Many students get their start in higher education at community, regional or state colleges. These are typically very affordable institutions with strong academic programs that focus more on educating students than on catering to wealthy parents.
That’s not to say there isn’t money involved in attending these types of schools, but tuition is usually much less expensive! (And if it’s cheaper to attend school close to home, so your job doesn’t require as much time spent away from family members, then savings can add up quickly!)
By transferring out of a university you’ve already paid for, you save money by avoiding the additional cost of attending another institution. And while some scholarship and loan opportunities exist at lower-income universities, staying within your budget will maximize scholarships and loans available to you.
Furthermore, studying at an academically rigorous college gives you a leg up towards career success. Employers look at standardized test scores, degrees, and professional certificates when hiring, and proving that you’ve got what it takes to be successful in the workplace increases your chances of being chosen over candidates who may have been accepted to a lesser institution.
Transferring to a liberal arts college is also a great way to diversify your educational experiences. Some degree fields like psychology or sociology don’t use tested material too heavily, which helps keep skills fresh.
Transferring to a liberal arts college can be difficult and confusing
Many students get this idea that every school is like Harvard, where you take all sorts of general education courses in various departments across campus. This isn’t always the case!
Not every university offers these “general studies” courses and even if they do, not every department within those schools offers them. For example, while most universities offer some sort of English class, many don’t include classes focused on writing or literature.
This can make it hard for aspiring writers to learn how to write well. Or maybe there are no creative writing classes offered at the student’s chosen school. This could hurt their career goals later on.
General academic skills are incredibly important to succeed in life so trying to find out what things each school doesn’t have before deciding whether to apply is worth your time.
Transferring to a liberal arts college might not be the best option for every student
Many students feel that attending a university with a larger population is a way to gain social capital, but this isn’t always the case.
Liberal arts colleges aim to foster an environment where students can develop their intellectual curiosity and self-confidence by participating in diverse courses and activities. Students who attend such schools tend to leave with more knowledge than those who don’t.
However, transferring to a school with a large student body can be difficult if you don’t have a strong academic background or if your goal is to earn money. More competition for classes and opportunities may discourage individuals with less preparedness from going beyond what they already know.
Furthermore, some students enjoy being part of a smaller community at a relatively intimate setting. Others prefer having closer relationships with people outside of academia.
Transferring to a liberal arts college can be expensive
Even though most universities offer some form of transfer, it is important to know that not every university is designed for students who are looking to move on to bigger things. Some colleges make you feel like you’re wasting your time because they do not require enough preparation to apply.
Many large universities have what they call “transfer admissions.” This means that even if you don’t meet their requirements in high school, you can still come here and enroll.
This may seem okay at first, but it also creates an environment where students believe they need to go into more difficult courses or get higher grades in order to succeed.
It also raises the bar for other students as well, creating a feeling of elitism.
Transferring to a liberal arts college can be difficult and time consuming
Many students underestimate how hard it is to transfer to an institution that offers less than optimal programs. This can sometimes make transferring very expensive and inconvenient, especially if they live far away or outside of the school’s community.
Many people assume that all colleges are the same and offer similar degrees and opportunities, but this isn’t always the case. Some schools have more popular majors and courses while others are much thinner in terms of resources.
Students who want to focus on creative fields such as art, music, or theater may find themselves with no good options after high school. These areas depend heavily on student interest and participation, which cannot always be guaranteed at some universities.
For these reasons, not every university is a great fit for everyone, even if their advertising claims otherwise! You should do your research before making any commitments, even if it means paying more money later on.
Transferring to a liberal arts college means giving up some financial aid
While transferring into an art or music school can sometimes be expensive, it is not always easy to do. One of the biggest costs comes from applying for scholarships at your new institution.
Most scholarship applications require you to include information about educational records, transcripts, test scores and more. Some even require proof that you attended classes at your current university!
These are important documents that show what courses you have taken and whether or not you were actually paying attention. You do not want to waste time chasing down these things if you are trying to gain access to needed funds.
Some schools also ask if you belong to certain student groups or organizations. If you do, they may offer additional scholarships dependent upon your membership status.
By showing this off-record evidence, you make sure that no money is being wasted on you.
Transferring to a liberal arts college means giving up some of the campus safety you are used to
There is no way to say this clearly without sounding like a downer, but transferring away from a small community school or a big university will change your sense of security in general.
You will feel less safe at your old school because there won’t be as many people around you. This can make you more susceptible to things such as assault and harassment.
And even if nothing bad happens, it may affect how well you do socially. At smaller schools, students are known to look out for each other, which helps with social cohesion.
At bigger universities, students may feel that they don’t need as much help because there aren’t as many outsiders trying to connect. If you’re not comfortable going to the police or talking about personal issues, this can put extra stress on you.
Transferring to a liberal arts college means giving up some of the social life
Many students who want to attend a highly ranked university will choose a school close by or one that is more affordable, which can be a good thing because you save money!
However, transferring away from a well-known University may pose a challenge when it comes to finding friends. This could be due to differences in campus culture, community members not accepting you, or even having no interest in being around you since you’re now several years older than them.
Transferring into a large school like UCLA or USC might also mean there are too many people just like yourself, making it hard to connect with others.
Clubs at larger universities have very specific applications so it is harder to find ones that fit your style. There may also be limited slots for student organizations, which makes it tough to join an existing group or create your own.
These things can be difficult to navigate, but don’t worry! You’ll probably make new friends as soon as you arrive anyway.
Transferring to a liberal arts college means giving up some of the extracurriculars
Many students get involved in too many extra-curricular activities during their years at an undergraduate level. This is totally normal!
It is very common for students attending a university with more than 40,000 students to participate in over 30 different clubs and organizations. Students will usually join a club because it looks good on an application or because they want to learn something new.
But transferring to another school can be difficult if you are not willing to give up some of your outside interests. You will have to narrow down which clubs you leave behind and find ways to continue them elsewhere.
Most colleges do offer scholarships or financial aid that can help offset the cost of tuition, so don’t worry about being able to afford school completely. There are a lot of resources available to student veterans so don’t hesitate to search through those to see what’s possible for you.
