transfer application letter for student

• Letter Writing
• Formal Letter Writing In English
• School Transfer Application

School Transfer Application: How to Write and Samples

There might be many instances where you will have to shift from one place to another for educational, professional or personal reasons. In such scenarios, informing the head of the institution/company about your situation is mandatory. Just like a relieving letter is proof that an individual is relieved from all their duties, is eligible and free to join another institution, a school transfer certificate does the same for a student. In this article, you will be introduced to the format of a school transfer application. Go through them and also check out the sample application letters for better understanding.

Table of Contents

How to Write a School Transfer Application?

Student transfer letter to another school, transfer letter to change school, frequently asked questions on school transfer application.

In our school life, you will have written a lot of applications and letters for some or the other reason. Once you have learnt to write an application to the principal , it would be easy to write letters for various concerns as the format followed is the same.

A school transfer letter should be addressed to the principal of the school, mentioning the reasons behind the transfer. You can write an application requesting a TC if you are planning to move to another branch of your school or from one school to another. The format for writing a school transfer request letter would include the student’s address, the address of the school, date, subject, and the reason behind the transfer of school explained in the body of the letter. End the letter with a complimentary closing, signature and name in capital letters.

The points which can be added in the transfer letter are:

• Reason for transferring to a different school or branch
• Details of the student like class, section, roll number etc.
• The period of study and the date of leaving the school

School Transfer Request Letter Samples

A school transfer application has to be written in the formal letter format. Check the school transfer request letter samples provided below for better understanding.

2nd Main Road

Dairy Circle, Koramangala

22nd February, 2022

The Principal

St. Mary’s International School

Sub: Request for transfer letter

Respected Madam,

I am Sarmistha Tripathy, mother of Sharmili Tripathy (student of your prestigious school and studying in Class 7 B, with admission number 1234), would like to inform you that my daughter has cleared the Air Force School entrance exam. I had mentioned about our intention to admit her in the Air Force School to the admission committee on the day of admission. As per their instructions, I am writing this letter to request you to issue my daughter’s transfer letter.

The admission process begins on the 1st of March, so it would be of great help if we could get the transfer letter on or before the 27th of February. I request you to kindly consider my request and do the needful.

I would like to inform you that she has already cleared the entrance exam of Christ School of Social Sciences in Mumbai, and they have sent the admission offer letter to join the school. Therefore, I request you to kindly issue the transfer certificate to her at the earliest so that it can be helpful for us to get her admission done without any delay. I have attached the admission offer letter, a copy of her ID card, and the admission letter of your school, along with the application.

Thank you in advance.

Yours faithfully,

(Signature)

SARMISTHA TRIPATHY

Mother of Sharmili Tripathy

Attachments:

• Copy of ID card
• Admission offer letter of the new school
• Admission letter of the current school

449, Saheed Nagar

Bhubaneswar

2nd February, 2022

Kendriya Vidyalaya No-1

Unit-9 Bhubaneswar

Sub: Requesting a Transfer Certificate to Bhopal Branch

Respected Sir,

I am Athish Rao, father of Joanna Rao, a student of your prestigious school studying in Class 8. I beg to state that I have been transferred to the Bhopal army campus; and so I would like to avail a transfer for my daughter from Unit-9 Bhubaneswar branch to the Army Campus Bhopal branch. We are shifting to Bhopal by the end of this month and it is not possible for me to leave her behind. So, I request you to kindly consider my application and provide her with a Transfer Certificate at the earliest so that I can start her admission process at the other campus. I have attached all the relevant documents needed for the TC, as informed.

Father of Joanna Rao

Admission no. 2345

• Admission letter
• Acceptance application from the new school

How can I write a school transfer application to my principal?

You can write an application following the format as mentioned below stating that you want to transfer from the current school to the other and mention the reason behind leaving the school.

Your address

XYZ School,

I am ____ of class ____ section ___, with admission number ____. I beg to state that I want to transfer from ____ school to ____ school for _____(reasons). I kindly request you to issue the transfer certificate at the earliest.

Yours sincerely,

Parent’s signature

Can I write an application for transfer from one school to another?

Yes, you can write an application for transfer from one school to another if you want your child to study in some other school, but remember to mention the reason behind leaving the school.

What are the documents we need to provide to request a transfer certificate?

For issuing a transfer certificate, you will have to write a school transfer application addressing the principal of your school and stating the reason behind leaving the school. The documents required are the admission letter from the current school and the admission acceptance letter from the new school or branch. You can check with the school’s office to learn the documents they require to issue the transfer certificate.

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How To Write A College Transfer Application?

Learn how to write a college transfer application effectively and avoid the struggle of what to write and what not to write while transferring from one college to another..

Updated by TCM Staff on 8th October 2020

How To Write A College Transfer Application? (With Examples)

8th October 2020

If you find yourself reading this blog, you’ve already been through the college application process once. You tried for a college, you got into it. But now that you’re on campus, you’ve decided that you need to transfer to another college. The only decision at this moment is to re-apply to a college that matches your needs

Transfer application plays a crucial role as it is an application for transferring from one college to another. Writing a transfer essay is your chance to introduce yourself to your dream school and most students struggle to write a unique transfer application , that marks the decision of the admission officer in your favor.

Although there is no perfect outline for a guaranteed spotless transfer essay, there are some guidelines to help your essay along the way. The transfer essay should include these fields in order to be able to stand out amongst the others.

How to write a Transfer letter for College?

Want to ace the transfer essay? Then follow these steps,

Introduce yourself and explain why you choose your current institution in the first place

Explain the reason for the transfer

Speak about your interests

Outline how the new college will benefit you.

Writing a college transfer application is an important step in transferring to another college. After transferring, a scholarship can help you fund your education and relieve financial stress.

Steps to Follow in Writing a College Transfer Application

1 - introduce yourself .

This is the part where you have to invest most of your time, as this is the paragraph where you can win the game. The first paragraph is the most important part of the essay, thus it should include some catchy and attention-grabbing statements.  You can start off with a simple introduction and telling about some of your core values. You need to address and explain things like, Why did you choose your current institution in the first place?

The reason should be simple and factual. The reason could be anything whether if the school was closer to your home or maybe you wanted to stay with your parents.

Be honest at this part of the section as officers easily catch up on the made-up reasons . Also, you can mention some of the things you liked about your current school that had helped you improve certain skills.

Background Information  - Harvey is currently studying at Amherst College since he wanted to be close to his home so that he can help his dad in his TV agency. But now, since his father has asked his uncle to help, he no longer has to stay in his hometown. Harvey wants to move to Penn where he can find more practical information related to his anthropology course. The transfer application of Harvey is gonna shape like the one given below.

Example  - Before I could even walk, my parents had gained an interest in History. So we spent every holiday walking off the street of some historical sites which helped me to gain an interest in archaeology. Moving around to all these places has made me resourceful and adaptable. My decision of starting my education at Amherst College was because of the reason that I wanted to stay close to my house so that I can help my father with his T.V agency.

2 - The Reason for the Transfer 

source - pexels.com

One question that every admission transfer officer look out for is “ why the student wants to leave the current college and attend another? ”. 

In your essay, colleges and universities will be looking for what makes their school a better fit for you than your current institution. You have to be very precise about the reason for your transfer without speaking negatively about your current college. 

Give a Polite Description - You have to mention a polite description of why you and your current college is not a perfect match. One should explain the reason as clearly and concisely as possible, taking advantage of the opportunity to show what you have learned about yourself and the kind of college you believe is right for you.

Example - My reasons for transferring are almost entirely academic. I have made many good friends at Penn, and I have studied with some wonderful professors. I'm majoring in anthropology, but the program at Penn is almost entirely contemporary and sociological in its focus. I'm looking for something more than that.

3 - Speak about your interests

“ What you want to do? ”. This is another important section that the admission officer looks into to differ with the applications. The student should be clear about his/her vision and future.

This part of the essay should be focused on the objectives that the student wants to achieve being a part of the institution he/she is applying to.  

This section should also highlight “ Why are you applying to this school in particular? ”. You must have a concrete reason for the selection of this particular college. The admission Officer will expect that you have done your research and now are making a calculated, thoughtful decision to transfer.

Make sure the admission officer knows that you aren’t applying because “it’s better than your current school” but because this school is where you feel you truly belong.

You need to describe what are your interests and how this college will help you fulfill them. Your interest in transferring to one school should be directly related to your reason for leaving your current school. This admission officer will understand your position better.

Example - By attending Amherst, I hope to broaden and deepen my knowledge in anthropology, participate in more summer fieldwork, volunteer at the museum, and eventually, go on to graduate school in archaeology.

4 - Concluding with an Overview

A good ending is an important aspect of the application. It gives the essay it's desired shape. In this section, you should give an overview of your academic offerings and experiences you gather in your current college that helped you evolve.

It should talk about how you have developed from your previous experiences and will be taking those insights when progressing to the new institution. This section should appeal to the officer that you are a positive person and continue this performance after the transfer to the new school.

The conclusion should be short and crisp and should speak about the honor the student will acquire if he/she gets accepted. 

Example  - As my transcript shows, I have done well at Penn and I am convinced I can meet the academic challenges of Amherst. I know I would grow at Amherst, and your program in anthropology perfectly matches my academic interests and professional goals.

source-jumpvine.net

College Transfer Application - Do’s and Don’ts

If you want to ace the transfer essay then you have to remember the points mentioned above. Apart from those points, here are the small do’s and dont’s points mentioned below that you must remember while writing a transfer application.

Keep things short and focused

Be specific on what you have to say

Start your essay with an attention-grabbing introduction

Do proofreading several times

• Keep track on the application deadlines

Be creative, don't write what admission officials always read

Don't make things up, be honest

If you write about your thesis, don't include things that don't support it

Give yourself time, don't rush into the college application

Best colleges/universities to transfer

The colleges mentioned below are providing an ideal combination of good quality education, affordability, and alumni success. 

You’ll notice colleges in California dominate our list below. That’s not surprising - the state’s two four-year college systems have a clearly defined pathway for community college students, supported by a statewide set of general education courses that will transfer between institutions.

Other states, like Florida, also guaranteeing admission to a public four-year college for students who start at community colleges.

Conclusion  

If you are feeling that your current institution isn’t ideal for you, then instead of just hanging on with it, you need to move towards an institution that matches your needs and the first step to this process is the transfer application. 

So, invest your time in the transfer application, as it is the first step towards studying in your dream school. Making the admission officers believe that their college is a perfect fit for you is the primary goal over here. So using the correct words and reasons is the key in this process.

Guide to College Transfer

Things you should know while transferring college

How do colleges evaluate transfer students?

Application guide for transfer students

Get tips and best practices for putting together your best application.

What is Common App for transfer?

Common App for transfer is an online application that makes applying to college faster and easier. Through a single platform, you'll be able to search for and apply to any one of the more than 600 colleges that accept Common App for transfer. Whether you're applying to transfer from another 4-year institution or community college or looking to continue your path towards a degree by re-enrolling, Common App for transfer can help you get to where you want to be.

Gather materials

The info you’ll need to start your application

Filling out your application takes time.

And if you have to keep interrupting your progress to find information, like a certificate for a continuing education course or the address of your last internship, it can take even longer. Get a head start by collecting this information before you begin.

Below are some materials you’ll need to gather in order to fill out Common App for transfer.

• Some programs you apply to might ask you to provide this information. You can see what each program on your list requires in the College Coursework area of the Academic History section.
• You also have the option to add any continuing education courses you have taken.

Some programs will ask you to report these test scores. You can check the testing policy of the programs on your list in the Program Materials section.

