A Comprehensive Guide to Transferring to a US Undergraduate Program: If You Could apply all over again, Could You Seize the Opportunity?

Date：2021-12-01   Author：admin

Did you fail to get into your ideal undergraduate college at that time due to a low GPA, unsatisfactory standardized test scores or other reasons? Have you ever felt a bit disappointed about your school or major after entering university? Or does the resource provided by the school not meet your expectations? Do you have no complaints about the school, but you have higher pursuit goals for educational resources and personal development?
If you try hard to adapt but still can't convince yourself of the regret in your heart, then it's time to take action. Today, we are going to introduce to the students a "roundabout way to achieve the goal" - transferring to American universities.

01 Ways to transfer schools

Transfer between four-year universities in the United States

Transferring from an American undergraduate program to another American undergraduate program is a relatively common way of transferring schools.

After some students enter university, their interests and career directions will gradually change. At this time, some students may have the idea of transferring schools. Some students will compromise and first go to a non-first-choice university to transition, improve their GPA, and then choose to transfer to another school to once again strive for their dream school. Generally speaking, the transfer admission rate for American undergraduate programs is higher than that for Chinese mainland undergraduate programs, and the number of transferable credits is also greater.

In addition, transferring between different branches within the same university system will be easier. For instance, when transferring between branches within the UC University system, the admission policies for students at each branch are much more lenient, while it is relatively more difficult to transfer from outside the system to the UC University system.

Transfer from a community college to a four-year university in the United States

Transferring from a community college (a two-year university) to a four-year university is also a common way for transfer students.

Many people in China have a prejudice against community colleges, thinking they are "chicken colleges". In fact, nearly one-third of the students at the University of California started their studies at community colleges.

At the same time, community colleges also have their unique advantages: lower tuition fees and easier transfer to in-state schools, etc. For example, students from California community colleges can easily transfer to schools in the UC system, and the admission rate is generally higher than that of the UC system for freshmen, and even higher than the transfer admission rate within the UC system.

Transferring from a domestic university to an American university

Many international students come to the United States through international transfer to receive relatively better higher education. American undergraduate universities also accept transfer applications from domestic undergraduate students, but the requirements for domestic undergraduate students are higher than those for other types of applicants.

International undergraduate students generally need to provide TOEFL scores, SAT scores and WES certification. They will also suffer more losses in credit transfer. In other aspects, it is basically the same as transferring between four-year universities in the United States.

02 Time for transferring schools

There are mainly two time points for undergraduate students in the United States to choose to Transfer schools: Transfer to the second year after the first year (Sophomore Transfer) and transfer to the third year after the second year (Junior Transfer). Generally, more schools accept transfers during the sophomore year. The transfer semester is more common in the fall, while some schools also accept transfers in the spring. The requirements for transfer applicants vary greatly depending on the time of transfer.
When transferring from the first year to the second year, the school will simultaneously assess the applicant's overall academic performance during both high school and university stages to determine whether the student has the potential to complete their studies at the new university.
When transferring from the second year to the third year, whether studying at an American undergraduate university or a domestic one, after completing one year of college study, one will definitely have a better understanding of their own needs, and their future learning goals and life directions will become increasingly clear. At this point, it is very mature to make a transfer plan. At the same time, there is not only the opportunity to make up for those general education courses that were not offered in the United States, but also the chance to explore more professional studies and research in the junior year.
Therefore, transferring in the second year of college is the most cost-effective choice, and it is also the transfer period that American universities most welcome and encourage. In addition, from the perspective of the application preparation stage and the success rate of admission, the chance of applying for a transfer in the second year of college is also the greatest.

Overall, if you are a student with very high standardized test scores but not very satisfactory admission results, it is recommended that you apply as much as possible when you are transferring from your freshman year to your sophomore year. If there are major flaws in the application conditions during the first year of college, the most suitable time to transfer is at the end of the second year. Through transfer preparation, one can make up for the deficiency in test scores.

