Transferring Colleges in 5 Easy Steps

Transferring colleges can be an exciting opportunity for growth. While it may come with challenges, it’s also a chance to build a new community, explore fresh opportunities, and find a college experience that truly fits you. 

Kira McCracken, a transfer student at Luther, has reassuring advice for students who are considering transferring. “Don’t feel like you are ‘failing’ because you are transferring. You are taking a huge step towards new opportunities! There is so much more to life than feeling stuck in one spot, and you are always able to continue.”

Transferring often comes with a lot of uncertainty and questions. Learn more about the transfer process so you can feel confident about how your credits transfer, what deadlines to look out for, how to look for scholarships, and how to make new connections.

Step 1: Deciding to Transfer

The first step to transferring is deciding that whatever college you’re currently attending… just isn’t right for you. This is a decision that looks different to any student wanting to transfer, because timing, place, and process is very specific to each student. But nevertheless, deciding if you’re at the right place can be difficult, and making the decision to transfer can be emotionally draining. Luckily, you don’t have a life sentence to the college you chose when you were in high school. Plans can change, and that’s okay. There are many students who transfer schools and are very successful in finding what and who they were looking for. 

Here are some first options in making this decision:

• While you’re still at your original college, explore your college town. If you haven’t already explored all of campus, all the shops, tried all the coffee places or hiked all the trails, you might just not have found your favorite spot yet! 
  

  Talking to people about your concerns is a great way to make your decision.

• Look for entertainment. If you’re honestly just bored, try and find places that put on events. If large groups of people aren’t your thing, find a friend or two and go walk for a while. It sounds dumb, but you’d be surprised how much fun you can find when you’re adventuring around town in the evening. Say yes to everything!

• If nothing is working, or you don’t like the school academically, now is the time to start looking at new schools. Read more about how to make the most of college visits.

Now that you’ve decided you’re looking at new schools. Go visit these places in person, and talk to current students about what their experience has been like. Ask them questions to see if they have what you’ve been missing at your old school, and if this seems like an experience you’d like to have also, then you can start taking action!

Step 2: Reaching out to your College’s Resources

Step two of transferring is finding who you need to talk to! This can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not pointed in the right direction. 

• Early on, you can talk to your current academic advisor at your original school. This can help you process some of your worries (I know you got ‘em) and answer questions you may have. Good questions to ask might be:
  • What does my current GPA look like and how might this transfer to my new school?
  • Would transferring put me behind on graduation?
  • Will my general education requirements transfer? Will my major/minor credits transfer? And how do I find what my new requirements will be?

• Now, be sure to get in contact with your new school’s admissions office. Ask them: 
  • to complete an unofficial transfer credit review. By doing this, you can see exactly how your credits will transfer
  • any questions about financial aid and student support
  • what deadlines need to be met
  • to get you connected with any faculty members in your major of interest
  • and to create a graduation plan, so you can set yourself up for success with your classes and grades.

Step 3: Learning the Necessary Information 

This, of course, goes hand in hand with talking to your college’s resources, but if you’re looking to transfer to Luther College, this is some information that you will need to know.

How Credits Transfer

One of the biggest concerns for transfer students is how their previous coursework will count toward their degree. It depends on your previous school and major. Every college has different policies, so this is an important question to ask early in the process.

Luther accepts the majority of college credits when you transfer. Full credit is given for undergraduate level work from regionally accredited institutions, provided that courses earn a final grade of C- or higher and are in comparable fields of study offered at Luther. How classes transfer will vary by course but will come in as a direct equivalent course or as an elective course. Both may fulfill general education, major, or minor requirements. Be sure to talk to your school’s admissions office for more information.

Deadlines To Look For

At Luther College, there is no application deadline for transfer students. If you are looking to transfer to another college, be sure to ask their admissions office about an application deadline, or look it up on their website.

Other deadlines might include scholarships. Music scholarships, Campus Visit Awards, and others have a time frame of eligibility, so if you are interested about scholarship options, communicate with your admissions counselor.

How to Find Scholarships

Scholarships are a big factor when considering where to transfer. Here are some scholarships that Luther College offers so you can feel supported and confident in your change of schools:

• All transfer students at Luther are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships, so you don’t need to submit extra applications. 
• Luther offers a Campus Visit Award, and all you need to do is visit campus.
• The Legacy Award gives a scholarship to students whose parents both attended Luther.
• Luther offers a variety of scholarships specific to transfer students, like the Phi Theta Kappa scholarship, with an amount of $2,500 per year.  

Additional financial aid options are available, and an admissions team can help you explore them at any school you’re looking to attend. Other questions of financial aid can also be turned to admissions or the financial aid office. Read more about how to master the financial aid process.

Step 4: Applying to the College of Your Choice

Step four might be the least exciting part of the process, but it’s arguably the most important.

Applying to the new school of your choice is empowering, and might be nerve-racking. Being prepared should settle your nerves, and applying is one of the last parts of the process in being prepared!

To apply, complete an online application. The process of applying at different schools might vary, but usually is very simple, as most sites will walk you through the process. You will typically receive the results of the application in the mail after about two weeks. Eligibility is determined by academic performance in college, or by high school GPA. 

Step 5: Transferring

Now that all the paperwork is complete and you know where you want to be, you’re finally transferring! It might be, even still, stressful. You might have concerns like “what if it’s still not right?” and “will I find new friends?” and that’s completely normal. Just remember, it’s totally okay to not have it all figured out right away. Even if it’s not right or things get a little messy, there’s always a way forward.

Look for staff and community to support you, and try to meet people whenever you can. It’s important to find friends so you can feel a sense of belonging to your new school, and if this is something that you’re concerned about, reading more about how to make friends at a new school is a great place to start

Change can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a chance for something new and exciting. Trust yourself, ask for help when you need it, and take it one step at a time. You’re not starting over, you’re continuing your journey.