Transfer Students

[jp58]

I'm extremely frustrated with my current university. It isn't the first time they've messed up (and no, I'm not blaming them for me having issues with deadlines) and the "boo boos" keep getting worse.

So with that back story, I've decided to transfer to another school. I have the grades, so that isn't an issue at all.

My questions are

1. Has anyone done that?

2. How does the application and interview process work? Much the same as a freshman entering the uni for the first time?

3. How did the financial aid and scholarships work out? Do I get the same as where I'm at? Do I get nothing?

I know I SHOULD ask the university, but they aren't always the most honest people. Recruiters aren't always good people to ask, and the fin aid department told me that until I'm accepted, they won't talk to me. The problem with that is that they don't have to let me know till June, and they don't do rolling admissions.

Anyways, post your stories and thanks for the help.

[m0nst3r]

I transferred from a community college to a university with virtually no problems at all. Here are a few things that I did:

1) I made sure I took all of the necessary classes I needed for my major to ensure that I wouldn't have to take any lower level classes at my future university.

2) I applied to my university before the application deadline in the fall was up, which was almost a year in advance.

3) I didn't have to waste my time with an interview or any of that jazz, although I did have to waste my time with a mandatory orientation.

4) Since I wasn't planning on going to university until next fall, I filled out my FAFSA accordingly in the spring before I went to university and just changed my school from my community college to my university.

5) I registered for classes the June before I started and that was that.

It was a pretty simple process for me. I take it you're transferring from unversity to another university? Well you should check out the university's policy regarding general education classes. The reason I'm suggesting this is because I didn't like my university very much, and like you, wanted to transfer, but when I found out that I would have to re-take all of my upper level general education classes (I had taken 3 already), I said screw it and decided to stay and finish.

Instead of talking your own university, you could always talk the unversity you want to transfer to. Good luck!

[jmattbassplaya]

Just curious as to what school you go to. PM if you'd rather keep it private.

[jp58]

Originally Posted by m0nst3r

I transferred from a community college to a university with virtually no problems at all. Here are a few things that I did:

1) I made sure I took all of the necessary classes I needed for my major to ensure that I wouldn't have to take any lower level classes at my future university.

2) I applied to my university before the application deadline in the fall was up, which was almost a year in advance.

3) I didn't have to waste my time with an interview or any of that jazz, although I did have to waste my time with a mandatory orientation.

4) Since I wasn't planning on going to university until next fall, I filled out my FAFSA accordingly in the spring before I went to university and just changed my school from my community college to my university.

5) I registered for classes the June before I started and that was that.

It was a pretty simple process for me. I take it you're transferring from unversity to another university? Well you should check out the university's policy regarding general education classes. The reason I'm suggesting this is because I didn't like my university very much, and like you, wanted to transfer, but when I found out that I would have to re-take all of my upper level general education classes (I had taken 3 already), I said screw it and decided to stay and finish.

Instead of talking your own university, you could always talk the unversity you want to transfer to. Good luck!

It's a university to university transfer, and the schools are in the same state and education system as to keep a specific scholarship.

As far as I've been told from new school, the school I'm at now meets most of their requirements for transfer classes, so there will be very few burnt credits, especially in the lower level part, and since I'm just now getting in to upper level classes, I can *almost* plan those to the point I don't lose too many credits to stay on the same graduation time frame.

I've already turned in most of the paper work, and I'm allowed to with hold certain items until specific points (mainly my "final" transcript since I'm actively taking classes).

As far as I know, the FAFSA won't be a problem, but as I've been told and am finding out, my current school is not very nice to students that transfer away.

[Mad Russian]

I transferred once (from one PA state school to another). My grades did not follow. I did get credit for all my classes, but the actual grades did not transfer.

[jp58]

Like your GPA was blanked?

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by jp58

Like your GPA was blanked?

Yes. But this doesn't seem like a disaster. You will still have a transcript and GPA from the first school. Most people like employers will care more about your later grades than your earlier ones, and you can always provide both sets of transcripts if anybody asks.

Do you need to involve the first school in the process at all? It seems like you have to continue as a student in good standing until next summer. Then you are free to apply for and accept financial aid at whatever other school offers it to you. You can make a few applications during the normal application season. If you get the thick envelope, then you talk to them about aid.

[jp58]

Originally Posted by fdeck

Yes. But this doesn't seem like a disaster. You will still have a transcript and GPA from the first school. Most people like employers will care more about your later grades than your earlier ones, and you can always provide both sets of transcripts if anybody asks.

Do you need to involve the first school in the process at all? It seems like you have to continue as a student in good standing until next summer. Then you are free to apply for and accept financial aid at whatever other school offers it to you. You can make a few applications during the normal application season. If you get the thick envelope, then you talk to them about aid.

Thanks for the insight. I think I'm going to call tomorrow and see what the offices at the school I've applied to say.

And I do have to include the first school, they just really don't want to be involved. They have taken over a month to get a transcript out, and fin aid has basically refused to release the needed information.

[DUC1098]

Most universities will give you credit for your current course work, as long as it matched their curriculum. But the few I have looked into won't carry over your GPA, just the credits. I don't see this would be an issue since you are not averaging your new courses against any previous grade. They seem to credit them as pass/fail courses.

I was going to continue my education, from Associates degrees in E.E. and Optical E., but then I found that the schools I spoke with would take no more than 20-30 of my 99 credits. So almost starting from scratch.

Going into nursing now, don't have to worry about my job being outsourced again.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by jp58

Thanks for the insight. I think I'm going to call tomorrow and see what the offices at the school I've applied to say.

And I do have to include the first school, they just really don't want to be involved. They have taken over a month to get a transcript out, and fin aid has basically refused to release the needed information.

You have to be pushy. How many times have you bugged the people at the offices that need to release that info? Go in there, ask them to tell you the cause of the delay, and when you can expect satisfaction. Write down their answers. If you are dealing with a gatekeeper, ask them who their supervisor is. Send a letter to that person, explaining that you need this stuff and have not been given a good explanation for the delay. Always act polite and patient, but with the overtone that you're going to be a PITA until you get what you want.

Do you know for sure that the other university will be any better in this regard?