On Common App for transfer, you have the option to share your experiences, things like research, internships, volunteer work, and more. This is the place to show colleges what makes you unique.

Create an account

Take the first step in the application process

Creating an account is simple.

• Provide your name and contact information.
• Make sure you use an email address you check often, as this is how Common App and colleges will get in touch with you.
• Choose a username and password.
• Review the Terms and Conditions.

Then click "Create my account" to finish the process.

Before you’re taken into the application, you’ll be asked to complete your Extended Profile. This includes information designed to tailor the application experience to you.

• College credits you will have earned when you enroll at the college you’re applying to
• The degree status you will have earned
• Your degree goal for the program you’re applying to

After answering these questions, you’ll be taken into the application. Congratulations! You’re ready to get started.

Counselor tip

Use an email address that you check regularly.

Colleges may need to get in touch with you regarding your application.  

Add programs

Add the programs to which you will apply

Now that you’ve created your account and explored schools that accept Common App, it’s time to start adding some programs to your application.

The Add Program tab is where you’ll find and add these programs. If you already have a college or program in mind, you can search by college name at the top of the page. You can also use the filters to search for programs based on different criteria.

• Program availability
• Application fee

You can select as many or as few criteria as make sense to you. As you select each filter, the program list will update automatically.

To see more information about a particular program, click on that program’s name. An overlay will open with information like the program’s contact information, website links, testing policies, and more.

Adding programs is simple. All you need to do is click the plus icon next to the program’s name.

To see which programs you have already added, click "Selected Programs” at the top of the page. Here you can also remove programs from your list, if you choose.

Engage supporters

Get letters of recommendation and school forms

In addition to your application, many colleges ask for additional documents to be submitted by recommenders on your behalf.

There are four types of recommenders you can invite: Personal, Professional, Academic, and High School Official.

Each program has different recommendation requirements. In order to see a program’s recommendation requirements, go to the program’s section in the Program Materials and proceed to the Recommendation tab of that program. (If a program does not require recommendations, you won’t see the Recommendations tab.)

On the Recommendations tab you’ll find helpful information including:

An "Add Recommendation" button to begin inviting recommenders

The types of recommenders the program requires

The number of each recommendation type they require and how many they allow — for example, a program might require 2 academic recommendations, but will allow up to 4

To invite recommenders:

Select the type of recommendation you'll be requesting

Enter the recommenders name, email address, and a desired due date for the recommendation

Provide a personal message or notes for your recommender (This can be anything you want; you could use it to thank your recommender in advance, provide context for the request, share instructions, etc.)

Choose whether to waive your right to access this recommendation in the future and check the affirmation statements

When you’re ready, click “Save this Recommendation Request” to complete the process. Your recommender will receive an email invitation with instructions on how to proceed.

Transcript collection

Submit your college coursework, if required

Some programs may ask for official or unofficial transcripts. Others may not ask for any at all.

You can see programs’ transcript requirements in the Academic History section under Colleges Attended or College Coursework.

If you’re applying to a program that requires official transcripts, you’ll need to download the Transcript Request Form. You can access this form in the Colleges Attended section. You’ll notice that your information will already be entered on the form. All you need to do is print and deliver it to the registrar of the college(s) you have attended.

The college you attend may send transcripts differently than outlined in the Transcript Request Form. Common App for transfer also accepts electronic transcripts from Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse. 

If your school uses a different service, transcripts should be mailed, instead of sent electronically. Be sure to include your full Common App ID # when entering the Common App mailing address.

If a program asks for unofficial transcripts, you can upload your transcript in the Colleges Attended section.

Some programs may not request unofficial transcripts within the Academic History section. Instead, they may allow you to upload an unofficial transcript in their Program Materials section. Be sure to check to see if there is a College Transcript upload option in each programs’ Documents tab .

Get ready to begin your journey

Walk through the transfer application with us before you apply.

Find additional support at the help center

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Transfer Applicants

The college experience is a journey, and journeys often take us to destinations we did not originally intend to reach. At Columbia College and Columbia Engineering , we’re intentional in our efforts to welcome over 125 transfer students each year, from a range of two- and four-year institutions, and we value the unique and diverse perspectives they bring to our community.

Transfer Applicants FAQs

May i transfer from columbia college to the engineering school (or vice-versa) once accepted and enrolled.

If you are enrolled at either Columbia College or Engineering and you genuinely feel that you should attend the other, you may apply as an internal transfer student. Internal transfers must submit the Internal Transfer Application by March 1. There is no guarantee that you will be able to transfer to a different school. Undergraduate Admissions consults with the Berick C enter for Student Advising to review your academic performance and curriculum and determine if a change is appropriate.

Are there any scholarships available for transfers?

There are no academic, athletic or talent-based institutional scholarships at Columbia, as all of our institutional financial aid is need-based. However, our students are often the recipients of merit-based scholarships from outside organizations (state grants/scholarships, local/national merit-based awards, etc.).

May I transfer for the spring semester?

No. We do not accept applications for January/spring enrollment from transfer candidates.

Application-Related Information

Application requirements.

A completed transfer application includes the following items. Please be sure to read the additional details about each component in the folders below. 

• The Coalition Application  powered by Scoir
• Columbia Supplement to the Coalition Application
• $85 application fee or fee waiver request
• An official high school transcript from all high schools attended
• An official college transcript from all colleges attended
• The Coalition Application Transfer Report
• The Coalition Application Curriculum Report
• Two College Academic Recommendations
• Optional: Standardized tests

The Coalition Application

Transfer applicants must use the Coalition Application  powered by Scoir to apply for admission to Columbia. (The Common Application is for first-year applicants only.) The Application Profile has multiple sections, but not all are required.

The following Application Profile sections are required for a complete transfer application to Columbia: 

• Personal Information
• Contact Information
• Demographic Information
• Citizenship
• Family Information
• High School Information
• College Information
• Additional Information
• In-Progress College Coursework
• Completed College Coursework
• Additional Exams
• English Proficiency Tests
• Honors & Distinctions
• In the Activities/Experience section, please include details about activities from both high school and college. Be sure to include all clubs, organizations, research positions, jobs, internships and/or volunteer activities that you participated in beyond the classroom. 

We encourage transfer applicants to list all college coursework on their application, including current coursework, but discourage students from listing high school coursework.

The following Application Profile sections are not required for a complete transfer application to Columbia: 

• 9th-11th Grade Coursework
• 12th Grade Coursework
• Coalition Essay

Please note : While the Coalition Essay in the Application Profile is not required for a complete transfer application, applicants will be asked to upload a 400-600 word essay on the Columbia Supplement to the Coalition Application responding to the following prompt in the Uploads section of the application: 

• Please explain why you are interested in transferring from your current institution. (The personal essay does not need to be specific to Columbia, but it should inform the committee why you wish to leave your current institution.)

Columbia-Specific Application Questions

Applicants are asked to respond to Columbia-specific questions to tell the Admissions Committee more about their academic, extracurricular and intellectual interests. These questions allow us to better understand your intellectual curiosity, habits of mind, love of learning and sense of self. These questions also allow the Admissions Committee to learn more about you in your current community and why you feel Columbia’s distinctive experiences in and out of the classroom would be a good fit for your undergraduate education.

Transcripts

Please submit transcripts from all high schools and colleges attended. Electronic transcripts are preferred for fastest processing . Please note that we receive many documents daily and that transcripts may take several days to process. 

We cannot accept transcripts submitted by applicants as official unless they are mailed in a signed, sealed envelope; electronic transcripts are official if they are sent directly from an institution and/or from a school official.

School Forms

The Transfer Report , which collects information about your standing at your current institution, should be completed by a school official such as an adviser, dean or registrar at your current institution. This form may accompany your official college transcript. Transfer Reports should be sent electronically to [email protected] if they cannot accompany your official transcript.

The Coalition Application Curriculum Report collects information about courses in which you are currently enrolled. Mid-term grades are often not available by March 1; we will accept this form until April 15 but strongly recommend that it be submitted as soon as mid-term grades are available. 

Curriculum Reports should be submitted electronically to [email protected] , or uploaded directly through your applicant portal. Please do not submit the curriculum report until mid-term grades are available. A curriculum report with grades listed as "in progress" or with no grades listed will not meet this requirement. 

The curriculum report is not required for students who are not currently enrolled in a college or attending a school that operates on the quarter system.

2 College Academic Recommendations

• These recommendations must come from college professors who have taught you in a college course. Recommendation letters should not come from high school teachers, employers, research supervisors or family members.
• An optional third recommendation may be accepted from an advising dean or academic adviser.

Standardized Tests

Columbia is test-optional for transfer applicants to Columbia College or Columbia Engineering. Please review our standardized testing policy for additional details, as well as our English language proficiency requirement if applicable. Transfer applicants who choose to submit test-scores may self-report their results and may submit scores up through March testing dates.

Eligibility 

To be eligible for enrollment as a transfer student at Columbia, you must have earned: 

• 24 points of credit (the equivalent of one year of full-time study) at another institution, or be registered to complete 24 points of credit by the time you enroll.
• If you left high school without receiving a diploma in order to attend an early college program, you are not eligible for transfer admission and must apply as a first-year student by the appropriate Early Decision or Regular Decision deadline. You will not be eligible to receive credit for such accelerated programs except for credit earned through standardized examinations (e.g., AP and IB exams); such credit will be limited to 16 points, the equivalent of one full semester at Columbia.

If you’re an International student, you should read our International Transfer Students section for additional eligibility requirements. 

Candidates who have completed  more than four semesters of college coursework elsewhere are not encouraged to apply. Columbia’s academic requirements and institutional policies make completion of all graduation requirements in a reasonable and timely fashion unlikely.

Columbia College transfer applicants who have taken a break in their education of more than a full year (for any reason other than required completion of national military service), or who wish to attend school part time, should consider applying instead to Columbia University’s School of General Studies.  

Columbia Engineering transfer applicants should proceed with this transfer application, regardless of any break in schooling. 

Please note that all transfer admittance is for fall semester only.  

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary materials are not a required part of our admissions process—but there are occasions where they can enhance our understanding of your application. (In other words, it’s completely up to you if you’d like to include these materials.)

Transfer Credit

You must have completed or be registered for 24 points of credit (the equivalent of one year of full-time study) at another institution. No more than 64 points in Columbia College or 68 points in Columbia Engineering will be awarded as transfer credit, including points earned through AP or IB examinations. We do not grant credit for college courses taken before a student's graduation from high school. Credit for standardized exams (e.g., AP, IB, A level exams) will be limited to 16 points, which is equivalent to one full semester at Columbia. For more detailed information, students should refer to the Academic Credit for Transfer Students section of the Berick Center for Student Advising website.

Please note that transfer credit evaluation occurs only at the time of acceptance. We cannot review transcripts and/or courses for transfer before a candidate submits an application.

Columbia does not award transfer credit for courses that are not analogous to those available at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering. We encourage you to review our College Bulletin and Engineering Bulletin to become familiar with the types of courses that are offered here and therefore the courses that are more likely to be awarded credit.

The Core is the cornerstone of undergraduate academic life at Columbia. Even those transferring in with advanced credit should expect to take elements of the Core, if not all of it. Students are very rarely exempt from Core classes like Literature Humanities , Contemporary Civilization , Art Humanities and Music Humanities .

Students are expected to graduate within eight semesters, including time spent at another college or university. Students are typically not permitted to extend their undergraduate studies unless they are enrolled in one of our Joint Degree programs (e.g. the Combined Plan ).

