachelor's or master's degrees in multiple programs of study. Whether it's your first time attending a university or you're looking to transfer to SoPA, our advisors can help you through the process. If you're a transfer student, your first step should be sending Tulane SoPA all transcripts from colleges and universities you have previously attended. After your transcripts are received, our advisors will work with you to determine which courses will transfer over. Tulane SoPA accepts a maximum of 60 hours of transfer credits for bachelor's degrees. To learn more about our transfer process, request more information today.