03 The difficulty of transferring schools

Many students have heard that applying for a transfer is easier than applying for a new student, which is why everyone regards transferring as a second chance for a comeback. Although American universities are very friendly to transfer students, and the transfer admission rates of many Top 30 universities and even Ivy League schools are generally more than twice as high as the direct application admission rates, it still needs to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. This is because with the sharp increase in the number of transfer applicants in recent years, top universities remain as aloof as before, and their transfer admission rates are basically the same as in previous years, or even lower.
Overall, transferring to the top 10 universities is extremely difficult. The transfer range of Top 10 to 20 universities is relatively friendly, but still rather "aloof". For universities ranked 20th to 50th, the difficulty of transferring is relatively balanced. Especially for those ranked 20th to 30th, the transfer admission rate is mostly higher than the admission rate for freshmen, giving students who cannot enter the top 30 universities at one go a chance to turn the tables.
Here, it is necessary to remind everyone: Although the admission rate of UC system universities is high, most of the admission places are still given to transfer students from community colleges within the state. The admission rate for out-of-state students is still relatively low, about 10%.
That is to say, the transfer application process is not as simple as one might imagine. Each institution, especially top universities, has a very limited number of transfer places available each year and will also face fierce competition.

04 Application Elements for Transfer

In fact, the preparation of materials for a transfer application is quite different from that for a freshman application, but it also requires long-term planning and thinking. Therefore, we suggest that everyone start thinking about and preparing for the transfer as early as possible. Among the various conditions for transferring schools, the most important ones are: GPA (high school & university), standardized tests, academic and professional preparation (course selection & project/internship), application essays, and recommendation letters.

➤ Regarding GPA
University GPA is the top priority in terms of transfer weight. A GPA of 3.5+ is a basic requirement for entering the top 50. To get into a top 30/ Ivy League or more competitive undergraduate major, it is best to have a GPA of 3.8 or above. In conclusion, the GPA at school, as the core material for application, is not high at all. It can be said to be an unremitting pursuit.
Different schools have different requirements for standardized scores. Although many universities do not mandate transfer students to provide SAT scores, some schools still insist on submitting them if one wants to transfer to a top 30 school. It is also undeniable that having a relatively outstanding SAT score can indeed be an added bonus for an application. However, this requirement has been gradually weakening under the influence of the pandemic in the past two years.

➤ Regarding transfer planning
Unlike freshman applications, transfer planning is not about activities but about professional course selection and academic experience.
Many schools have corresponding preparatory courses for each major, and these courses can also be linked to the schedules of other American undergraduate universities. The requirements of the public university system are often more and more specific, especially for engineering colleges. For example, many public universities' computer science programs require students to have completed Calculus II, basic computer science courses, and some laboratory courses, etc. In addition, when applying for a transfer, it is recommended to apply for the same major. Firstly, it is easier to retain credits, and secondly, the application difficulty is relatively lower. Before transferring, please refer to the transfer prerequisite courses and major compulsory courses of the target institution.
In addition to the professional course selection within the school, students who have spare capacity can also strive for academic-related research projects in the field of their desired major. For example: participating in academic research and publishing papers, taking part in academic subject competitions. If you are applying for business or computer science programs, it is best to have relevant internship experiences, as these can enhance your academic competitiveness.

➤ Regarding the transfer application documents

The application documents for undergraduate transfer mainly revolve around the reasons for the transfer. The content mainly includes: why to transfer, why the original university is not suitable for oneself, why to enter a new school, why to choose this major, and what benefits it will bring to one's own development after the transfer, etc. Compared with the undergraduate application essay, the transfer essay is more important in assessing whether the student is truly considering transferring and whether they have made detailed plans for their future.

Among them, the main essay "why transfer" is the most crucial. The supplementary essays are basically the same as the application essays for freshmen. The main essay needs to clearly state the motivation for transfer and the tone should not be complaining. This is quite different from the way the main essay for freshmen applications is written by telling a story.

