There are a huge number of college students who transfer from one institution to another — and that number is growing. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were more than 1.2 million transfer students in 2022, which is roughly 50 percent greater than the number of transfer students in 2006. In other words, transfer is trending!

But there are differences between a smooth transfer process, which allows you to complete your degree on time, and a not-so-smooth transfer. Danny Barr is here to help! As the assistant director of transfer admissions at Alma College, Danny helps all kinds of students ensure they don’t lose credits when they move from one institution to another. Read on to see Danny’s tips on how to transfer successfully.

Don’t wait to think about where you’ll transfer

 Many students attend community college for the first couple of years in their college experience, then move on to a four-year institution to complete their undergraduate degree. This can be a great way to complete general education requirements in a budget-friendly way!

But, Danny says, not every institution interprets your community college credits the same way. If you’re not careful, you may have to re-take courses after you transfer to a four-year institution — even if you had an outstanding grade in a similar course at community college.

Alma College publishes its Transfer Credit Policy online for incoming students to check out and see if Alma is a good fit for them. There’s a Transfer Credit Evaluation Tool for you to use, too. Wherever you want to transfer, Danny says, check the website of the school where you want to transfer, to see if they publish their policy, too.

Investigate scholarships and financial aid available

With the growing number of transfer students, colleges and universities want you to choose to come to their campus. That usually means there are financial incentives for you to decide on their institution.

Danny says that Alma College does offer scholarships and financial aid for transfer students, as an acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication it takes to transfer to a four-year institution in the first place. In fact, just by visiting campus and, you’ll be eligible for $2,000 in awards, if you enter in the fall of 2024. If you’re a Phi Theta Kappa scholar, you will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

Wherever you want to transfer, be sure to see if they offer scholarships and financial aid specifically for transfer students. Danny advises to be aware of dates and deadlines for those scholarships, and when you apply, don’t forget to highlight everything that makes you special. This is not a time to be modest.

Get excited!

Transferring to a new institution can leave some students feeling out of place. You might feel like your fellow students have already made friends. When you remember how common transferring has become, you’ll know that many students are in the same place as you.

Danny advises that transfer students throw themselves into the culture of their new school. Alma College offers a living learning community specifically for transfer students that can help with making friends. There are also tons of events taking place at any given time where you can meet people. There are advisors, mentors and coaches on any college campus who can help with anything life throws at you. Be sure to check out the bookstore of whichever school you attend and get some college gear — that will help you feel connected to your new institution.

Learn more about transferring to Alma at alma.edu/transfer.