Thanksgiving Transfer Fever
Written by Lisa Bleich
Thanksgiving brims with family gatherings, roasted turkey (this year, we’re experimenting with frying, courtesy of my husband’s newfound passion for turkey prep), football, and the return of college freshmen to many households. Once they’ve raided the pantry, relaxed on the couches binging TV shows, and caught up with friends (hopefully including you), don’t be caught off guard if they utter those dreaded words: “I’m considering transferring.”
I call it Thanksgiving Transfer Fever.
Every year, immediately following the holiday, I field numerous calls from concerned parents or disillusioned students who believe they’ve made the wrong choice after getting a taste of their college reality.
Identifying the Cause Behind Thanksgiving Transfer Fever
It shouldn’t come as a shock, given that approximately 25% of college students opt to transfer from their initial college. However, before you dive into a frenzy of application submissions, it’s crucial to pinpoint the true catalyst behind the declaration and discern whether it’s merely typical adjustment hiccups or a profound yearning for change. So, how can you tell?
Students typically express a desire to transfer due to factors such as campus size, location, social atmosphere, academic offerings, and personal motivations.
Size
One of the most common reasons is either the campus being perceived as too big or too small, resulting in a lack of weekend activities or feeling overwhelmed by its scale. Surprisingly, the solution for both scenarios lies in active involvement.
Last year, a friend’s son contracted mononucleosis during his freshman year at a small liberal arts college in Ohio, prompting him to return home for several weeks. While he managed to stay on top of his studies, his absence during the crucial initial period hindered his social immersion and participation in activities.
His solution? Initially, he considered transferring to a slightly larger school near a city. However, after devising a two-part plan:
- Returning to campus and actively engaging in numerous activities.
- Exploring 2-3 schools situated in or near a metropolitan area.
Once he reconnected with campus life and embraced involvement, he thrived within the small, close-knit community, ultimately dispelling any notions of transferring.
Social Climate
Last week I spoke with a client who attended her first choice large state school and after almost a full year (she started in the summer), she is thriving academically. However, realized that she wants a student body that is more focused on academics, less Greek life on campus and a school located closer to a city.
This is a 180-degree turn from where she was as a high school student determining her criteria. Her high school academics and test scores were not in line with the schools on her new list. But thankfully, she has rocked it academically in college. And between her high school AP credits and almost a full year of college classes, she will be in a great position to transfer to a school that better meets her new criteria.
Academic Program
2/3 of students change their major once they get to college, yet often that is a primary driver for identifying a school. And sometimes, students think they want to go down one path only to find that it is different from they thought.
This often happens in the visual and performing arts; a student thinks she wants an art school only to find that she wants a broader education or vice versa.
One of my clients, who had a strong interest in art and art history, initially applied to mostly liberal arts colleges with strong art program and to one art school. She chose to go to the art school because she wanted something totally different from her high school experience.
While she enjoyed the artistic rigor, she realized that an art school environment was not the best place for her. Because of that, she applied to Barnard where she had originally been wait listed. She was accepted and found her home for the next three years.
Personal Reasons
These reasons can be the most difficult to resolve and in many instances they lie deeper than simply not liking the size, location or vibe of the school. Students may have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety that emerge or become more pronounced once they leave home.
Some students become too immersed in the social aspect of school. For example, partying and have a hard time finding a balance between work and play and learning to manage their time. Whatever the reason, it is important to identify the underlying problem and deal with that before jumping to transfer.
This could mean taking a leave of absence and coming home for the semester. Maybe a student needs to sort things out and get help to manage the transition more smoothly. Alternatively, it could be a matter of just needing a little more time to mature until going back again. What can make this last scenario tricky is that often grades plummet when mental health issues are at stake. It then makes a transfer situation harder, but not impossible.
So before you re-register for the Common Application, let your turkey digest, do a little Black Friday shopping and identify what is really going on. Things often look a lot better the second semester.