Whether the reason is cost, distance, people, or simply a dislike of the school, there are a lot of factors to consider when making the decision to transfer.

Here are five tips to help you come to a decision to stay or go:

1. Pros/Cons List:

Maybe it’s just me, but there is something about writing everything out and seeing everything plotted out in black and white that makes coming to a decision that much easier. By taking some time to sit down and make a list of every good and bad thing about where you now are and where you want to be can make the once gray area become a little more clearcut.

2. Talk It Over With Your Parents:

You may feel like the choice to transfer may be your own, and to an extent it is, but your parents are the ones that help pay the bills, pick you up and drop you back after weekend trips home, and are there to help guide you. Being 18 or over may be the “magic number” to get you away from under their wing, but not from a good piece of their mind.

3. Think About It:

You may hate where you are now, at this very moment – but think about it. I mean, really think about it. Are these negative thoughts about your school temporary and  circumstantial feelings or are they legitimate and significant enough to transfer? Impulse decisions about your education could end up being one of the biggest regrets of your life.

4. Don’t Ask All of Your Friends For Their Opinion:

This is your decision and yours alone. Tell your closest of the close friends. Your decision to transfer is not national news, which means it probably shouldn’t be tweeted or have a Facebook status devoted to it. Having others weigh in may make guilt into staying put or just give you the opinions of people who really don’t matter to you.

5. Don’t Transfer Just Because You Have Friends That Are Leaving:

I know how it feels to have a few of your friends tell you that they are leaving. You can almost feel your school getting more and more unattractive by the second as you imagine life at college without them. Suddenly, you realize that you have hated your school all along and that you should transfer too. You then ask your friends where they are transferring and fill out an application to the same school later that day. The truth is, yes, it’s not going to be the same without your friends; however, modern technology allows for everyone to stay close and your college community affords the ability to make new friends.

What it really comes down to is what works best for you and your life goals and ambitions. Think of it this way: College is a four-year long relationship. You have to be right for the college and the college for you. You and your school must work together to get a good result, which means being committed to one another and loving where you are. If it doesn’t work, you come away from your previous college knowing what you want and what you don’t in hopes of finding compatibility in the next school.

It’s also very important to remember there are always other alternatives and nothing is really set in stone permanently. Some students make the transition to online classes and avoid lots of unnecessary expenses, stress and time constraints.

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