Dates & Deadlines

• March 1: Application deadline for transfer candidates
• March 1: Financial aid application deadline
• By June 1: Admissions and financial aid decisions released online 
• Mid June: Deposit deadline for admitted transfer students
• Late June: Deadline for final transcripts for admitted students.

What We Look For in Transfer Students

Admission to Columbia is not based on a simple formula of grades and test scores. Instead, we consider a variety of factors . Each year, we admit a small group of transfer students to Columbia College and Columbia Engineering. Because space in the sophomore and junior classes is limited, admission is highly competitive. We typically admit fewer than 10 percent of the applicants for transfer admission each year. Potential transfers are expected to have a minimum GPA of 3.5 overall; Columbia Engineering candidates are strongly encouraged to have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in their mathematics and science courses.

The majority of successful applicants to Columbia Engineering have completed an engineering track curriculum. For applicants with first-year standing at time of application this includes:

• Two semesters of Calculus
• Two semesters of Physics
• One semester of Chemistry

Enrolling transfer students will need to complete Core Curriculum requirements in addition to graduation requirements within their primary field of study. Our review takes into account a candidate's ability to complete their course of study in a standard timeline of eight total semesters. To allow more flexibility with course selection at Columbia, we recommend applying with first-year standing at your current institution when possible. 

Due to the timing of the transfer process, we are generally unable to consider grades earned in the second semester of the year of application; thus, high school grades, rigor of program and standardized test scores are all important in the evaluation of transfer credentials, especially for students applying for sophomore standing. If you have applied to Columbia previously, the documents you provided at that time will not roll over (with the exception of SAT or ACT scores); you must resubmit any information requested by this transfer application.

Financial Aid

At Columbia, we are committed to fully supporting our transfer community. All transfer applicants who are citizens, permanent residents or other eligible non-citizens are evaluated without regard to their financial need. Foreign students applying for aid must understand that such aid is awarded on an extremely limited basis. Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted transfer students and does not give any scholarships for academic, athletic or artistic merit.

Please visit the Financial Aid website for more information on financial aid for transfer students, including all required forms.

Accuracy & Authenticity

All applicants should review our Accuracy & Authenticity statement prior to submitting their application, as all applicants to Columbia University must confirm on their application that they understand and agree to adhere to the above expectations.

For questions about undergraduate admission and the application process, please visit our online FAQs . If you still can't find your answer, please contact us  or email us at [email protected] .

Deadline Approaching for Transfer Applications

Frequently Asked Questions by Transfer Applicants

Understanding the Process

Testing Policy

Application Fees and Fee Waivers

English Proficiency Requirements

A Message for Prospective Applicants

Financial Aid Deadline Approaching for Transfer and Combined Plan Applicants

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Yale has announced a new testing policy for first-year and transfer applicants for fall 2025 admission.  Read the announcement  and review the policy . 

Transfer Application Instructions and Components

Applicants for transfer admissions submit the Transfer Common Application. Review the details and additional required material below.  

Transfer Common Application

Complete and submit the Transfer Common Application online, including Yale-specific questions. Students may not submit more than one application per admissions cycle.

$80 Application Fee or Fee Waiver Request

All payments and fee waiver requests are submitted through the Common Application. If you feel that the college application fee presents a hardship for you, request an application fee waiver directly on the application.  Learn more on the fee waiver page »

Academic Evaluations

Academic evaluations must come from individuals who have taught you in a credit-bearing course on a college campus. These should be submitted through the Common Application. Letters from others (such as research mentors or supervisors) are supplemental and will not fulfill the academic evaluation requirement. Supplemental letters should be mailed to the undergraduate admissions office or emailed to transfer.documents@yale.edu .

College Report

The Common Application College Report is available for download here and from the Common Application website. The College Report should be completed by a college official who has access to your full academic and disciplinary record, such as your Dean, Adviser or Registrar. The college official should mail the completed form to the undergraduate admissions office or email it to transfer.documents@yale.edu .

Transfer Mid-term Report 

Transfer applicants who are currently enrolled in college coursework must submit the Transfer Mid-term report with in-progress grades for the semester. The Common Application Transfer Mid-term Report is available for download here and from the Common Application website. Mail the completed form to the undergraduate admissions office or email it to transfer.documents@yale.edu .

Official Transcripts—postsecondary and high school

Transfer applicants must submit official college transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended. Transcripts should be sent directly from the colleges/universities through the Common Application, Parchment, or mailed to the undergraduate admissions office.

Transfer applicants must submit an official high school transcript, including graduation date. Transcripts should be mailed to the undergraduate admissions office or emailed to transfer.documents@yale.edu .

Standardized Tests

Transfer applicants for fall 2024 admission may apply with or without standardized test scores. For applicants who have previously applied to Yale University, all test results submitted in prior applications will be available for review. 

Transfer applicants for fall 2025 admission and beyond are required to submit scores from one or more of the following test types: ACT, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or SAT.

Review Standardized Testing for Transfer Applicants for more information. The admissions process for the Eli Whitney Students Program (EWSP) for nontraditional students is test-optional.

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Transfer Students

Admission decision timeline for transfer applicants.

Admission decisions or a request for more information, such as spring-term grades, will be posted by May 31. If spring grades are requested, a decision may not be available until mid-July.

Admission letters and certificates will be mailed following the release of admission decisions online.

A World of Opportunity

As a transfer student at usc, you will enjoy unparalleled opportunities in and outside the classroom. from access to world-class faculty and the ability to conduct your own original research, to acquiring real-world experience through service learning and internship programs, the possibilities are endless. transfer admission to usc remains highly competitive, and we look for students with outstanding talents and leadership skills. fight on.

Essential Information

Successful transfer applicants:.

• Present at least one year of rigorous, full-time academic coursework, with strong grades. Check out our Transfer Student Profile to see the average GPA of our most recent class of admitted transfer students.
• Show consistent progress toward a degree with at least one year of rigorous, full-time academic coursework. Competitive candidates typically take 14-16 units per term.
• Complete the equivalent of USC’s lower-division Writing requirement, Writing 130.
• Meet our minimum math requirement by demonstrating a mastery of Algebra II in high school, or Intermediate Algebra in college with a grade of C or better. Many majors require more math.
• Make satisfactory progress toward meeting USC General Education requirements.
• Complete additional lower-division courses required by their intended major, if applicable. Refer to Additional Coursework by Major to see if your intended major requires lower-division courses that should be completed before you transfer. This is especially important for students pursuing degrees in science, engineering, architecture, dental hygiene or business.
• International students whose native language is not English must also demonstrate English-language proficiency .

When to Transfer

USC accepts both sophomore and junior transfer students. By transferring as early as your sophomore year, you can take more of your General Education and elective courses at USC. You will be part of the USC community for a longer time and have more opportunities to get involved with campus life and make the connections that can help you after graduation.

Alternately, if your academic record in high school fell short of USC expectations, you may be able to position yourself as a stronger candidate if you complete two years of solid undergraduate coursework at another institution before applying to transfer. Additionally, if you complete most of your General Education requirements before transferring, you will have more time to pursue a double major, a major-minor combination, or a unit-heavy major while you are enrolled at USC.

Current high school students, please note: If you are still in high school, USC considers you a first-year applicant, regardless of the number of college units completed prior to high school graduation. If you have questions about your class standing, please call the USC Office of Admission at (213) 740-1111 .

Transfer Units

USC does not require a minimum number of transfer units.* However, if you will have earned fewer than 30 transferable semester units by the end of the spring term, we will base our decision either primarily on your high school record and/or SAT or ACT scores (if you submit them). Please note that applicants to the 2023-2024 academic year are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, although they may still submit them if they wish.

*The School of Cinematic Arts, however, does require 48 units to transfer into the Film and Television Production program.

College Transcripts

You must submit official college transcripts from any and all colleges you have attended, regardless of whether or not all coursework or degree requirements were completed. Failure to do so may be viewed as a violation of academic integrity, which could result in revocation of admission and/or dismissal from the university.

Selecting a Major

Transfer applicants must indicate a first-choice major on the application. We also consider transfer students for an optional second-choice major or Undecided/Exploratory status.

English Proficiency Requirement

International transfer applicants whose native language is not English must submit a TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic or qualifying SAT or ACT test score earned within two years of their application date. More information is available on our International Students page.

Remedial Coursework

Placement exams offered at your current college will determine your need for any remedial coursework in writing and mathematics prior to your admission to USC. Remedial courses are not transferable.

Required Courses Taken on a Pass/No Pass Basis

As many as 24 semester units, including up to 4 units of General Education courses, may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis. Typically, only one Core Literacy course may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.* Both Global Perspectives courses may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis. Please note that writing courses taken on a Pass/No Pass basis will not fulfill USC’s lower-division writing requirement.

*Due to disruptions caused by COVID-19, some exceptions may apply.

Dates and Deadlines

You are considered a transfer applicant if you have enrolled in college since leaving high school.

For some majors requiring a portfolio or audition: Application Deadline: December 1, 2023

December 1 is the final deadline for transfer students applying to the following programs:

Kaufman School of Dance School of Cinematic Arts – BFA programs only School of Dramatic Arts – BFA programs only Thornton School of Music

See Additional Major Requirements for information about your intended program.

All other majors Application Deadline: February 15, 2024

Extensions of application deadlines are considered on a case-by-case basis. Students who are unable to meet the published deadlines may contact an admission counselor to be considered for an extension.

Financial Aid Priority Application Deadline: March 4, 2024

Applicants who want to be considered for need-based financial aid must submit the FAFSA * and CSS Profile applications by this date.

California residents should also apply for Cal Grants by this date.

*Undocumented or DACA students should submit their 2022 tax return and third-party letter confirming undocumented status instead of the FAFSA.

Visit our Financial Aid page for more information. To check on the status of your financial aid application, visit the FAST page in your applicant portal .

Regular Decision Notification: May 31

Transfer candidates will receive either an admission decision or a request for spring grades by May 31. If you receive a request for spring grades, you will be notified of an admission decision by mid-July.

Application Checklist

Complete the Common Application

Official final high school transcripts showing date of graduation. Students who completed secondary school outside the U.S. may substitute a copy of a diploma or leaving certificate. Students who did not finish high school should submit transcripts showing any grades they received before leaving, as well as a copy of their completion certificate (such as a GED). These students may also submit a letter of explanation.

Official college transcripts from any and all colleges you attended (regardless of whether coursework or degree requirements were completed).

We need to review your most recent fall-term grades, so be sure your current school has posted them before transcripts are sent. If your school requires an email address to send electronic transcripts, please use [email protected] . This email address should only be used by schools; students should not personally send copies of their transcripts to this address.

Not required unless specifically requested by your intended academic department or major.

Portfolio, resumé and/or additional writing samples, if required by major. Performance majors may also require auditions. Refer to the Additional Application Requirements section , below, for more information.

Affirmations will be available in the portal after we receive your application. Your digital signature may be submitted after the application deadline.

If the application fee poses a financial burden, you may request a fee waiver through the Profile section of the Common Application.

Additional Application Requirements

If you are applying to any major in any of the schools listed below, it is your responsibility to complete your application by the appropriate deadline. Unless otherwise noted, all deadlines are the same as those listed on the Dates and Deadlines section. Be sure to obtain any required supplementary forms and to fulfill all departmental requirements.

Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

USC School of Architecture

Roski School of Art and Design

Iovine and Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation

Marshall School of Business

USC School of Cinematic Arts

Kaufman School of Dance

USC School of Dramatic Arts

Viterbi School of Engineering

Thornton School of Music

Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Veterans are encouraged to take advantage of an array of services including academic and career counseling, financial aid and veteran benefits information, religious life and more. For more information, visit the USC Veterans Resource Center .

