黑料社区

Choosing the Right Four-Year Transfer Partner

Colleges, like people, each have their own personalities. These personalities are shaped by factors such as location, size, academic programs, faculty, student support services, campus culture, and the diversity of the student body. As you explore your options, consider which characteristics matter most to you and which schools feel like the best fit攂oth academically and socially.

It a good idea to keep your college list fairly broad at first. As you learn more about each institution and clarify your goals, you can narrow your choices and focus on the schools that truly align with your interests, values, and future plans.

Transfer Process Plan (pdf)

  • Is learning about other people and their cultures and values important to me?
  • Do I want to experience living in a totally different part of the country?
  • What activities do I enjoy doing most?
  • Am I comfortable in a large or small setting?
  • Do I need specific services?
  • Do I know what I want my major to be?

1. Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE)
The State System consists of 14 publicly owned universities across Pennsylvania.

聽2. State-Related Universities
State-related universities receive a significant amount of support from the聽Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. They include three large research institutions:

  • Penn State University
  • Temple University
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • Lincoln University

3. Private College and Universities
These independent institutions are privately supported.

  • They can range in size from small (<1000 students) to large (20,000+ students).
  • Classes tend to be smaller than in many of the public schools
  • Boast excellent student-to-faculty ratios.

While these schools typically cost more than public institutions, they can offer attractive financial aid packages to applicants, which can聽make聽them very affordable.聽

  • Academic programs聽
    • Does the college offer a degree in the major I want to study?
  • Size of school聽
    • Would I prefer to go to a
      • Very small school (<1000 students)
      • Small (1000-5999 students)
      • Medium (6000-7999 students)
      • Large (8000+ students)?
    • What class size do I prefer to learn in?聽
      • Oversize classes with more than 61 students.
      • Extra large classes 41 to 60 students
      • Large classes 31 to 40 students
      • Medium class of 26 to 30 students
      • Small class with fewer than 25 students
  • Do I mind being taught by a graduate student instead of a professor?
  • Geographical location聽
    • Where do I want to go to school?
      • 聽large city
      • In a suburban area,
      • In a rural setting?
  • Consider living arrangements聽
    • (i.e., dorm, apartment with a roommate(s), or living at home and commuting to college)
    • What kind of weather do I prefer?
    • Do I care how far away from home I will be?
  • Cost and financial aid opportunities聽
    • What kinds of financial aid/scholarships are available?
    • Tuition (money charged to cover the cost of instruction) and Room and Board (lodging and food) vary for each school.
    • Also, consider the cost of books, fees, and transportation.
  • Student body population聽
    • What is the makeup of the student population?
    • What is the campus environment?
    • Will I feel comfortable on campus?
  • Social Atmosphere聽
    • Is there a Greek system?
    • Do they have College athletics?
    • Are there聽clubs that interest聽me?
    • Does the local community support the college?
  • Academic reputation聽
    • How important is the college's reputation to me?
    • Colleges and universities earn their academic reputation based upon factors that include the following:
      • The quality of their faculty and resources
      • Research opportunities
      • Graduation rate,
      • Job placement for graduates.

  • Make an appointment with someone in your major's department.
  • Visit when classes are in session and make a point to talk to the students.
  • Ask them if the professors are available when they need to speak to them and get most of the classes they want to take.
  • Ask what social activities are available to students at the college, in the surrounding community, and about anything else important to you (i.e., campus security, meals, housing, student services).

  • Admissions criteria may include the number of applications received and the number accepted, their transfer student profile, their basis for selection, and their admissions requirements (GPA, SAT or ACT scores, course requirements) for transfer students (or high school students, when applicable).聽
  • Many colleges prefer you to apply online. Go to their website for information. Complete your application carefully since it is the primary document by which the colleges will come to know you.
  • Apply for financial aid paying attention to the deadline.
  • Request an聽official 黑料社区 transcript be sent to each college at the time of application. After your聽濒补蝉迟听黑料社区 course, have a聽final transcript sent to schools you are still interested in attending. Transcripts are usually sent institution-to- institution; however, follow the application instructions for their preferred method of receiving transcripts.
Helpful Transfer Resources
  • Why should you complete your 黑料社区 Degree?
  • - The Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Center (PA Trac) was created as a one-stop shop for PA transfer students from community colleges to one of the PASSHE schools.
  • - Find colleges that match your goals and interests
  • - 淭ransfer Knowledge Hub: The latest resource on All Things Transfer
  • - A very useful college/university planning tool!
  • - Plan Your Transfer