Skip to content
  • Solutions
    Our Services
    Middle School College Prep
    Transfer Admissions
    Gap Year Admissions
    Essay Advising and Review
    Admissions Committee Review
    SAT Test Prep
    ACT Test Prep
    College Prep for Neurodiverse Students
  • About Us
    Our Story
    Why Us
    Success Stories
    Contact Us
  • Programs
    AI Scholar Program
    Research Scholar Program
    Startup Internship Program
    Passion Project Program
  • Resources
    Blog
    Webinars
    Empowerly Score®
  • For Organizations
    Partnerships & Affiliates
    Empowerly for Employers

Sign In

Free Consultation
Book a Free Consultation

Login

  • Blog > Grade Levels, Undergraduate

How Difficult is it to Transfer in College?

Picture of Madeleine Karydes

Madeleine Karydes

  • December 3, 2016

Maybe you started at a community college to boost your grades and save money. Or, perhaps you went to your dream college just to discover it wasn’t for you. Regardless, there is any number of valid reasons to transfer from one college to another. You may be wondering though, “How difficult is it to transfer to a new college?” It may seem overwhelming-even impossible. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. In fact, one study found that more than 33% of undergraduate students transfer schools at least once. If one in three students do it, you certainly can too! So what does it take then?

While many students do transfer in the midst of their college career, there are a number of obstacles to overcome. Let’s take a look at what some of them are and how to overcome them.

Acceptance Standards and Rates

While the standards for acceptance don’t inherently change (you do still need to have excellent grades, essays, and extracurriculars, after all), universities will expect transfer students to have grown even more through their first or second year of college. Universities also have a lower acceptance rate of transfer students on average. This is partly due to the higher standards for these prospective students, but it’s also because there are fewer spaces available for transfer students. Like a waitlist, acceptance of transfer students depends on how many students left a particular university. If you’ve done well in school thus far, or if you’ve shown significant improvement, these are obstacles you should be able to overcome.

Supporting Transfer Students

It’s easier to transfer to some schools than others. Why? Besides acceptance rates, some schools offer better support to transfer students than others. If you’re interested in transferring to a certain school, look to see if they have counselors for transfer students. It’s also important to see if your current university credits will transfer over to your desired school. If not, you may have to repeat some classes, and it may take you longer to graduate.

If You Applied Before

You certainly can transfer to a school you’ve applied to before, but it may be easier or harder depending on the result of your first application. If you were rejected or waitlisted to a school the first time around, know that they will probably ask you if you’ve applied before and will pull up your last application if you have. Remember though, this could be to your advantage! If you’re transferring after sophomore year especially, you’ll have a chance to show significant improvement since your last application, which can impress a university.

There’s more good news: if you previously applied to a college and were accepted then, you may not even need to reapply. Call the school you’re looking to transfer to and see if that may be true for you. Some may make you reapply anyway, but it still helps your chances that they already accepted you once.

Even better?

Additionally, there are a number of benefits that exist for transfer students. Many universities in the United States may offer some sort of merit-based financial aid to transfer students and are understanding that it can be difficult to find a school that fits you well on your first try. It doesn’t need to be too difficult to transfer while in college, and if you take time to consider the few obstacles that could be in your way, you’ll be able to overcome them with ease.

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to have an extra expert review your materials and walk you through the process. Our counselors know what needs to be done.

Book A Free Consultation
Share this post
College Internships
Picture of Madeleine Karydes

Madeleine Karydes

Related articles

Find the latest college admissions news, tips, resources and more.

How to Get into Harvard — and Get a Degree that Opens Doors

Learn what it takes to get into Harvard, earn a strong degree, and build a future that stands out. Empowerly is here to help you achieve your dreams!

College Admissions: Regular Decision Dates for 2025

Each spring, millions of high school students eagerly await the big news. Let’s review the major college decision dates for the RD pool in 2025.

Top Medical Schools 2025: Rankings & Admissions Insights

Discover the top medical schools of 2025, what sets them apart, and how to boost your chances of getting in with expert insights.

Empowerly is a member of:

Menu

  • Services
  • Success Stories
  • Careers
  • Become a Counselor
  • Refer a Friend
  • Book a Consult

Contact Us

  • enrollment@empowerly.com
  • 800 491 6920
  • empowerly.com

Follow Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
Subscribe to our Newsletter
© 2025 Empowerly Inc | All Rights Reserved
Cookie Preferences
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
Solutions
Our Services
Middle School College Prep
Transfer Admissions
Gap Year Admissions
Essay Advising and Review
Admissions Committee Review
SAT Test Prep
ACT Test Prep
College Prep for Neurodiverse Students
About Us
Our Story
Why Us
Success Stories
Programs
AI Scholar Program
Research Scholar Program
Startup Internship Program
Resources
Blog
Referral
Webinars
Empowerly Score®
For Organizations
Partnerships & Affiliates
Empowerly for Employers
Book a Free Consultation
Login