Application fee waivers are available to veterans and their dependents. To request this fee waiver, select the appropriate option under the school-specific fee waiver question, located in the USC Questions section of the Common Application.

Credits & Policies

Units that must be earned at usc.

Transfer students must complete a minimum of 64 units in residence at USC, or half the units typically required for graduation. A few exceptions are noted below. While in residence at USC, you are also expected to:

• Complete all upper-division units in your major and minor.
• Complete WRIT 340, a minimum of two Core Literacy GE courses from a Dornsife College department, and any remaining General Education courses not taken before entering USC.
• Take all your fall- and spring-semester courses for credit at USC. Courses may be taken at other institutions only during summer sessions, with limitations.

Exceptions:

Engineering “3-2” Program: Students must complete a minimum of 48 units in residence at USC. Two-thirds of any transferable coursework must be completed at one of USC’s four-year partner institutions.

Bachelor of Architecture: Students must earn at least 80 units at USC. A maximum of 70 of the transferable units for this program may be earned elsewhere.

Transfer Unit Limits

• USC limits the transfer of credit in certain categories. You may transfer up to: Sixty-four (64) units of credit from other institutions, except where noted.
• Four (4) units each of English as a Second Language, physical education activity courses and music ensemble courses.
• Eight (8) units of dance.
• Twelve (12) units of physical education theory courses.
• Sixteen (16) units of individual instruction in music.
• Other studio and performing arts classes are also limited. Check with an advisor.

Courses/Units That Will Transfer

Accredited courses: Coursework completed at, or degrees from, U.S. institutions accredited by the six regional accrediting agencies are generally accepted. Coursework completed at international post-secondary institutions approved by the local Ministry of Education as degree-granting institutions may also transfer.

Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and other standardized examinations: We accept a maximum of 32 units for standardized examinations.

Please visit arr.usc.edu/transfercredit for a list of standardized exams and the course requirements they fulfill.

College courses taken during high school: We accept a maximum of 16 units, included in the 32-unit combined maximum for AP/IB credits. These courses must be taught by college faculty on a college campus, appear on your college transcript as part of the regular college curriculum and must not be applied to your high school diploma. They can fulfill General Education requirements, but they cannot fulfill the writing or foreign language requirements nor receive equivalence to USC courses.

Courses/Units That May Transfer

Courses in these categories will be considered by petition, and credit is granted on a case-by-case basis. Be sure to keep copies of course syllabi, exams and papers, as we may ask for these in making our determination. Nontraditional formats/time frames: Distance-learning, online courses, concentrated “intensive” sessions, special weekend modules, and other nontraditional course formats and time frames.

Please note that elective units only — not equivalence to USC courses or fulfillment of requirements — are granted for foreign language and laboratory science courses taught via distance learning, TV, or in an online or correspondence course.

Due to disruptions caused by COVID-19, some exceptions may apply.

Courses/Units That Will Not Transfer

Unaccredited institutions: Coursework or degrees completed at U.S. institutions not accredited by a regional accrediting agency. Low grades: Courses in which your grade was less than C– (1.7).

No degree credit: College extension courses and courses taken at international institutions not credited toward a degree at that college.

Areas of study not offered by USC: These include agriculture, business office procedures, hotel management, food services, industrial mechanics, interior design, fire science, forestry, police academy, and similar professional and technical programs.

Duplicated material: An AP exam and IB exam or college course covering the same material.

Life and work experience: Including portfolio work, continuing education, equivalency examination units, and courses offered by business and governmental agencies (even if evaluated by the American Council on Education).

Placement exams: Courses and/ or unit credits awarded by another institution for placement examinations or credit by exam.

Remedial/college preparatory/ personal development: Including mathematics courses below the level of college-level algebra. (Intermediate Algebra, USC’s minimum math requirement for admission, is not transferable.)

Nontraditional formats at two-year colleges: Including independent study, directed study, correspondence courses, internships and travel courses.

Graduate-level courses: Graduate-level coursework taken by undergraduate students.

Determining Your Transfer GPA

USC calculates your transfer GPA on the basis of your grades in all USC-transferable courses, including grades of D and below. Plus and minus grading is taken into account. Expired incompletes, unofficial withdrawals and missing grades are treated as an “F.” Credit/No Credit and Pass/No Pass marks are not included in the transfer GPA.USC does not honor other colleges’ academic “renewal” or “forgiveness” programs that permit students to improve a substandard grade. If you repeat a transferable course for which you earned a grade of D+ or lower, both grades will be included in your transfer GPA. If the grade on the first course was a C- or higher, only the first grade is included.

Your transfer GPA is different from the GPA earned in courses you take at USC. The transfer GPA and your USC GPA are kept separate until it is time to determine if you are eligible to graduate and earn graduation honors, as described in the USC Catalogue .

Academic Standards and Requirements

The USC Catalogue is the document of authority on policy matters, and it changes from time to time. It provides complete information about academic standards governing coursework taken at other colleges, as well as specific requirements for your major field. Please visit catalogue.usc.edu for the most current version.

Students who began college in fall 2015 or after: Students are required to follow these revised General Education requirements if they graduated high school in spring or summer 2015 and their first full-time term of college enrollment was fall 2015 or after (excluding summers).

Students who began college prior to fall 2015: Students who started at any college or university before summer 2015 will follow the GE program in effect prior to fall 2015.

Transfer Tools

Transfer planning brochure.

This brochure will help you navigate the application and transfer process, and introduce you to our transfer policies. View the Transfer Planning Brochure .

Interactive Planning Guide

This online resource will help you determine which undergraduate courses at other institutions will satisfy USC’s General Education courses, as well as the lower-division coursework required for any major. Go to the Interactive Planning Guide .

Transfer Planning Worksheet

This worksheet will help you keep track of the transferable courses you have completed and what courses are still in progress. Download the Transfer Planning Worksheet .

Students who began full-time, college-level work prior to fall 2015 (excluding summer semesters) will need to follow the pre-2015 General Education requirements .

Attend a Transfer Information Session

In this session , an admission counselor will discuss how credits transfer to USC and how to present a competitive transfer application.

Additional Coursework by Major

Find the lower-division, introductory coursework that may be recommended or required for your intended major. Download the Additional Coursework by Major file.

Articulation Agreements: Community Colleges

These lists indicate the community college courses that fulfill General Education and other requirements, as well as equivalents to lower-division courses at USC. Visit Articulation Agreements with Community Colleges.

Articulation Histories with Local Four-Year Colleges

Though USC does not maintain formal articulation agreements with four-year colleges, this resource will help you determine which courses have been accepted for transfer in the past. Courses not included on the history have not yet been reviewed and may or may not transfer. Most academic courses from four-year institutions are accepted for transfer credit. View Articulation Histories .

DACA Students

For information about application for DACA students, please refer to  this page .

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Transfer Admission

This is a community of people from all around the world, each with their own background and their own story. We're really interested in seeing all you love, everything that challenges you, and what you have learned, which together make you a distinct, singular person.

• Apply for Admission
• International Applicants
• Curricular Requirements
• Eligibility Guidelines
• Transfer Admission: Checklist and Deadlines
• Transfer Credit
• Transferring to the College of Arts and Sciences
• Transferring to the School of Engineering
• Transferring to the School of Nursing
• Transferring to the Wharton School
• Transferring to the College of Liberal and Professional Studies
• What Penn Looks For

As a transfer student, you bring a unique perspective to our application process and our community. As you begin your transfer application process, please refer to the resources below.

Penn accepts  Common App  and the  Coalition Application . We have no preference for either format and treat both applications equally in our process. We encourage you to review the features of each application format and use the platform that suits you best. You should submit only one application per admissions cycle and not mix-and-match across platforms.

Penn Admissions welcomes applications from members of the United States Armed Forces. For more information, please refer to the resources below and our frequently asked questions .

Transfer Applicants

Welcome! We’re excited that you’re interested in becoming a Bruin. This page will take you through the basics and lead you to the detailed information you need.

Beginning Your Application

You may apply for admission as a transfer if you meet the following criteria:   

• You graduated from high school and completed college-level coursework in a regular session at any college or university since your graduation.

Note: You cannot disregard your college record and apply as a freshman. We do not accept applications from students seeking second baccalaureate degrees.

To begin the application process, use the University of California's online application (UC Application).

Admission Considerations and Requirements

When it comes to reviewing transfer applicants, we carefully balance consideration of the full range of faculty-approved criteria to gain a complete sense of each student’s achievements. Some factors are more easily quantifiable than others.

Good preparation and a strong academic performance make you a more competitive candidate during the admission review process. The average GPA of admitted transfer students is above 3.5 and admitted students have completed most or all major prep courses. We give highest priority to applicants from California community colleges. We admit students for fall quarter only.

We consider the following criteria:

Academic Requirements

• Junior-level standing (60 semester or 90 quarter transferable units completed) by the end of the spring term before you transfer
• UC transferable GPA of 3.2 or higher
• Completion of major preparation requirements by end of spring prior to transfer
• Two transferable courses in: English composition, critical thinking and writing
• One transferable math course with a prerequisite of intermediate algebra or higher
• Four transferable college courses in at least two of the following subject areas: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, physical and biological sciences

Personal Factors

Examples include, but are not limited to the following:

• Employment while attending school
• Involvement in campus organizations and community service
• Family responsibilities
• Significant improvement in academic performance over time
• Military service
• Other opportunities or challenges that may have shaped your educational experience

Transfer Student Profile

Are you curious about admit rates from past years? Find out how many transfer students apply, are admitted, how many enroll and in which majors, amongst other stats. 

Dates and Deadlines

You can start working on your application when it becomes available on August 1 and submit it October 1–November 30.

Application opens

Application filing period

Filing period opens for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Dream Act Application for all applicants; filing period opens for GPA Verification Form (required for California residents only for Cal Grant consideration)

Application update period opens for transfer applicants to report final fall grades and in-progress or planned coursework (priority deadline is January 31)

Deadline for applicants to submit their financial aid application (FAFSA), Dream Act, and Cal Grant GPA verification forms

Transfer admission decisions released

Deadline for admitted transfer students to submit Statement of Intent to Register (SIR)

Deadline for final official transcripts to be submitted to the admission office; must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before this date

Deadline for official AP/IB examination results to be submitted to the admission office; must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before this date

Applying to a Major

When you apply to UCLA as a transfer student, you must apply to a specific major. Every major has preparatory requirements for transfer students. Transfer admission is dependent on the successful completion of this coursework along with a competitive GPA. Transfer students must complete their major preparation requirements by the end of spring prior to transfer.

Supplemental Applications

If you are applying to a major within any of the following professional schools, you must submit the UC application by November 30 th and the supplemental application by the stated deadline.

• School of the Arts and Architecture
• Herb Alpert School of Music
• School of Nursing
• School of Theater, Film and Television

Applicants who select programs in these schools as their alternate major will be reviewed for their primary major only.

Intercampus Transfers

If you’re interested in transferring to UCLA from another UC campus, you must apply for admission to UCLA and go through the same process as any other transfer applicant.

To be considered for admission to UCLA, you must leave or have left your previous UC campus in good academic standing. We also encourage you to complete the General Education (GE) requirement of the UC campus you currently attend before you transfer. If you do this, you’ll be exempt from UCLA's GE requirement.

Resources for Transfer Students

• California’s statewide transfer information site, ASSIST provides UC Transfer Course Agreements, selected Major Preparation Articulation Agreements for all California community colleges and Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) course lists.

Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP)

• Through a multi-faceted approach with efforts at the student, faculty and administrative levels, CCCP works to increase the academic preparation and competitiveness for community college transfer students, particularly those who are first generation, low-income or historically underrepresented. 

