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Nick Sailer
Prof. Meade
WRIT 1400
8 December 2019

The Shocking Reasons Why College Students Want a Change

A report done in 2015 by the​ National Student Clearinghouse Research Center​ found that

37.2 percent of college students change schools at least once within six years and of these, 45

percent changed their institution more than once. Colleges all across America are facing the

same issue on how to get students to want to apply but more importantly how to raise retention

rates as well. Curry College serves as a great example because many freshmen are wanting to

transfer to a different college/university.

There are many good reasons to motivate students to transfer, but there are also many

questions on the process, like how to transfer credits already earned. The impact of transferring

is grave and this will play an effect on time and cost. These examples are just a starting point.

Ranging from: the need for being closer to home to not being satisfied with the programs or

curriculums of the school all of these play an important role. Most students have this

misconception that transferring to a new college is frowned upon, but in the long run it can

actually help students. Research has shown that transfer students can still complete their college

credits, though it may take a little longer.

Price is a major factor in the completion of higher education. The realization of the

difference in costs between differing colleges can be very shocking. Also the growing trend

towards attending community colleges and then transferring to well-respected institutions for

four years still persists. It is essential that college students make sure that they do their research
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when looking for an alternative school and keeping an eye out for different financial assistance

options. How much it will cost a student to graduate from a university is a different concept than

the question of how much tuition costs.

Freshman student Kenzee Dunphy believes that,​ “so many students transfer to a different

school during their four years….because of money.” ​Money is a huge issue for college students

as we all know colleges/universities are far from cheap. People might sign up and decide to go to

one school before realizing that the school is very expensive and then they find themselves

wanting to transfer to a more affordable college/university.

College students tend to feel uncomfortable with new settings at the beginning of any

adventure, especially when everyone is a stranger. Whether it's about roommate issues or issues

related to rules about dating, vehicles, drinking, parties or any other social circumstances, even

maybe the lack of rules in the residence halls, college students gain newfound pressure when

transferring. Some people can simply adapt faster than others but what do we suggest for those in

the “others” bracket? Mae Bogosian feels that, “The biggest takeaway from [her] first semester is

that it is very hard to make friends. You have to put yourself out there a lot, which is hard for

[her]. I thought it was going to be much easier making friends but I was very wrong.” Students

are taken out of their comfort zone when they attend college. With the classes, the students, the

atmosphere and expectations, it is common to feel uncomfortable. That is why, within their first

two years of starting their studies, 45 percent of students pursuing a 4-year program would move

or drop out altogether. Students are also more likely to be influenced by social circumstances

than one may think. The feeling of being without old friends is too overpowering for some

people.
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There is also the occurrence where college students decide to transfer simply because of

athletics and not because of the academics at the institution. Athletic transfers may occur because

there is too much tension between coach and student, their chance to play is reduced, or their

expectations are simply not met.

Part of the benefit of the GI Bill and the retention incentives of military families and

those in active duty is the ability to take college course work across a network of colleges and

universities and graduate through more than one university. One university serves as the home

college where the degree would be received. The home school acts as the institution of

transcribing. The curriculum is then transferred back to the organization at school. If the

institution approves the course credits, it is transcribed and adjusted to the specifications of the

degree. The subtle obstacle for military transition is that some students will change their home

institution or switch majors, resulting in their previous training being re-evaluated.

A student traveling across the county and out-of-state is a challenge that is consistently

growing in higher education. The United States is a mobile nation. Some regions and states have

higher rates of mobility than others. Students move for many different reasons. Some move due

to an opportunity for work. Others are moving due to the climate. Then there are those who

move to get away from their toxic, personal relationships back at home. Curry College Freshmen

Drake Sahm moved to Milton, Massachusetts from Los Angeles “because he wanted the new life

experience.”

Some students quickly learn that their school does not give a specific major or offer the

best place for them when they decide to switch their concentration and focus area. They will then

have no choice but to move and change institutions when this happens. Freshman Curry Student
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Mae Bogosian, says that she is leaving Curry at the end of the semester ​because, “they got rid of

[her] concentration, photography, in the communication major and [she] does not want to be a

studio/visual arts major.”​ Changing one’s major impacts how course credits are counted and

often requires additional course work to meet the requirements of the degree. ​For example,

moving from nursing to marketing may mean that some of the health care courses would overtax

a student’s choices as they are not applicable or even relevant to the student’s new major.

Students are more likely to end up taking more courses to meet the requirements of their degree,

ultimately resulting in spending more money.

Not making any friends or simply not liking the campus could be depressing and make

one miss their family. Moving thousands of miles away and spending all that money on college

may be too much to bare when the uncertainty and alienation set in. Many students are planning

to give up and move home. For example, Curry Freshman student, Kenzee Dunphy says “I am

excited​ to be able to live at home and sleep in [her] own bed and eat home-cooked meals and not

processed food that colleges provide.”

Another major reason students transfer is because the school is not as they expected it

would be. What does it mean for a school to be “fitting” to a specific student? Students may not

feel challenged academically enough. It is all personal and subjective. College students often

struggle when they realize their dreams or expectations have not been achieved. Often, it is too

hard for students to stick with it and put up through the tough times. Whatever final decisions are

made, it is important to not bad mouth the previous college or “burn any bridges” with any

previous professors. Remember to stay thankful and consider all the knowledge that has been

gained and can take away from one’s previous institution. Keep an open perspective and think
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about the circumstances and many possibilities or reasons of why things did not work out at that

school.
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Works Cited

Bogosian, Mae. Interview. 18 Nov. 2019.

Dunphy, Kenzee. Interview. 18 Nov. 2019.

Strauss, Valerie. "Why so Many College Students Decide to Transfer." ​The Washington Post,​ 29

Jan. 2017,

www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/01/29/why-so-many-college-stud

ents-decide-to-transfer/.