Transferring from a community college to a university can be stressful and overwhelming. You’ll need to consider everything from campus size to class offerings to transportation. Luckily for you, I’m a transfer student who is ready to share all the things I have learned.
Here’s a list of everything you need to know using my own personal experiences from transferring to the University of South Florida.
You may be shocked at how different the atmosphere is at a university versus a community college. Even though it depends on where you are transferring to and from, universities largely get more funding and thus have bigger campuses. Navigating to your classes could be a challenge. Before your first day, get friendly with the college directory and look up addresses for your class buildings. Google Maps has always been extremely useful for me: It provides routes for walking, biking, driving, and even public transportation.
As part of a university, you’ll have more resources at your disposal. While community colleges cater to broader student interests, universities can usually accommodate more niche majors and interest groups. For example, universities often house entire colleges with similar areas of study, rather than programs. Universities also tend to give you more access to a variety of clubs, ranging from student leadership to gaming to guide dog training. At many universities, there are even local chapters of national or international organizations that cater to specific majors, such as Psi Chi for psychology students, which I joined after transferring to USF. You can find the resources your university offers on their website.
Universities have more students than community colleges. That means you’ll have more opportunities, but you may also have larger class sizes and you’ll definitely have a larger community to interact with, which can be intimidating. Some universities, like USF, have different campuses, each with their own size and personality, so you may be able to attend a smaller campus of a large university. If you are looking into attending a big campus but still want a small community feel, you could consider joining an organization.
Joining an organization has tons of benefits for your college experience. It can help you make friends and connections which would have not been possible otherwise and give you new experiences to look forward to. This is also a great tip if you are a commuter, because it engages you in campus life.
As a transfer student, you won’t have the previous years spent building connections with fellow freshmen. Regardless of what year you transfer into, joining an organization can give you a leg up connecting with others in your university’s community. I really recommend this because the majority of the friends I have made have actually come from classes or organizations such as the Acts of Kindness Club and the Crotchet Club.
If you don’t feel comfortable joining an organization yet, here’s a few tips on what to look forward to.
Community colleges are a great resource for those looking to start out their college years at a less expensive price than four-year institutions. So now that you are looking into transferring and continuing your education, cost is an important factor to consider. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, the cost of attending community college is just 35% of what it costs to attend a university. Not all universities cost the same, so be sure to pick a university that’s known for its affordability.
To offset cost, look into grants, scholarships, and federal work studies. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a great resource for those who qualify. Please note that there are restrictions to take into account such as a limited number of semesters you can get aid.
Scholarships can help decrease the financial burden of tuition. Luckily for you, there are scholarships geared towards transfer students.
Look for scholarships offered by different programs and organizations at your university, as well as scholarships from outside sources. What has really helped me is joining the Judy Genshaft Honors College at USF. They offer scholarships just for their students and provide more opportunities such as study abroad trips. Two trips that I’m looking forward to joining are a spring trip to Germany and a summer trip to the Bahamas that are both offered by USF.
Transportation can be really tricky if you are attending somewhere completely new. Community colleges tend to be smaller than the average university, which makes this point all the more important. Something that may be new to transfer students is the concept of parking permits. These are permits that allow students to park in designated areas and can be purchased through your respective university.
Another thing to consider is on-site transportation offered by your university. This may be a more accessible way to get around campus instead of walking or biking. You can access route maps at bus stops or at your university’s transportation office. Some universities also offer drop-off areas for students who are carpooling.
If transportation is a real struggle for you, USF offers online classes every semester. Just be aware that this may incur extra fees and some classes are not offered online or are only offered online for certain semesters. It may be a good idea to talk to an advisor if you are unsure about what classes to take.
Registration for a transfer student may differ from that of someone else in your year. Depending on the classes that you took in community college, you want to avoid taking unnecessary classes that may impede your graduation. In order to make sure you stay on track, it may be a good idea to regularly meet with an academic advisor from your college. Academic advisors can answer your questions, help you plan out future classes, and even discuss options after graduation.
I struggled with what classes to take when I first transferred as well. When you transfer, you have to take into account each university’s specific requirements. For example, my community college told me not to take a foreign language class because it was “unnecessary” but the USF College of Arts and Science actually required it. Also note that requirements don’t just depend on what university you transfer to but also what college your major is in. Think: Are you in the College of Arts and Science? Business? Education?
Classes in a four-year university may differ on class structure depending on where you are transferring to. It’s important to look at what university you are transferring to and what the classes they offer look like. You could take a virtual tour or schedule an in-person tour at any campus.
You could always take a mix of virtual or in-person classes like I do. As an example, taking two in-person and two online classes is a great way to reduce commuting or stress from constant class sessions.
Virtual classes may also be a great option for those who need to fit five or six classes into one semester.
Being a transfer student can be intimidating so it's important to do what is best for you by taking classes at your own pace, joining an organization that really interests you, or even reaching out for help from an advisor if you need to.
If you haven’t yet transferred to a university, set yourself up for success by preparing while you’re at community college. Universities take a look at your current college transcript including currently enrolled classes when you are a transfer student. They look for a good academic background and a strong GPA. If you are planning on being a transfer student, then you might want to consider joining your community college’s honors program if they have one.
Universities also look into how many credit hours you have taken and if you are at risk of having excess credits, although this also depends on what year/program you are transferring into. Note that some majors tend to be more selective than others and require pre-requisites or a higher GPA to be admitted. You may also want to consider your university’s requirements based on what campus you plan on attending.
At USF, the Office of Admissions is always ready to walk you through the transfer process step by step. Contact us online or by phone at 813-974-3350.