Community College Transfer Recruitment (CCTR)

• We send admission representatives to all California community colleges during the academic year through our Community College Transfer Recruitment (CCTR) program. Visit your college's Transfer Center to schedule an appointment.

Student Transfer Outreach Mentorship Program (STOMP)

• STOMP is a volunteer student organization. Its goal is to provide outreach services that motivate and inspire students who are enrolled at California community colleges to consider the University of California as a practical option for transfer. 

Transferology

• View how your coursework is articulated from your school to UCLA. Click on the link that says Search for a Replacement Course to find equivalents to UCLA courses.
• Please note: Transferology is an advisory tool only, and doesn’t guarantee transferability. Actual course transferability is subject to change without notice, at the discretion of the UCLA Registrar’s Office and Undergraduate Admission.

UCLA Transfer Resource Guide (PDF)

UCLA Transfer Resource Guide - Spanish (PDF)

UCLA Transfer Admission Guide (PDF)  

UCLA Transferability Guide for Four-Year and Out-of-State College Coursework (PDF)  

UC Transfer Admission Planner (TAP)

UC Information on Transferring

UC Transfer Pathways

• If you already have a major in mind, learn about a single set of courses you can take to prepare for your major. Transfer Pathways provides you with a clear roadmap to prepare for your major and be well positioned to graduate on time.

UCLA Transfer Alliance Program

• Students who participate in this program are certified after completing the honors or scholars program at their community college, which helps enhance their ability to transfer to UCLA.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Transfers are notified of admission in late April.

No. Transfer students must apply to a specific major. UCLA policy requires all transfer students declare their major by the time they reach junior standing. Transfer applicants are also expected to complete lower-division preparation coursework for their intended majors before transferring.

Transfer students must be at junior-level standing (60-86 semester units or 90-129 quarter units) by the end of the spring term prior to the fall that they are applying for. Keep in mind that the units used to determine junior-level standing have to be transferable.

Please note: UCLA will only allow up to 70 semester or 105 quarter units from transferable lower-division coursework to be applied toward your degree once you’re admitted. Therefore, transfers with more than the 86 semester or 129 quarter maximum number of units from two-year colleges will still be considered as junior-level. UC courses and upper-division courses from four-year institutions will not be capped (at 70 semester or 105 quarter units). Those units can put you at risk of exceeding the maximum for transfer eligibility and becoming senior-level.

Due to the high volume of prospective applicants, we’re unable to meet individually with students upon request in order to evaluate previous coursework or help plan future courses.

Transfer students must declare a major and are considered for admission based on the major-specific preparation courses completed. The UCLA Transfer Admission Guide outlines the major prerequisites we expect to be finished no later than the spring term prior to transfer.

If you’re currently attending a California Community College, you can contact the transfer center there or the UCLA Undergraduate Admission counselor assigned to your school. We also encourage you to visit ASSIST to see which courses are transferable between your community college and UCLA.

Cornell Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Search cornell admissions, transfer applicants.

Consider Cornell

Students transfer to Cornell for many reasons. Whether your academic interests have changed or you are looking to continue your education after completing a two-year degree, make Cornell the next step on your journey.

• First-Year Applicants

First-Year International Applicants

First-year domestic applicants, special populations, advice for applicants, transfer application timeline.

While Cornell University will not be accepting external transfer applications for Spring 2024, we encourage you to consider applying for Fall 2024. Please reach out to your college or school of interest with any questions, and we look forward to reviewing your application for fall!

Expand the information below to learn more about each aspect of the application and your Cornell journey.

Are you a Transfer Applicant?

Students are considered transfer applicants if they have:

• Completed a high school diploma (or an equivalent)
• Earned at least 12 semester hours of college credit (not including exams such as Advanced Placement) after graduating high school

If a student has earned 12 or more semester hours of credit since completing high school (or earning an equivalent), they must apply as a transfer.

If a student has enrolled as a full-time student at another institution, they must apply as a transfer. 

If a student has enrolled in a dual-enrollment or early-college program and has not yet graduated from high school, they must apply as a first-year applicant.

If a student has previously earned a bachelor’s degree, they cannot apply for a second bachelor’s degree at Cornell. 

Domestic vs. International

Domestic applicants hold one of the following United States citizenship or residency statuses:

• U.S. citizenship
• Permanent Residency
• Undocumented without DACA status but will graduate from a U.S. high school
• Refugee/Asylee

Cornell’s international student designation for financial aid and the English Language Proficiency requirement is based on residency or citizenship status. International applicants are foreign nationals applying to Cornell. Foreign nationals are students living outside the U.S. or living in the U.S. who hold, or intend to hold, a valid F-1, J-1, H-1, H-4 etc. visa/status, as well as those pending Permanent Residency status.

Review the College and School Admissions Requirements

College and school transfer admissions requirements.

Transfer Admissions Requirements

Review the Required Coursework

College and school required coursework.

Cornell has required courses for most majors that should be completed or in-progress at your current institution by the time you apply. For more information, please view the required coursework for the Cornell college or school that interests you:

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Architecture
• History of Architecture
• Urban and Regional Studies
• College of Arts & Sciences
• Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy
• Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
• Nolan School of Hotel Administration
• College of Engineering
• College of Human Ecology
• School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Complete the Required Application Components

Application.

• Submit the online Common Application for transfers.

Application Fee or Fee Waiver

• Pay the $80 nonrefundable application fee or a fee waiver. 
• We are committed to making the application process accessible for all students. If the admissions application fee presents a hardship for you or your family, the fee will be waived. Students requesting an application fee waiver from Cornell should respond to the fee waiver prompts provided in the Common Application and select “You can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.” You will not need to submit any supporting documentation to Cornell.

High School Transcript

Official high school/secondary school final transcripts must include coursework and grade performance from 9th through 12th grade. 

Your high school should submit official high school transcripts in one of these ways:

• Common App: In the Program Materials section, under Recommendations, use the High School Official Recommendation Request to ask your high school official to upload your final high school transcript. In the Personal Messages/Notes section, let your high school official know that you are only requesting a transcript and that a recommendation letter is not required.
• eSCRIP-SAFE
• an online ordering system or eTranscript service
• Postal mail or delivery service in an envelope sealed by the issuing institution.

All official transcripts/documents must be issued in English. If not, an official translation of all documents must be provided along with the original language documents. Cornell accepts English translations done by a teacher or school official. 

College Transcript

Submit all official college transcripts from all institutions the applicant has attended in one of these ways:

• Common App: In the Academic History section, under Colleges Attended, order your official transcript. 
• National Student Clearinghouse

College Report

The College Report confirms that the applicant is in good academic and disciplinary standing at their most recent institution. Both the applicant and a college official must complete the form. Applicants should complete the Student Section, and a college official (such as a registrar or advisor who has access to the applicant’s academic records) should complete the College Official Section.

The college official should submit the College Report in one of these ways:

• By email with the subject line “College Report Email Submission” to [email protected] , from the official's college email address.
• By mail or courier service.

Academic Recommendation

The Academic Recommendation should come from instructors who taught the applicant in a full-credit college course. If an applicant has not been enrolled in school for two or more years, the instructor recommendation may be replaced by a personal or employer recommendation.

The instructor should submit the Academic Evaluation in one of these ways:

• Common App (list your instructor in the Program Materials section’s Recommendations tab)
• Email to [email protected]

Mid-term Report

Applicants complete the Mid-term Report when mid-term grades are available for their current college courses. Upload the completed Mid-term Report to your Cornell Application Status Page.

If your college does not give midterm grades, ask your professors to assess your current performance in class.  If you are unable to get mid-term grades or are not currently enrolled in college courses, upload an explanation in place of the Mid-term Report to your Cornell Application Status Page.

Standardized Testing

SAT or ACT scores are neither required nor expected for transfer candidates.

Students should self-report AP, IB or A-Level exam scores in the Academic History section of the Common Application.

English Language Proficiency

After submitting their Common Application, international students should complete the English Language Proficiency Form in their Cornell Application Status Page to report evidence of their English proficiency. Examples include:  

• Your native language is English.
• You studied your most recent four years in a high school, college, or university in the U.S. or other nations where English is an official language.
• 650 or above on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing test
• 30 or higher on both the ACT Reading and English Sections
• 100 and above on the TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test)
• 120 and above on the Duolingo English Test
• 7.5 and above on the IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)
• 5.5 and above on the iTEP (International Test of English Proficiency)
• 70 and above on the PTE Academic (Pearsons Test of English Academic)
• 191 and above on the C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency) 
• Initial View (IV) Assessment
• Vericant Assessment

Complete Your Cornell Writing Supplement

Cornell transfer questions and writing supplements.

Add Cornell University to your Common App to see the Program Materials required by Cornell:

• In the Questions tab, select the college or school at Cornell to which you are applying to see the college/school-specific Writing Supplement question. Your response should be no longer than 3000 characters.
• In the Documents tab, upload a 250- to 650-word essay answering “How does continuing your education at a new institution help you achieve your future goals?”
• Applicants for the Nolan School of Hotel Administration are required to upload a resume in the Documents tab.

Submit Additional Application Items

Additional application items.

The following majors require additional material from transfer applicants:

• Architecture: Required portfolio
• Art: Required portfolio
• Design and Environmental Analysis: Required design supplement
• Fashion Design and Management: Required design supplement
• Hotel Administration: Upload a resume/CV through the Common App (Program Materials section, Documents tab).
• Landscape Architecture: Required portfolio . Must be sent to Jamie Vanucchi, Director of Undergraduate Studies at [email protected] .  Please include your full name in the email header to ensure your portfolio is correctly matched with your application.
• Majors in the College of Engineering: Upload your completed major-specific course description form and course syllabi to your Cornell Application Status Page.

Information for US Military Veterans and Current Service Members

Join our community of veteran scholars.

Cornell invites veterans and current members of the military to join its growing community of veteran scholars. 

There’s never been a better time for those who’ve served in the military to consider Cornell. The veteran community is strong and growing, thanks to a renewed commitment to recruit, enroll, and support those who’ve served. 

Cornell’s commitment to military service and those who’ve served isn’t new; it dates back to our founding as the land grant university for New York State and the Morrill Land Grant Act requiring every land grant institution to include military training in its curriculum. We are proud of our students who have graduated from Cornell and gone on to serve in the military and we are proud of our veterans who made the choice to attend Cornell after they have served our country. 

Veteran Admissions and Enrollment Support

Cornell’s Military/Veteran Admissions and Enrollment Services team includes staff and trained student veterans who work to support veterans and current members of the military from the prospective student phase through the applications for admission , financial aid , veteran education benefits , and the enrollment process. 

Please reach out to us at [email protected] . We look forward to working with you!

Financial Aid and Veteran Benefits

Cornell meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students and military/veteran applicants are encouraged to apply for financial aid , regardless of their veteran benefits eligibility. Cornell also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program , the supplement to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® education benefit. For more information about veteran education benefits, please visit the University Registrar website .

For more information about financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment at [email protected] .

Visit our Veterans at Cornell website to learn more. 

Information for Applicants Interested in ROTC

Educating military leaders is a 150 year tradition..

Cornell has a long and prestigious military history which started with the Morrill Act of 1862. Cornell's founding and designation as New York State's Land Grant University imparted to it the responsibility to provide military training and education programs. Cornell formally established a ROTC unit in 1917. Cornell graduates have served with distinction in every major conflict since the Spanish-American War. Cornell commissioned more officers in World War I than any other institution in the United States including the military academies. During World War II, Cornellians again responded with more than 20,000 serving in the armed forces in every theatre of war.

