Transferring from one college to another is becoming more and more popular in society today.According to a new study from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows that 37.2 percent of college students transfer at least one time. So why are people transferring so much? Let’s explore the top reasons why students decide to transfer in college.
Financial Circumstances
According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for students at a private university are around $33,000 per year and around $10,000 per year at public universities. This plays a role in explaining why a student may transfer from one university to another. It is important for students to find colleges that not only fit their personality, but also fit their budget.
Social Circumstances
College can be an interesting time socially. Generally, it is the first time that people are separated from friends and family and feel like they are on their own for the first time. The feeling of being homesick or isolated plays a major role in deciding whether a person is going to transfer or not. Having friends or significant others that attend different schools can also cause an individual to transfer.
Athletic Circumstances
Athletics plays an interesting role in the frequency that students transfer. It has become so commonplace for individuals to transfer from university to university for athletic reasons. Transferring has become so normal in athletics that coaches in every sport are beginning to recruit transfers. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center says that college basketball players alone make up nearly 13 percent of all individuals who transfer. Not just in basketball, but in every sport, student athletes decide to transfer in order to play for a different coach, seek more playing time, or just to receive a fresh start at a new university. Anthony Johnson, a senior on the basketball team, said, “I chose to transfer because I did not get along with my head coach as well as I would have liked to. Also, the assistant coach who recruited me took another job at a different university. Transferring allowed me pursue my dream of playing professional basketball.”
Academic Circumstances
According to a study from Harvard University, only about 50 percent of people who enroll in college actually graduate. That means there are a number of students who will drop out of college every year. Students who transfer for academic reasons often transfer because of the degree of difficulty of certain courses or programs. Also, switching majors is another reason why students will transfer from one university to another. Due to the fact that certain programs are found at specific universities students will often transfer if they are looking for a new major.