Transferring to another college is more common than you might think: roughly 8% of students enrolled in bachelor’s programs at US universities began their studies at another four-year college, with another 4% having begun at a two-year college. Students usually transfer after their first year, though some transfer after finishing their sophomore year. (Some University of California campuses will only consider applications from students who will have completed two years of post-secondary study by the time they matriculate at the UC.) 

 

Students want to transfer for several reasons. They may want to study a subject not offered by their current school, or they’ve exhausted what's available in their chosen field. Some students find they are insufficiently challenged and want a school with tougher classes that will prepare them better for their careers. Others might find the coursework at their current college too daunting and the academic life too competitive. Money can also play a role: If a student is no longer willing or able to pay tuition fees at one college, they might be looking for a university that charges less. 

 

Colleges generally have a number of students who leave after their first or second years, but that number fluctuates by institution and by year. While there are far fewer students applying to transfer into the sophomore or junior year at a particular school than there are applying to be freshmen, there are also far fewer open places. The result of this is hazy data, making the list of schools a transfer applicant will apply to harder to compile.

 

Transfer applicants usually have later filing deadlines than students applying as first-year students. In addition to the essays that a first-year applicant completes, they usually write an essay explaining why they want to transfer.