8 Things to consider when choosing a transfer university in the US
Our Progression Managers share some valuable advice on the top things to consider when deciding which universities to apply to as a transfer student.
There are many different factors that should be considered when deciding which transfer school is best for you. There are many types of colleges with pros and cons of each. Here are some important things to think about.
1. Strength of program
Does the school have an emphasis on your intended major? Take a look at the courses required for your program. It is especially important to see if there are prerequisites you’ll need to complete before entering the program. Research the professors, and what they have accomplished in the field.
2. Type of College: Public, private, religiously affiliated, single-sex or co-ed
Public institutions receive most of their funding from the states in which they are located. Private schools generally have higher costs because they do not receive the same funding from the state and federal government.
3. Size of school
Some of Kings partner schools, such as Fisher College in Boston or Southern Oregon University in Oregon, are generally considered very small. There are about 1,500 students. The average class size is about 15 students. A school is considered small if there are less than 2,000 students. Boston College is a medium size school. A medium size school is one with 2,000-15,000. A large school has more than 15,000 students, such as the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition to the overall size of the school, it’s important to think about class size. Some schools have giant lecture halls with 200+ students, while others have small, discussion-based courses with about 20 students.
4. Location: Rural, Suburban or Urban
In a rural setting such as Cornell University’s, everything happens on campus, since there are not many opportunities off campus. Most students live on campus and spend most of their time there, so there is real sense of community. Usually there is some sort of Greek life (Fraternities or Sororities) in rural or suburban settings. New York University on the other hand, is considered a “true city school”. For schools like this, the city is your campus. More students choose to have off-campus housing, and they commute to their courses every day.
5. Cost
There is no such thing as a cheap college in the U.S., but some are more expensive than others. For example, Boston University’s tuition is about $50,000 a year, compared with Ohio State University whose tuition is about $26,000.
6. Campus resources
Find out if the school has a health and wellness center. Take a look at the safety and security services offered. If you’re someone who prefers to do course work in the library, find out what it’s like! Do you plan on getting an internship? See if they have an internship office, or career center.
7. Campus Life
Colleges offer a variety of opportunities for students to be involved on campus. Clubs, organizations, and sports teams, are all ways to be pursue your interests and hobbies, meet new people, and even acquire leadership experience. Northeastern University offers a Slackliner Organization, University of Texas Austin has an Acts of Kindness club, and University of Wisconsin Madison has a recreation Corn Hole team.
8. Student Body
Do you want a college where you’ll be surrounded by students similar to yourself, or one where you’ll meet people from a variety of different backgrounds? Take a look at the student demographics, such as male-to-female ratio, average student age, and geographic, ethnic and religious diversity.