Learn more on our ROTC at Cornell website . 

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Still need help? Look at the Frequently Asked Questions , or contact us .

Transfer applicants

Apply to VCU as a transfer student using the VCU applicant portal.

Application overview

The instructions in this section are for domestic transfer applicants, including U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees/asylees and undocumented students. If you are a non-immigrant currently residing outside of the U.S. and plan to come on an F1 or J1 visa, or a non-immigrant currently residing in the U.S. under a visa, please visit the international undergraduate applicant page  for instructions.

Transferring made easy

VCU's Transfer Center is here to help. Connect with us to learn which of your previously earned credits may transfer to VCU, set up a transfer advising appointment, or find out which higher ed institutions have admissions agreements with VCU.

Visit the Transfer Center

Application instructions

New transfer applicants.

If you are a new transfer applicant to undergraduate programs on the Monroe Park Campus, you must choose the application that corresponds with your intended term of entry in the  VCU applicant portal (example: Fall 2022, Spring 2023, etc.)

Former VCU students

Former VCU students are deemed returning applicants and must complete the application for readmission in the  VCU applicant portal if they have:

• Not attended VCU in a degree program for three or more successive fall and spring semesters
• Been suspended from VCU
• Attended another college or university since attending VCU, and three or more successive fall and spring semesters have passed

Considerations

Guaranteed admission agreements.

VCU has entered into guaranteed admission agreements with the Virginia Community College System, Richard Bland College and College of Southern Maryland. VCU also has specific program articulation agreements with some VCCS colleges and RBC. All VCCS students must complete a  letter of interest to be eligible for guaranteed admission agreement benefits.

Visit VCU's Transfer Center site for details on guaranteed admission agreements and VCCS transfer agreements .

Be ready to pay the application fee

The online application fee is $70 and must be paid via credit card when submitting your application. Do not submit cash, checks or money orders. The fee is nonrefundable.

All VCU applicants are required to submit an application fee. If you are financially unable to pay the application fee, a waiver can be requested. Applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements and submit appropriate documentation when requesting a fee waiver. Visit your applicant portal for details about how to request a fee waiver.

Follow these application guidelines

• Submit only one application for a specific semester (i.e., one application for Spring 2023).
• Be sure to apply to only one undergraduate degree program.

If you need to make changes to your application once it’s been submitted, find out how to make updates . Do not submit more than one application — if you do, only the first will be processed.

When to expect our admissions decision

Admissions decisions will be posted in your  VCU applicant portal . Transfer applicants who submit all materials by March 15 for fall admissions will receive a decision by May 1, otherwise decisions are sent on a rolling basis until enrollment capacity is met. Find additional admission decision posting dates on the application status page . 

Transfer links

• Transfer credit checker
• Application requirements
• Application checklist
• VCU applicant portal

Find answers in our  FAQs

Have questions about the application process? Explore our frequently asked questions.

Most Searched

Common questions, transfer applicants.

If you have attended any institution of higher education (on any basis, for any length of time) following graduation from high school, you will need to apply as a transfer applicant and submit official transcripts from all of the colleges that you have attended. If you are admitted to U-M, you can choose whether to use your previous colleges' credit to satisfy graduation requirements from the University of Michigan.

The University of Michigan Office of Undergraduate Admissions handles transfers for the  College of Literature, Science, and the Arts  and the  College of Engineering . For information about transferring to  other U-M schools and colleges , please contact their Admissions representatives directly.

Learn More at a Virtual Transfer Spotlight

Students interested in learning more about transferring to U-M are invited to register for a Virtual Transfer Spotlight session to learn about admissions requirements and speak with current student(s).

Register to attend a Virtual Transfer Spotlight

Review all our admission requirements and deadlines for a student who has earned college credit after receiving a high school diploma. 

Here are the essay questions for the Common Application, along with the specific University of Michigan essays. 

A summary report for the last five years of new undergraduate transfer student applications/admissions/enrollment; class level at enrollment. Based on fall semester data.

How to check your application status online.

In order for your course work to be considered transferable to the University of Michigan, it must meet these certain criteria.

Resources for Community College Students wishing to transfer to U-M.

When you transfer to Michigan, you'll find daily opportunities for growth, engagement, leadership, and for fun.

Students can explore everything you need to know about transferring to U-M, including info on academic programs, tuition, and more.

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Utah Admissions

Welcome to the u.

Transfer students have graduated from high school or earned the equivalent of a high school diploma by passing the GED or HiSET exam, and have previously attended a regionally accredited college or university but have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree.

You’ve worked so hard to get here, and we can’t wait to see all the great things you’ll do. Ready for the next chapter? Read on to learn how to get started.

Your Future Begins with U

Review Admissions Standards

Academic factors that are taken into consideration include:

• Cumulative transferable GPA
• Completed semester hours
• Grade trend and academic awards
• Associate degrees earned
• ACT/SAT test scores (optional)

Non-academic factors include:

• Extracurricular activities
• Community engagement
• Familial and financial responsibilities
• Work experience
• Extraordinary circumstances
• Ability to contribute to and benefit from the learning community

Need more information?

Review Frequently Asked Questions

Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis. Spring applications due Nov 1. Summer (Full Term) applications due April 1. Summer (Session One) application due April 1. Summer (Second Session) applications due June 1. Fall Priority Admissions application due February 1. Fall applications due April 1.

Submit Your Application

Be sure to fill out the application completely, as it will be used to determine your:

• Admissibility
• Residency for tuition purposes
• Eligibility for merit scholarships

Once you’ve started your application, you will be able to save and continue at any time until submitted.

If you are an international student, please  click here for more information .

Once submitted, you can no longer make changes to your application.

Pay the Application Fee

The application fee is $55 for undergraduate domestic students and $65 for undergraduate international students. It is not refundable.

The application fee may be waived for applicants who provide documentation of financial hardship, as well as Military-Connected students (meaning a student is an active military member, veteran, or the dependent of an active military member or veteran).

View Fee Waiver Info

Fees must be paid online within the application.

Send Official Transcripts

You are required to submit official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges or universities you have previously attended.

If you have completed fewer than 30 transferable semester hours or 45 transferable quarter hours, you will also be required to submit an official high school transcript.

Paper transcripts can be mailed directly from the college or university, or brought in an envelope sealed by the school to:

The University of Utah Office of Admissions 201 South 1460 East, Room 250S Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA

Electronic transcripts can be requested through one of the following services:

• Parchment/Naviance
• National Student Clearinghouse
• Credentials Solutions
• eScrip-Safe

If prompted for a recipient email address when ordering your transcript, please use [email protected] . Transcripts sent directly through email or fax will not be considered official. Applications will only be reviewed once all official transcripts have been received.

Track Your Application

Your application will be evaluated once we receive a completed application, application fee, and all required documentation.

The status of your application can be tracked here . Please allow 7-10 business days for the online tracker to reflect newly received materials.

Once you've been admitted to the University of Utah, you will attend the New Student Orientation.

Priority Scholarship deadline

Summer (full term)

Summer (second session only)

Learn About Prior Learning Credits

The U offers several opportunities to earn retroactive credit for college-level knowledge you’ve already acquired.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Did you know the University of Utah is a PAC-12 Top Affordable School? We offer a full range of scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans to make college as affordable as possible.

Still Have Questions?

Important Addresses

Harvard College

University Hall Cambridge, MA 02138

Harvard College Admissions Office and Griffin Financial Aid Office

86 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138

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If you are located in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway (the “European Economic Area”), please click here for additional information about ways that certain Harvard University Schools, Centers, units and controlled entities, including this one, may collect, use, and share information about you.

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Transfer Applicants

Each year, we accept a small group of exceptional students to transfer to Harvard College from other similar liberal arts programs. U.S. Military veterans  may be particularly interested in our transfer program if they've completed at least one full academic year, and not more than two, of college coursework.

Transfer FAQs

Do transfer students qualify for financial aid.

Yes. All transfer applicants, including international students, are eligible to apply for need-based financial aid. Transfer applicants should follow the prospective student financial aid application instructions.

How are transfer students supported on campus?

Enrolling students take part in a fall orientation program and are connected with a dedicated transfer adviser who helps with academic planning and the transition to Harvard life. Transfer students who live on-campus  will find strong community in their undergraduate Houses, and students who live off campus will benefit from the Dudley Community. Transfer students are also supported by peer advisers , who were themselves transfer students from prior years.

What courses transfer to Harvard College? Is there a list of transferrable courses?

The Harvard College Registrar's Office grants credit for work done at another college or university to each admitted transfer student on an individual basis after careful evaluation. The admissions office does not keep a list of transferrable courses and cannot advise on this matter during the application process. Harvard College typically accepts courses taken while enrolled as a full-time student in an undergraduate program similar to our liberal arts curriculum. The Committee also looks for strong preparation in the student's expected field of specialization.

Can I concentrate in business, journalism, law, or medicine?

While you can take courses related to these fields, Harvard's academic programs are not pre-professional, in that they do not provide vocational training. Many Harvard graduates plan to continue their education in professional or graduate schools, often in these fields. Please note that both medicine and law are postgraduate programs in the United States. If you are not a U.S. citizen but wish to continue your education in a professional program, particularly in an American medical school, we advise you to consult specific graduate and professional programs in advance to understand those schools' admissions and financial aid policies concerning international students.

I am an international prospective transfer student. What is the transfer application process for me?

The application process and requirements are exactly the same for international students. Our financial aid program also applies to all applicants regardless of nationality or citizenship. For more information, you can view all of the transfer application requirements here .

About Our Transfer Program

Each fall, we welcome a very small number (12 on average) of transfer students to Harvard College. We seek students whose previous academic experience will prepare them to flourish in our rigorous and rewarding liberal arts program. In our candidates for transfer admission, we look for:

• A clearly defined academic need to transfer
• A proven record of achievement at your current institution
• Strong faculty recommendations

Recently, we have received more than 1,500 transfer applications per year. In pools of this size, the number of well-qualified applicants far exceeded the number of students admitted and enrolled each year as transfer students. As admission to transfer to Harvard is competitive, we encourage you to explore a variety of colleges in your transfer search. 

Eligibility

To be eligible to transfer, you must have completed at least one continuous academic year in a full-time degree program at one college, and not more than two academic years, by the time you would be enrolling at Harvard . You must complete at least two full years of study at Harvard. Once a student has completed more than two years total of college at another institution, regardless of courses taken, that student is no longer eligible for transfer admission.

Students are eligible to transfer only from a liberal arts curriculum that is similar to Harvard’s. Candidates whose education has been in a vocational, professional, technical, online, extension, or performance program will not ordinarily qualify for transfer admission.

• Students who have completed one full-time year of college in a regular degree program in lieu of their senior year of high school (often referred to as dual enrollment) should apply for first-year admission if these courses are taken for credit towards a high school diploma.
• Students who are enrolled part-time are not eligible unless they have previously completed one full-time, continuous academic year.

If you are too advanced in your studies to qualify for transfer, you may be interested in the  Visiting Undergraduate Student Program.

No student with a bachelor's degree or other first university degree from any other university, whether American or foreign, is eligible for admission to Harvard College. Students interested in continuing their studies beyond the bachelor's degree might wish to consider one of the  12 Harvard University graduate schools . The Harvard College Admissions Office is independent of these schools and their admissions policies.

Take a Virtual Tour

Use our Virtual Tour to discover spaces that aren't even available on an in-person campus tour, such as classrooms, laboratories, residence halls, and more.

