How many students transfer?!?

The other day while talking with a friend I mentioned that studies by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center have found that roughly 30% of students will transfer schools at some point during their college career. They were astounded (and a bit skeptical). That feels high! Why are so many students transferring?

Each person is unique and there are many reasons why students transfer (as will be discussed below), but to me it highlights the importance of thinking about why a student is drawn to a particular institution, and carefully thinking about what makes a certain school a good fit for the student.

Why do students transfer?

There is no one reason why students transfer, but there are trends. I argue that the trends are correlated with two issues associated with the college search: cost and pressure. First, as we are all aware, college has gotten more expensive. This has led students and families to look at alternatives that are more affordable. Second, there is a lot of pressure associated with the college search—from family, from friends, from society, from school counselors. The pressure can cause students to choose an institution that makes others happy, rather than choosing a school that is right for them.

Transfer Trends

Two-year ↔ Four-year: One group of transfer students consists of those moving between two-year and four-year institutions. The reasons for these transfers vary, influenced by both academic and economic factors. Two-year institutions can offer a more affordable way to earn credits before transferring to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor's degree. Additionally, two-year institutions can also be a means to improving one's academic performance and becomes a pathway to transfer to a more pretiguous institution.

Two other reasons contributing to transfer are academic and social incongruity—the student and the college aren't a good fit.

Academic: Many students enter college undecided about their major, and even if a student starts in a particular field of study, they might choose to switch to a different field. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 80% of students change their major at some point during their college career. While one field of study might be strong at a particular institution, changing majors might mean the school is no longer a good academic fit.

Social: The community setting of a college plays a large role in whether or not it is the right fit for a particular student. While a small, rural campus might look great in brochures, some students might find it feels confining. Other students might find large universities with sprawling campuses overwhelming. Sometimes these feelings aren't apparent until you live in the environment.

Conclusion

One reason to focus on the right fit rather than the "right name" when it comes to choosing a college is to mitigate transfers due to the initial school not fitting the academic or social needs of the student. Often thinking about why a student wants to attend college, as opposed to just where, helps them to find a collegiate community that fits their needs. At Place and Path Consulting, I guide students in thinking about their ideal college environment, as well as identifying college communities that meet those needs.