The Realities of the College Transfer

"If you don't like your college, you can always transfer." How many times have you heard that? You must admit, it seems to take the pressure off of finding the right college. You choose a college, and if it doesn't work out, you transfer. Sounds easy enough, right?

But before you make a decision just to end the tiresome college research, let's look at the implications of transferring:

• Time. In college, the academic challenges will likely be greater than high school, and you won't have as many papers and tests that count toward your final grade. The majority of your time will be spent studying; you'll have few opportunities to research, visit, and apply to other colleges.

• Costs. Next, there are the applications costs. (Remember those?) Then, there may be costs to re-take courses at your new school-with new books-because course credits do not always transfer from one school to another. Finally, re-taking courses and meeting new graduation requirements may mean it could take five or six years to earn a degree, adding more to your overall cost of tuition.

• Freshman, again. Remember, when you transfer, you will be starting all over again making new friends. Only now you'll be doing it as a sophomore-alongside sophomores who started their freshmen year together and have "settled in" with their own niche of friends. Bottom line: it could take more effort on your part to make new friends.

Still want to push aside your college research? Consider this statistic: students who transfer after their first year of college, less than 40% stay on track to finish their bachelor's degree. Less than 40%!

College research may be a great stress now, but take your time while you're still in high school and find the colleges that fit all of you: your personality, interests, preferences, learning style, as well as your grades. Time spend now can result in a rewarding college experience, and a degree later.