What We Look For

Through our admissions process, we strive to give you ample opportunities to best demonstrate your interests and accomplishments. We welcome candidates who have gone directly from high school into college as well as those who have followed less traditional paths.

The Admissions Committee looks for achievement in a rigorous program of study, especially in your expected field of specialization. Beyond strong grades, test scores, and recommendations, the Committee considers other non-academic factors such as significant extracurricular engagements and talents. We also consider an applicant’s personal qualities such as a capacity for leadership, creativity, resiliency, intellectual curiosity, and independent thinking.

In addition to our standard application materials, you may submit supplementary materials showcasing exceptional or unusual talents, including musical performance, artistic work, and research material.

Harvard accepts transfer students for fall semester entrance only; we do not admit students for the spring semester. The transfer application becomes available during the fall of the academic year. 

• March 1 : Deadline for all transfer application and financial aid materials. 
• The Transfer Admissions Committee begins to review applications after the application deadline.
• We will notify applicants of admissions decisions in June.

Submitting your materials early does not increase your chances of admission, but it does provide more opportunities to track down any missing documents and ensure that your application is full and complete by the time we begin our review. Please note that college transcripts should be sent between January and March in order to reflect your most updated academic credentials.

From the service to school

Veteran transfer students from community colleges make Harvard home

Application Requirements

• Transfer Application from the  Coalition Application, Powered by Scoir , or  Common Application . 
• Harvard College Questions and Writing Supplement for the Common Application
• $85 fee (or request a fee waiver by sending an email to  [email protected] )
• AP exam results 
• IB Actual or Predicted Scores
• GCSE/A-Level Actual or Predicted Results
• National Leaving Exams Results or Predictions
• College/Dean’s/Registrar’s report
• Official College Transcript
• College Instructor Recommendations (2)
• Official High School Transcript

* If you have applied to Harvard in the past, we will have access to your previous application in our review process including any scores that you submitted with earlier applications. Test scores can be particularly helpful for non-traditional students. We encourage non-traditional students to submit an exam taken within three years of applying for transfer to reflect current academic ability.

Self-reported scores are acceptable during the application process; official scores are required of enrolling students.

Printable Transfer Application Forms

All applications are treated equally, whether they are received in the mail or online. However, applications submitted online are processed faster and allow your school officials to submit their part of your application online as well. Please choose one option only: either apply online or send an application through the mail.

Please note that you can only download and print the following forms - you will not be able to complete them electronically.

• College Report (often completed by the Registrar’s Office; formerly called Registrar’s or Dean’s Report)
• Harvard Transfer Supplement
• Midterm Report (Optional)

Instructions for Submitting Required Materials

Submitting the College Report (required), High School Transcripts (required) or Midterm Report (not required)

By mail: Harvard College Admissions and Griffin Financial Aid Office Attn: Undergraduate Transfer Admissions 86 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138

By fax: 1 (617) 495-8821

Please address documents to the attention of the Transfer Admissions team. If you are faxing internationally, make sure to check if there is any additional number you need to input prior to dialing 1 (617) 495-8821. 

If your school official is not able to submit materials in these ways, they may send them to us as PDFs at [email protected] . Please request that your school official include your name and application number in the subject line of the email for easier processing. They must send the document(s) from their official institutional email account (if they have one). 

Submitting College Transcripts By electronic credential exchange network (PREFERRED METHOD): If your college is a member of the following electronic credential exchange networks, please make every effort to send your college transcript through these secure channels:

• National Student Clearinghouse
• Naviance Network  

Transferring Course Credit

Harvard will honor comparable coursework you have done prior to your transfer admission, while also giving you time to take advantage of Harvard’s course offerings and delve deeply into your concentration.

You will be allowed to transfer in a maximum of 16 semester-long courses—the equivalent of two full years of academic work—providing you the opportunity to take the remaining half of the courses required for your A.B. or S.B. degree at Harvard.

The Harvard College Registrar’s Office grants credit for work done at another college or university to each admitted transfer student on an individual basis after careful evaluation. While Harvard does not audit transcripts prior to application to determine eligibility, the descriptions below should be helpful in determining which of your courses may transfer. Our office is unable to make recommendations in regards to coursework at your current institution or advise on anticipated class standing during the application process.

Which courses are eligible for credit?

You may receive credit for courses taken in a full-time, daytime program of study at an accredited degree-granting institution, provided that you:

• Took courses comparable to those offered in Harvard’s liberal arts curriculum.
• Earned grades of “C” (or the equivalent) or better

Which courses are not eligible for credit?

Unfortunately, we are unable to grant credit for certain accomplishments. Harvard does not typically award credit for:

• Online or distance education courses
• Night or extension courses
• Courses taken on a part-time basis
• Technical or vocational courses such as accounting, marketing, journalism, law, agriculture, nursing, business, communications or specialized military training coursework
• Dual-enrollment courses counted for credit toward a high school diploma
• Work done prior to admission in an isolated term, semester or quarter at another college, unless the college from which you are transferring has granted credit for that work
• Credit gained by accelerating in an academic year at another college
• College Level Placement Exam (CLEP), Advanced Placement Exam (AP/IB) results, or any credit earned by examination, even when credited to your degree by the college or university from which you wish to transfer
• Summer school courses, except for those at your current college/university or courses at  Harvard Summer School

Contacting Transfer Admissions

The Transfer Admissions team will be available to answer questions by email at [email protected] Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am and 5pm ET.

Related Topics

Not sure how to fill out the admissions application to Harvard? Here are some helpful tips from our admissions committee.

Here you'll find a detailed explanation of each requirement of the application, including teacher recommendations, test scores, and school reports.

Your advisors can help you you plan your degree program or take advantage of unique academic opportunities such as study abroad.

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Transfer Applicants

Transfer students play a meaningful role in the life of the College. Your experiences at other institutions contribute to the diversity of our student body and provide valuable perspective to all kinds of interactions on campus, from classroom conversations to coffee chats on the quad. We are committed to assembling a community of talented scholars from a wide range of backgrounds, and this includes transfer students.

If you have already completed at least one term as a full-time student in a bachelor's degree-seeking program at another college or university, you should apply as a transfer student. All others, to include high school students who have taken college-level courses, should apply as  first-year applicants .

The University of Chicago offers transfer applicants a choice of two application plans. Your application will go through the same careful review process no matter which of these plans you choose, so you should pick the one that suits you best. In picking the UChicago application plan that's right for you, you'll want to consider when you will be ready to apply and whether you are prepared to make a binding commitment to UChicago.

2023-2024 Timelines

*11:59 p.m. applicant's local time on March 1 or first business day of March.

**Late afternoon Chicago local time on the last business day in March.

Transfer Application Plans

Transfer early decision.

Our Transfer Early Decision (TED) application is best for students who have identified UChicago as their absolute first choice for transferring and know they would choose to attend UChicago immediately if admitted. This admission plan is binding, meaning that if admitted, you commit to attending UChicago, withdrawing outstanding transfer applications from any other school, and agreeing not to apply to transfer to any additional colleges. If you apply Early Decision, you will need to download, complete, and submit a Transfer Early Decision Agreement by uploading it in your UChicago Account.

If you are enthusiastic about applying to UChicago but would like to compare admissions offers, transfer credit estimates, or financial aid packages from multiple colleges before making a final decision, you should consider applying through the Rolling Decision plan.

Transfer Early Decision applicants will receive an admissions decision of admit, deny, or waitlist.

Transfer Rolling Decision

In our Transfer Rolling Decision (TR) application plan, students are strongly encouraged to submit their application by the March 1 priority deadline. We will continue to review applications until June 1 and we will release decisions on a rolling basis starting in early May. Applying as a Rolling Decision applicant does not constitute a binding commitment to attend if admitted, and you will have until June 5 to reply to your offer if admitted.

Transfer Rolling Decision applicants will receive an admissions decision of admit, deny, or waitlist.

Required Application Materials

Transfer application for admission and supplement essays.

Applicants should submit their choice of Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application *, both of which include the University of Chicago Supplement . Applicants will also be prompted to create a UChicago Account , where they can submit information and view their admissions decision.

Select One of Two Applications

There are several online application platforms accepted by many colleges and universities. Through the online application platform, you submit basic information about your background, academic profile, and extracurricular activities, as well as a brief personal statement; all of this information can be easily shared with multiple colleges you decide to apply to. If you apply to the University of Chicago, you will also submit several supplemental essays, which will not be seen by other institutions.

UChicago accepts Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application for transfer applicants. We treat both equally in the admissions process. You'll want to pick a single application platform to use, whichever you feel works best for you.

Questions about technical matters related to using one of these consortium applications should be directed, respectively, to the folks at Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application . Questions about our own requirements should be directed to us .

Extracurricular Activities

In your list of extracurricular activities, you should include whatever it is that you have spent your time doing outside of class during high school and college. This could be an official club, team, or competition; a hobby you pursue on your own; a part-time job; a family responsibility; or anything else you do with your time outside of class. Colleges ask for this information not because they have any specific expectation or preference for how you spend your time, but to see what's meaningful, worthwhile, or interesting to you. We do not require certificates proving participation in activities. If the space provided on the application to list all extracurricular and work experiences is not sufficient, you may share further details through the "Additional Information" section or in your UChicago Account.

Application Essay

The personal statement is your chance to present yourself and your ideas in your own words. Through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application, your essay will be sent to the schools you are applying to, and should not be specific to any one school. Your essay should be appropriate for a wide array of audiences and should put your best foot forward.

The personal statement is not required for the transfer application. You have the option to submit one if you like. If applying through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir, the application will say that the Coalition Essay is required. You may submit a personal statement, or you may write “N/A”. If applying through the Common Application, the personal statement will appear as optional.

UChicago Supplement

The University of Chicago Supplement requires one extended essay of your choice from our list of several prompts and one short essay on why you would like to attend the University of Chicago as a transfer student. For this second essay, transfer students will be asked to answer the following prompt (in approximately 500 words):

• Please tell us why you are planning to leave (or have already left) your current college or university, and how the University of Chicago will satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future. Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.

The Supplement essays should be submitted through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application .

Your UChicago Account

Students may create a UChicago Account before or after starting their application on the Common Application or Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir. To create a UChicago Account before you begin working on your application, please visit getstarted.uchicago.edu .

If you begin by working on the application, you will receive an email with instructions on how to set up your UChicago Account. When you sign in to your UChicago Account , you will be able to complete and update your profile, apply for financial aid, upload supplementary materials if you wish, and eventually view your admissions decision.

If you previously applied to UChicago as a first-year, transfer, or Summer Session student, you already have a UChicago Account in your name and will not receive emailed instructions. If you forgot your password from your previous account, please use the “forgot password” function with the email address you used in your Common Application or Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir application to access your account.

Application Fee or Automatic Waiver

The University of Chicago does not charge an application fee for students applying for need-based financial aid. For students not applying for need-based financial aid, our application fee is $75 and can be submitted through the Common Application or Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir.

Credit Card

Please follow the instructions on the application for submitting the application fee online.

Check or Money Order

Please include a note with the check or money order with the applicant's full name and address and mail it to the College Admissions Office by the application deadline. Checks should be made payable to the University of Chicago.

The Office of College Admissions Attn. Matt Cowell 1101 E. 58th St. Rosenwald 005 Chicago, IL 60637

High School and College Transcripts

Transfer students are required to submit both a final high school transcript and college transcripts for every post-secondary school attended. You are welcome to submit either official copies or unofficial copies; official copies are only required for admitted students who choose to enroll. If applying with unofficial copies, each transcript must show your full name and school name. Unofficial copies can be uploaded in the documents section of the Common Application , in the Coalition Application Supplement if applying through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir , or in your UChicago Account. We prefer electronic submission instead of physical mail for official transcripts.

