There are many good reasons why you might choose to transfer to a different college. Some students transfer for academic reasons, such as transferring from a community college to an Ivy League university or transferring to a school that offers a specialized degree program. Financial considerations and family obligations are other good reasons to transfer to university. Other students transfer from community college after obtaining their associates degree and desire to move to a higher-ranked or more prestigious school.
Regardless of the reason for transferring, you should carefully evaluate your decision to make sure that changing schools is the right step. Transferring to a new college means more than just moving to a new campus. Transferring schools can be a disruptive and stressful experience with social and academic implications.
Things to Consider Before Transferring to Ivy League, Tier 1 or other Universities
Transferring to a new school can provide a number of advantages, including the opportunity to meet new people and have new experiences, attend a more reputable school, pursue a specialized degree and attend a school that offers a social and extracurricular environment that’s better suited to your needs.
However, transferring can also mean leaving behind friendships and the familiar environment at your old school, which can sometimes result in feeling socially disconnected. As a consequence, some students miss out on social activities and interacting with other students, depriving themselves of a well-rounded college experience.
Since each college or university has its own academic requirements, transfers can also have academic effects. Some schools will only transfer credit for courses that are similar to courses they offer while others have a maximum number of credits you can transfer. This is very important for those who transfer after completing 2 and 3 years of credits. Many schools require a course grade of a C or better in order to transfer the credit. With all of these potential requirements, you might find that your new school doesn’t accept some of the credits you earned at your old school. In other cases, transferred credits might fulfill different undergraduate requirements at your new school. In either case, you might have to complete additional courses at your new school to satisfy prerequisites or graduation requirements.
Another consideration is your cumulative GPA. Some schools calculate GPAs for transfer students differently while others might not transfer your GPA at all. Standardized test scores, such as the SAT or ACT, are also a consideration. Some colleges place less emphasis on these test scores for transfer students, which may be a pro or a con depending on your scores.
Finally, you’ll need to pay close attention to your prospective new school’s admissions policies for transfer students, which sometimes differ from regular admissions requirements in Ivy League, Tier 1 and other universities. Be sure to note deadlines and application requirements. Contacting and or scheduling a consultation with the prospective college is a critical step as this can clarify any uncertainties that apply to your transfer.
How Accounting Students Can Make the Most of a Transfer by Earning a CPA Credential
Since changing schools often interrupts progress towards earning your degree, it’s important for you to maximize the remainder of your time in school to offset this impact. As an accounting student, one of the best ways to do so is to obtain your CPA credential by sitting for the CPA exam while you’re still in school. Pursuing this credential as a college student may be the ideal situation as this is the time when you have the most resources available to prepare for the exam.
Depending on the courses you’ve completed, the CPA exam may cover content that you haven’t learned yet. If that’s the case, there are numerous CPA review courses and programs that can help you prepare for the exam by filling in any knowledge gaps and reinforcing the topics that you’ve already learned. Once you graduate, your CPA credential will be a tremendous asset in your job search by setting you apart from other candidates.
Though it’s not common practice for accounting students to obtain the CPA credential while still in college, it is a best practice. Especially for those who have transferred schools as your transfer will be noticed by anyone you may interview with. In this case, you will appear to have transferred to a college to better your education experience in addition to having obtained the credential. Employers view these types of decisions as those that separate you from the pack and help you obtain employment prior to or immediately after graduation.