➤ Regarding recommendation letters
The significance of application documents is self-evident, but many students tend to be oblivious to the importance of recommendation letters, which can become a source of anxiety for many students in the later stage. We suggest communicating with the professor as early as possible rather than informing them at the last minute. Especially in the past two years, everyone has been taking online classes and has had few opportunities to interact with the professor. Therefore, it is even more important to plan ahead. Otherwise, if the professor doesn't know you at all or doesn't know much about you, it will be very difficult to have specific examples in the recommendation letter to illustrate the difficulty of your adaptation to the new university.

05 Precautions for Transferring Schools

Here, Xiao E has compiled the application deadlines for transferring to the top 20 comprehensive universities in the US in 2022. Students who plan to transfer should pay close attention and make preparations in advance.

Princeton University
The deadline for transfer applications is March 1, 2022

Harvard University
The deadline for transfer applications is March 1, 2022

Columbia University
The deadline for transfer applications is March 1, 2022

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Spring enrollment: November 15th
Autumn intake: March 15, 2022

Yale University
The deadline for transfer applications is March 1, 2022

Stanford University
The deadline for transfer applications is March 15, 2022

The University of Chicago
Transfer ED: February 10, 2022
Rolling admission: March 1, 2022

University of Pennsylvania
The deadline for transfer applications is March 15, 2022

California Institute of Technology
The deadline for transfer applications is February 15, 2022

John Perkins University
The deadline for transfer applications is March 1, 2022

Northwest University
The deadline for transfer applications is March 15, 2022

Duke University
The deadline for transfer applications is March 15, 2022

Dartmouth College
The deadline for transfer applications is March 1, 2022

Brown University
The deadline for transfer applications is March 1, 2022

Vanderbilt University
The deadline for transfer applications is March 15, 2022

Rice University
Spring enrollment: November 1st
Autumn intake: March 15, 2022

Washington University in St. Louis
The deadline for transfer applications is March 1, 2022

Cornell University
Spring enrollment: October 15th
Autumn intake: March 15, 2022

University of Notre Dame
Spring enrollment: October 1st
Autumn intake: March 15, 2022

University of California, Los Angeles
The deadline for transfer applications is November 30, 2022

In addition, there are the following five points that everyone needs to pay special attention to
Most of the Top 30 universities, such as Princeton, Harvard, and Columbia, only offer transfer applications for fall intake. The deadlines are usually March 1st or March 15th. There are not many universities that offer transfer applications for spring and summer intake. Among the Top 30, only New York University and the University of Florida are included.
At present, among the Top 30 universities in the United States for undergraduate studies, only the University of Chicago offers an Early Admission (TED) channel. TED's policy is similar to that of direct application to Early Decision. The admission is more friendly but binding (once admitted to the University of Chicago, one must attend). The University of Chicago also offers a rolling transfer admission channel, with offers available on a first-come, first-served basis. Although the deadline is March 1st, the earlier you submit your application, the more advantages you will have.
3. The application channels for all nine UC schools, whether for transfer or direct application, will close on November 30th.
4. The four universities, California Institute of Technology, CMU, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and UNC, are rather special. The transfer deadline is always in February every year.
In the 2022 application season after the recovery from the pandemic, various universities may also make different adjustments and updates to their transfer application policies. For instance, for standardized test scores such as SAT, many schools, including NYU, still follow the policy of optional submission for transfer applications this year. Please make sure to confirm the information on the school's official website before applying.

Sometimes, choice is more important than effort. Transferring to an American undergraduate program might offer you a new option if you are struggling between your undergraduate studies and your major. Once you have made up your mind to transfer schools, start and prepare early. Even some seemingly irreversible difficulties can be resolved through the joint efforts of professional teachers and students. I also wish everyone could eventually transfer to their dream schools!