Why I'm Still a Good Transfer Candidate

Tips that help explain low grades and other problems

Photo by Jim Wong

Not meeting all the “To Do’s for Transfers” will require additional explanation and convincing an admissions committee to keep your application out of the “No” pile. 

Your “Personal Statements” and “Letters of Recommendations” explains who you are beyond the grades.

Tell a good story (Possible themes)

•   Underdog (Mitigating circumstances):  “I worked 30+ hours week and carried a full load to support myself/my family of three/my low income family.” 

• I climb mountains  (Good character,  virtues, ethics, values): “Tragedy dropped my grades when my child/mother/grandmother got (medical condition) and required my help to….”

•  Life happened:  “I lost my job, was homeless, got pregnant, etc.., but I ….”

Bottom Line:  Explain what happened, how it affected your academics AND how you worked to overcome it.

Avoid

• Personal (needless) confessions: “I’ve always had low self-esteem…” 

•  Come to Jesus moment:  “I discovered I REALLY wanted to study and help mankind…”

•  Begging: “I promise to be the best student you’ll ever have”.  Don’t go there, you'll only sound desperate.

Letters That Testify for You

Faculty endorsements carry the most weight.  People who can testify about your academic skills especially in your major are given extra weight.

• Best:   Writers that document relevant coursework taken, mastery of particular knowledge and skills, earning high grades, and affirmations of your intellectual abilities and maturity.  Explains any problems or “hiccups” in your records.

•  Good:  Some of the above but not as extensively

• Weak:  Few of the above and focuses mostly on your personality.

"From Juan Gonzales, Chair, Journalism Department, CCSF"

 

 Name Dropping and Helpful Titles

Ideally, writer should be from (in this order): Department Chair, Major Faculty, Faculty, and Academic Counselor

A “Name” or “Celebrity” is useful only if they are affiliated with academia or speak about your character.  E.G., A college department chair, a business manager, or athletic coach - The higher the title of the writer, the greater the impact of their letter.

Avoid: Family members, best friends, co-workers (unless they have a helpful job title)

Information beyond the transcript

Your Personal Statement and Letters of Recommendations “fill in” what your grades don’t completely tell.  They’re information about how successful a person you are.  Your character, work ethic, ability to overcome obstacles, and how you have used your time, makes an impression on the admission reader.  Hopefully, it’s enough to put you in the “Further Review” and not “No” pile.

Got Spring Transfer Blues?

What's it going to take to transfer?

Transfer applicants nervously await acceptance letters in Spring just as high school seniors do.

Difference between a Transfer and HS Senior

 Admission as a transfer student is based on demonstrated college competency while admission as a freshman is based on potential to succeed at that particular institution.

Short List of Transfer “To Do’s”:

•  Earn 60 transferable college credits minimum at 2.0 G.P.A (Higher the better)
•  Complete specific college requirements (E.G, General Education areas)
• Complete all prerequisites for your major
• Collect helpful letters of recommendations
• Write an interesting personal statement

Transfer requirements for California public colleges: Cal State University (CSU) and University of California (UC).

Public versus Private College Admission

San Francisco State Student Union 2007 (Photo by Jim Wong)

Hoover Tower, Stanford University (Wikimedia Commons)

Applying to your home state publicly funded school like a UC or CSU is straightforward: cover the Transfer“To Do’s”, turn everything in on time, and cross your fingers.  Since public colleges must justify their admission they rely heavily on quantifiable facts (GPAs, required classes) for most decisions.    

Private colleges, on the other hand, admit anyone they want for any reason and not have to explain. Consequently, students with lesser grades and other considerations like “legacy” (alumni ties – parents, siblings, donor, etc…) or special characteristics (athlete, specialized talents, etc…) can play a larger role in admission decisions.

Foremost, your GPA

(Wikimedia Commons)

Is your GPA within rage of the last year’s class of transfer students?  Go to the school’s web page   and look up statistics for their latest transfer class – GPA, gender, ethnicity to gauge your competitiveness.  For some schools you’ll have to contact the Admissions/Outreach Office for the information.  E.G., the University of California's 2013’s average transfer GPA 3.77.  If you’re not close you’ll need the help of a compelling Personal Statement and Letters of Recommendations!

Summary:

Meet all the requirements,  apply on time, and aim at schools-programs where your grades are competitive.  Anyone with a 2.0 GPA will get accepted somewhere.

Next: How Personal Statements and Letters of References help.