How to Transfer Colleges

Calculating your chances of getting into certain colleges as a transfer is as easy as handicapping a cat race. Unlike the regular admissions process, there is enough fluctuation in admission-related variables from year to year to make even the best prognosticator about as accurate as Miss Cleo (RIP). This makes figuring out how to transfer colleges a less than straightforward proposition. That said, if you’re dead-set on exiting your current institution for greener pastures, you’re likely wondering how to improve your likelihood of success. We’re covering your most burning questions in today’s blog.

How do I transfer colleges?

To transfer colleges, you’ll need to undergo a completely new application process that evaluates a slightly different set of factors. Additionally, unlike the first-year admissions process, there is quite a bit of variability in requirements between different schools. For example, some schools require you to submit official transcripts while others allow you to self-report your coursework. Other schools ask you to complete certain courses before you are even eligible for transfer while others have little to no prerequisites. Moreover, many colleges and universities use their own school-specific transfer applications rather than a standardized platform like the Common App.

Bottom line: If you’re planning to transfer colleges, plan to be incredibly organized.

How should I decide which colleges to apply to?

Similar to the freshman admissions process, you’ll want to compare your academic profile to that of the average transfer student to help determine your chances. You’ll also want to take a look at overall acceptance rates. While a transfer applicant to a prestigious school typically faces similar odds as a first-year applicant, dramatic year-to-year fluctuations can make your chances very difficult to predict.

Dartmouth’s recent history demonstrates this truth quite well. In recent years, the transfer admissions rate has bounced from 1.5% (in 2023-24) to 6.6% (in 2024-25) to as high as 29% (in 2020-21).  Stanford accepts just 1.5% of transfers versus 4% of freshmen. The University of Chicago takes in 9% of transfer applicants compared to 4% of regular applicants. Washington and Lee, which admits 14% of freshman applicants, welcomed a paltry 6% of transfer hopefuls last year. If you want to transfer to an elite university, be prepared for risky odds.

That said, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that there are a fair number of selective schools known to be “transfer-friendly.” Wesleyan University typically enrolls approximately 30-40 transfers each fall; the acceptance rate in 2024-25 was 24%. Boston University sports a higher admission rate for transfers (35% in 2024-25) than regular applicants (11%). Many top-notch state universities including all schools in the University of California system, UNC-Chapel Hill, Clemson, and UVA offer similarly generous rates to transfer applicants. Baylor, Southern Methodist, American, and Skidmore usually sport significantly higher transfer acceptance rates than freshman acceptance rates as well.

What is the most important element of a transfer application?

Grades were king in the first-year admissions gauntlet, and they’re still king now. If you desire to transfer to a competitive school, your college transcript, embryonic as it may be, needs to sparkle. If you are looking to transfer as a college freshman, your high school grades will also be heavily scrutinized.

This also means that candidates who have strong SATs but low grades can no longer sell their “potential.” A 1490 SAT score and a 1.9 GPA your freshman year of college does not paint an appetizing student profile. Even if you are unhappy at your current school, put every ounce of effort into achieving stellar grades. It will be your best ticket onto the campus of your dreams.

How much do professor recommendations matter?

Quite a bit. Hopefully, you’ve made an effort to stand out from the crowd to your professors. In seeking letters of recommendation, target professors who you’ve built a relationship with, or at least took note of your eagerness to succeed in their class. Perhaps they noticed your regular appearances at office hours for the purposes of seeking help and/or engaging in further intellectual discussion. Perhaps they remember a paper or presentation you completed for their class. Or, perhaps you approached them as a mentor for a research opportunity or creative project.

If possible, seek out more than just a generic “He/She got an ‘A’ in my class” type of recommendation letter. If you are presently just beginning your college experience at a community or non-top choice school with the aim of transferring to a prestigious college next year, make it a point to exhibit these types of attributes as each semester unfolds. Remember that the goal is to leave a lasting impression. While your professor may ultimately be sad for their institution to lose a student of your caliber, chances are they will be more than happy to assist you in following your academic dreams.

How should I approach my transfer application essays?

There are two main elements that you want to highlight in a transfer admissions essay: 1) why your prospective transfer school is a perfect fit for you and 2) what unique attributes and talents you will bring to campus.

Share what makes your prospective academic home attractive and unique. Smaller class sizes, a particular academic program not offered by your current college, or a greater variety of academic research opportunities are just a sampling of the legitimate selling points you can highlight. Mention specific courses that you are eager to take at their institution. List certain distinguished professors who you desire to study under. Elaborate on the unique clubs, activities, or campus traditions in which you are excited to partake. Take advantage of this chance to impress admissions officers with your expansive knowledge of their institution. Then, provide a highly specific accounting of how you will take advantage of your time there. Doing so will separate you from the pack of similarly qualified transfer applicants.

This is also a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your record of involvement on your current campus. It is far easier to sell yourself as someone who will be a contributing member of the campus community if you displayed such qualities at your previous college. Students with an eye on transferring are sometimes so focused on escaping their first institution that they fail to become involved in anything outside of the classroom. As a result, they miss out on valuable opportunities to demonstrate leadership and passion. These are, of course, the very traits needed to transfer to a different school.

Anything else I should focus on in my transfer application?

Craft a positive narrative. The reasons you state for wanting to transfer shouldn’t sound like a nasty Yelp review of your present school. You may want to leave College X because the professors are all centenarian windbags. Or, perhaps your roommate is breeding skunks to sell on Craigslist (is there really a market for that?). Just remember that the school to which you are applying wants to feel wanted. After all, would you rather listen to your girlfriend/boyfriend rant about their ex or hear them tell you what makes you awesome? Admissions officers considering a transfer student feel the same way.

How To Transfer Colleges — Additional Resources

For a more complete listing of “transfer-friendly” colleges and to view transfer admission rates at hundreds of the nation’s most selective schools, please visit our Transfer (vs. Freshman) Admission Rates Dataverse page.