Should i transfer universities

This group of students will be looking to trade up. Then there are those who are struggling, and might want to move in the opposite direction — away from a selective university or a very demanding course.

Mian thinks that at the end of first year students are often settled. Of course it is possible that leaving the area is exactly what you want - to reunite with schoolfriends, follow a partner to another university or just to make a fresh start. The challenge in moving universities will be transferring credits for the courses you have already completed. When you switch direction, you might feel judged by those who think you lack perseverance.

And I made some really good friends — in the end. But all these things took a while to realise and at the time it was awful, and lonely. The bad news is that transferring can negatively impact your financial aid. Just like with credits, you may lose scholarship money and grants during the transfer. The good news is that you can potentially find and apply for college scholarships that help you pay for your new institution. Many schools have transfer counselors who are committed to helping students make a smooth transfer.

Get in touch with them and make sure that you know exactly how your financial aid will be impacted. Only this time, the admissions criteria will be somewhat different. For one thing, it may be more difficult for you to get into the program or institution you want. This is because many schools have higher college GPA requirements in place for transfer students. For example, maybe you realized that you had a difficult time making friends because the class sizes were too large.

In that case, maybe attending a liberal arts college would be more to your liking. Sure, you go to class. You get decent grades. You do the bare minimum to successfully exist on campus. But you're not actively working toward any singular goals, aside from the goal of getting through it.

You're not challenging yourself with hard classes, or putting yourself in new situations, or growing as a person. If someone ever calls you out on it, you're defensive, because you know deep down that you're capable of so much more — but you're so uninspired that you've lost sight of that person you used to be. Some of us — myself included — will feel outside pressure to transfer. Your friends or a significant other want you to join them, or your relative wants you at their alma mater, or your parents are concerned that the school you're going to doesn't live up to your "potential".

In the end, though, other people's opinions are just background noise. If you can tell yourself with utter certainty that your thoughts on transferring are your own, and not a secondhand opinion from someone else, then — and only then — can you take the transferring process seriously. You're walking home from the best party of your life, or the sun is shining on the most beautiful part of campus, or you're clutching an A plus on a killer final in your hands Or, if you're like me, you had several.

One of mine was on the way home from a late night rehearsal, a beautiful night when I was in a perfectly good mood and leaving a group of very close friends, and I just looked up at the sky and was like, "Crap. I gotta do it. Transferring is not a Band-Aid on your personal life, or an escape from your problems. Think back to when you applied to university before, and prepare in a similar way. If you're applying to a different course at the same university, you may only be able to transfer credits if the courses are very similar.

If you have to re-apply via UCAS to a new university you may be given the option to transfer your credits over. It's then up to you to decide whether or not to stick out the year and work for credits to transfer you straight into year two at your new university, or leave straight away and start again from year one next academic year.

If you're transferring credits in order to start in year two, you must remember to state on your UCAS application that you want to join the second year. If you feel like dropping out of uni, sometimes the best option could be leaving and pursuing a different route.

This could be entering into full-time employment, undertaking an apprenticeship, volunteering or travelling. We advise you to try and complete the year, if you can. If you have some grades from your first year, this may help if you wish to apply again in the future. Many students in similar positions have found things can drastically improve with time and those who thought they were going to drop out but finished their whole first year ended up staying at that university and finishing the whole course.

You'll be required to pay back the student loans you've received. How much you'll have to pay back will depend on when you leave university. It's much the same as if you transfer:. You'll begin repaying your loan in the same way as if you finished your entire degree. This is from the April following your departure from university, and when you have started earning more than a certain amount.

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Home Advice for students Student life-after you start Transferring or dropping out of university Student life-after you start Transferring or dropping out of university If you want to transfer from a degree course or university, or drop out of university altogether, these are the things you should know and consider.

Sophie Rogers 13 Aug Bookmark article. There are many reasons why you may decide to transfer or drop out completely. If I want to drop out of uni because of mental health Whether it be a disability, bereavement, mental health reason, or other happiness and health-related issue, there are many valid reasons to transfer or drop out.

Stick it out Another question to ask yourself is, could it get better over time? Be honest Always be honest with yourself and those who support you. Make the most of your opportunity If you're feeling lonely and struggling to make friends, there are plenty of university societies and sports teams to join. What can you do if you're still not happy? How to transfer courses If you're unhappy with your course, see there's a better alternative at your current university —you may be able to transfer onto it.

Identify the problem How is the course wrong for you? Think about the consequences If you transfer course and start a new one part-way through the year, you may not know anyone in your course and may feel behind.