I went to Mark for transfer admission help and he went above and beyond in delivering advice, taking both my personal and professional goals into consideration. His background in higher education allows him to offer a wide breadth of knowledge from the perspective of a professor, admissions officer, and parent.
Continue readingParent Thanks Counselor for Help With College Transfer
I used to think that the few parents who were hiring admissions consultants were the ultimate in helicopter parents. Working with you really changed my opinion about the value of good counseling and good advice. I realize now how flat-out difficult the process really is.
Continue readingBeware of the Turkey Drop
The “turkey drop” can be one of two things. It is often referred to when first-year students return home for Thanksgiving break and break it off with their high school sweethearts. Suddenly the reality of a long distance romance and the temptations of college hit home and they want to return to school without a significant other.
For colleges, the “turkey drop” has a different meaning. Schools have long identified the term with first-year students who struggle with adjusting to their college or university and return home over the Thanksgiving break to announce that they would like to transfer. Several students struggle with homesickness or just feel that college was not everything they thought it would be.
USAToday.com published a story on the “turkey drop” phenomenon earlier this month. The article advises parents to let the student “vent” and realize that doubts are a normal part of the adjustment process. However, if the doubts persists, it is advisable for the student to obtain help. Help can range from speaking to an advisor at the institution, such as an academic advisor, resident assistant or a peer mentor. Formal counseling can also help.
My previous post on the transfer experience can offer insight on the process should a student decide that is the best route for them. Remember that transferring is a big decision and it is important to explore all of your option before you jump to any conclusions and “drop” your current school.
Katherine Price
Educational Consultant
Technorati Tags: turkey drop, transferring, transfer students, adjustment to college
Transfer Process: Life Changing or a Big Hassle?
I recently reconnected with one of my former transfer students via a social networking site. I assisted the student with the transfer admission process at the institution I used to work at and he sent me one of those rare emails where a student reminds me why I wanted to become an educator. He raved about his transfer experience and how the decision to change colleges transformed his life. Fortunately this student had a positive transfer experience, but the transfer process can be tricky. Here are few things to consider:
Start Early: The sooner you contact the institution you are thinking of transferring to the better.
- Ask what courses you should currently be enrolled in. Some schools want you to have completed as many general education courses as possible.
- What are the transfer admission policies? Do they admit January transfer students? Can you transfer in your first-year or do you have to wait until you are a sophomore?
- What are the statistics for admitted transfer applicants? Make sure you meet the average college GPA and standardized test requirements. What do you need to do to improve your profile? What is the transfer acceptance rate? The transfer admission process at some schools can be more competitive than the first-year application process.
- Completing a transfer application can be just as extensive as completing a first-year application. Find out if the college or university you are interested in uses transfer Common Application or do they have a separate application process. What credentials do you need to submit for the transfer application process?
Show Me The Money:
- Ask about the availability of financial aid for transfer students. Some schools do have special scholarships available.
- Transferring academic credits can have a huge financial impact on your decision to transfer. If all of your current credits are not accepted, you may have to delay your graduation timeline. Find out if your current institution has any articulation agreements with schools you are interested in. If not, contact the school you are interested in and see if they have any courses from your current institution that have been previously accepted for credit. This may save you in the long run!
- FInd out if there is on-campus housing available for transfer students. If not, what is the cost difference for living off campus?
Deciding to transfer is big decision, but it does not mean that it is the end of your college career. US News & World Report wrote a great article last January on President Obama’s transfer experience. The article talks about how transferring may not be for everyone, but it may also take you places you never imagined!
Katherine Price
Transfer Advocate
Technorati Tags: transfer student, transfer student admission process, transfer student advice, transfer student application process,
Transferring Colleges, Studying Chinese
During a recent trip to Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, I met a young man from Massachusetts who spoke beautiful Mandarin Chinese. I had lunch with him, and asked him about his educational trajectory. He mentioned several tantalizing tidbits, including the fact that he had transfered from Boston University to the University of Massachusetts, that his major was in philosophy, and that he had studied Chinese at Fudan University. He now lives in Beijing, where he works for a prominent educational exchange company.
I asked him if he would share a bit of his educational history on camera, and he agreed. Here’s a brief clip of our conversation.
Mark Montgomery
Independent College Consultant