One-third of college students transfer from one college to another.
Following this checklist can help mitigate the challenges associated with transferring colleges and ensure you maintain eligibility for financial aid throughout the transition.
Transfer Students
- Explore different career paths that align with your interests.
- Review the education requirements for the careers in which you are interested.
- Review the academic majors and coursework required leading to your chosen career.
- Search and compare colleges based on criteria you choose on College Navigator;
- Visit the campus (take a tour); or if not possible, visit virtually on the web.
- Schedule an appointment with admissions and/or the academic department.
- Ask about:
- Transferability of credits: speak with a transfer coordinator and ask for a degree audit before committing to a new school.
- College costs.
- Financial aid (some grants or scholarships may be specific for transfer students).
- High school transcripts, if required, and SAT, ACT or AP scores if requested.
- College transcripts from current college and any other colleges previously attended.
- Educational gap statement/essay; if you have taken time off from school.
- Letters of recommendation.
- Submit your FAFSA.
- Apply for any scholarships, grants, or other aid.
- If you have received financial aid, including New York State TAP at your previous college,
- Ensure your scholarships transfer to your new school;.
- Contact the scholarship provider .
- Institutionally based scholarships may not be transferrable.
- Contact the scholarship provider .
After You Have Been Admitted
- Understand which of your academic credits will transfer to your new program.
- Usually, courses with a grade of C or below are not accepted.
- Pay deposit by deadline.
- Decide on housing, if needed.
- Attend orientation session.
- Submit health and immunization records to the campus health center.
- Submit final college transcripts.
- Ensure your new award includes all the financial aid you expect to transfer from your former school.
- Promptly review any questions with the financial aid office.
- Stay in touch with the financial aid office at your new school to ensure a smooth transition.
- If transferring mid-year, update the school code on your FAFSA at studentaid.gov.
- Talk to the financial aid officer at your new school to confirm their process for receiving aid. You may need to complete new forms if their requirements differ from those of your previous school.
- Review any federal or private student loan terms and be sure you complete any necessary forms, such as deferment forms or school certifications, to maintain the correct status.
- Change your TAP college code if you are transferring and are eligible to receive TAP or New York State scholarships. Change it at Student Access, by logging in using your HESCPIN.
- Talk to the financial aid officer at your new school to confirm their process for receiving aid. You may need to complete new forms if their requirements differ from those of your previous school.
- If you have federal loans at your previous school, you will need to ensure they transfer to your new school by updating the school code on the FAFSA you filed.
- Federal loans issued by your former school, such as a Perkins Loan, may not transfer. Contact the financial aid office for details.
- If you have private loans, make sure to complete any necessary forms, such as deferment forms or school certifications. Inform your school’s financial aid office of any private loans you have as they may impact the financial aid offered by your new school.
- Notify former financial aid office that you are transferring to another college.
- Be sure your student account is paid and up-to-date. The registrar at your former college will not release your academic records until your accounts are current.