Final High School Transcript

We require a transcript detailing your coursework and grades over your entire high school career. If you graduated, the transcript should list your graduation date. In reading your application, your transcript will serve as a roadmap of your academic path in high school. We will be looking at your academic record across all four years of high school, primarily to see that you have challenged yourself productively in your course selection and done well in those courses.

Your transcript is considered in the context of your high school. Course offerings and opportunities can look very different from one high school to the next, and we want to see how you took advantage of what was available to you at your high school. You would never be at a disadvantage in the admissions process for not having pursued an opportunity that was not available to you. A School Profile is usually included with your transcript that tells us about the environment at your school, course offerings, curriculum, and educational outcomes. We do not require complete syllabi.

If you have taken courses during high school at institutions other than your final high school, such as a previous high school or a local college, please be sure to submit transcripts for these grades if they are not included in your final high school transcript.

College Transcripts

Please make sure to include transcripts from every post-secondary school you have attended after high school. If you received pass/fail marks for college or university courses instead of grades, please request that your instructors submit a short, written evaluation of your work to the admissions office separately.

Current College Coursework

If using Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir, please include any in-progress or future college coursework through the end of the current academic year in the College Coursework section of your application profile. If using the Common Application, you should include any in-progress college coursework in the Mid-Term report. If you are not currently enrolled in courses, you do not need to complete the College Coursework section or the Mid-Term report.

Transcripts written in a language other than English

Transcripts written in a language other than English should be accompanied by a certified translation and a grading scale.

Two Teacher Evaluations

We require two recommendations from teachers who have taught you in an academic subject. Academic subjects, as defined for the purposes of letters of recommendation, include mathematics, social studies, history, science, English or literature, foreign language, and other courses in which you are doing substantial amounts of reading, writing, or class discussion.

If you feel that you have not had satisfactory contact with professors at your college or university, you may ask a teaching assistant or lab instructor who may have had more experience working with you to provide a recommendation. A recommendation from a recent high school teacher is also acceptable for those who are just in their first year of college, though we recommend at least one of your recommendations come from someone who has worked with you in an academic context in college. If you have questions about whether a particular course is a good choice, feel free to contact your regional Admissions Counselor .

Ask for recommendations from teachers who know you well and can speak specifically and positively about your contributions in the classroom, academic interest, and interactions with classmates. This does not necessarily need to be the teacher who gave you the best grades, but instead someone who best knows your academic personality and thinks highly of you. Plan to have a brief conversation with your recommender to give them context on your educational plans, as this can be helpful in writing a more detailed letter.

As teachers are often writing letters of recommendation on their own time and are therefore not getting paid to do it, we also strongly encourage students to write their recommenders a thank you note.

Submitting Letters of Recommendation

All teachers have the option of submitting letters of recommendation and school forms online via  Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application. They should follow the instructions on the application for submitting these forms. Teachers may print out and submit these forms on paper even if you submit your application online. Letters of recommendation must come directly from the recommender and should not be sent by the applicant. Letters of recommendation can be added to your application after the application deadline, so you do not need to ask your recommender to submit their letter before or at the same time as you have submitted your application.

If your recommenders are most comfortable writing in a language other than English, they may do so. Have them submit the original letter accompanied by a translation.

Supplemental Recommendations

If you feel that we won't be able get a full picture of who you are without a third letter of recommendation from another teacher, an employer, role model, youth leader, or friend, you may submit one additional letter. Submitting a supplemental letter of recommendation is not an expectation, and please be considerate of the significant time commitment writing a good letter of recommendation takes before asking a potential recommender. 

No Harm Testing Policy

Submitting an SAT or ACT is optional and not required for admission. In addition to being test-optional, UChicago practices a “No Harm” policy for application review when considering SAT or ACT scores. Any SAT or ACT score submitted will only be used in review if it will positively affect an applicant’s chance of admission. Test scores that may negatively impact an admission decision will not be considered in review. All applicants, including domestic students, international students, and transfer students will be reviewed under this policy.

Reporting Scores

Students submitting SAT or ACT scores may share either official or self-reported scores. Students sharing self-reported scores will not be required to submit official score reports unless they are admitted and choose to enroll. You are able to self-report test scores through Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application . You will not need to superscore your own results or recalculate your scores in any way; send your scores exactly as you receive them. To be considered official, scores can be sent by a school official, listed on a transcript, or sent to the University of Chicago directly from the testing agency. UChicago’s SAT code is 1832; the ACT code is 1152.

Testing Deadlines

While we would, of course, like to receive your scores before the appropriate deadline, we will accept the February ACT for Transfer Early Decision and Transfer Rolling Decision and the March SAT for Transfer Rolling Decision.

College/Transfer Report

Transfer students are required to submit a College/Transfer Report indicating their academic standing at their current or most recently attended college or university. The report should be completed by a dean, registrar, or academic adviser who has access to your disciplinary and academic records and sent directly to the Office of College Admissions. If using the Common Application, you can download the College/Transfer Report in the “Supporting Documents” section in the Common Application. If using Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir, you may use the University of Chicago College/Transfer Report.

If a college or university cannot provide an official report, don’t panic!  We will still be able to review your application in its entirety without any penalty.

Optional Components

Financial aid application.

Although our admissions process is need-sensitive for transfer students, we are committed to meeting 100% of your demonstrated need with a loan-free financial aid award if you are admitted and applied for funding. Transfer students are eligible for financial aid only if they apply for funding during the admissions process, and will not be eligible for financial aid after receiving their admissions decision or during their four years in the College. If you think you will need financial aid at any point during your four years at UChicago, you should apply for financial aid when you apply for admission.

The number of quarters for which you receive financial aid will depend on your transfer credit evaluation, which you will receive after you are offered admission. Learn more about  applying for financial aid .

If you are neither a citizen of the United States nor a permanent resident, then we consider you to be an  international transfer applicant , even if you are currently studying at a U.S. college or university. International transfer applicants are not eligible for financial aid.

Recommended Video Profile

If you would like to add your voice to your application, you have the option to submit a two-minute video introduction instead of the traditional college interview, which is not part of our application process. Your recording does not need to be extensively rehearsed or polished, and the video does not need to be edited.

You may record your video introduction using the platform of your choice, and then upload a file to your UChicago Account. You may upload your video to your UChicago Account at any time, but we recommend uploading by March 6 th for Transfer Early Decision and within a week of submitting your application for Transfer Rolling Decision.

We hope students find creative ways to share their voice and ideas, so we focus on content rather than filming quality when reviewing recommended video profiles. For the purposes of our review, it is still impressive if a student is sharing important ideas and perspective on their specific potential for contribution to UChicago even if that video was filmed “selfie-style” on a phone. It is much less helpful if the video is professionally lit and edited, but contains little to no unique information about the student or their specific candidacy for UChicago. We encourage students to film in a quiet space that limits outside distractions (background noise, music, pet or sibling interference, etc). While it’s ok to rehearse your message a bit so that you feel confident and ready, it’s helpful for us to hear these spoken in your normal, conversational voice—memorizing a “script” or reading from prepared sheets/notecards may come appear as a less engaged and conversational experience. If there is any important information relevant to your candidacy you were unable to address elsewhere in the application, please share that information here.

Supplemental Materials: Optional Art, Creative, Research, or Other Supplements

Students may submit supplemental material representing a significant talent, passion, or achievement by uploading it through their UChicago Account. These materials include, but are not limited to, creative writing projects, highlights from music/dance/visual art/theater performance, school capstone projects such as AP Capstone or the equivalent, research projects, business plans, or other work of note.

Students may also elect to submit results of AP exams, SAT Subject Tests, IB courses, or A-Level courses on an optional and self-reported basis.

Transfer Credit

If admitted, the Dean of Students office will provide you with an initial evaluation of your transfer credits. We recommend you submit your transfer credit materials when you apply for admission in order to receive an initial credit evaluation in a timely manner. These materials include the Transfer of Credit form and syllabi for each course you would like to receive a credit evaluation, all of which can be submitted in your UChicago Account. Learn more about how UChicago considers transfer credit and how to submit your coursework for evaluation.

Academic Requirements

Transfer students must attend the University of Chicago for at least two academic years (six quarters) and complete the Core curriculum , along with more than half of their major requirements bearing UChicago course numbers. Certain College-sponsored study abroad programs (chiefly the Civilizations study abroad programs) may be used to meet these requirements.

Starting the summer before matriculation in the College, transfer students may not earn additional credits from schools other than the University of Chicago, except through direct-enrollment study abroad programs sponsored by UChicago. However, these courses will not count toward the residency or course requirements. Most transfer students can complete their studies with no more than one extra quarter beyond the usual four college years, although this may depend on how coursework completed elsewhere fits into the structure of a UChicago degree program.

If you would like to visit the University to study for one year or less before returning to another institution, you should apply as a student-at-large . Students who already have a bachelor’s degree are not eligible to apply to the undergraduate College at the University of Chicago, as the College does not grant second bachelor’s degrees. However, you are welcome to pursue a  graduate degree  or apply as a  graduate-student-at-large  through the  Graham School of General Studies.

Academic Opportunities for Incoming Transfer Students

Incoming transfer students are invited to take classes during the summer before matriculation through Summer Quarter and/or September Term, and will receive information about how to register for these courses in late Spring. Learn more online about Summer Quarter and September Term course offerings.

Freshman requirements

• Subject requirement (A-G)
• GPA requirement
• Admission by exception
• English language proficiency
• UC graduation requirements

Additional information for

• California residents
• Out-of-state students
• Home-schooled students

Transfer requirements

• Understanding UC transfer
• Preparing to transfer
• UC transfer programs
• Transfer planning tools

International applicants

• Applying for admission
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS)
• Passports & visas
• Living accommodations
• Health care & insurance

AP & Exam credits

Applying as a freshman

Filling out the application

Dates & deadlines, personal insight questions, how applications are reviewed, after you apply, applying as a transfer.

Types of aid

• Grants & scholarships
• Jobs & work-study
• California DREAM Loan Program
• Middle Class Scholarship Program
• Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
• Native American Opportunity Plan  
• Who can get financial aid
• How aid works
• Estimate your aid

Apply for financial aid

• Cal Dream Act application tips
• Tuition & cost of attendance
• Glossary & resources
• Santa Barbara
• Campus program & support services
• Check majors
• Freshman admit data
• Transfer admit data
• Native American Opportunity Plan

3 out of 4 transfer students who apply to UC get in. How did they do it? By knowing UC is possible.

Let’s get started.

You can start working on your fall application as early as August 1 and must submit it by November 30.

Application filing periods

Fall quarter/semester: October 1–November 30 Winter quarter/spring semester: July 1–31

UC Berkeley and UC Merced are on the semester system calendar while all other campuses are on the quarter system calendar. All campuses are open for the fall term and some may be open for winter/spring. 

See more dates & deadlines »  

  Even though applying to UC is an exciting time in your life, it can also be daunting. But we're here to reassure you—we're not looking for perfection. We want to know about your passions and life experiences...everything that makes you, YOU.

Our application is designed to capture all of this and more.

Learn more about the application »  

Our personal insight questions are about getting a better sense of who you are. Take time to think about your life experience, ambition and inspiration. It’s just one small part of your application—but it’s a great chance to introduce yourself, and make an impression.

Transfer questions & directions »  

We know you're more than just your grades and coursework. Using a process called comprehensive review, we look at how hard you've worked to take advantage of the opportunities you've had to excel at school, in your favorite extracurricular activities and in your community.

Learn more about how we review transfer applications »  

You've selected your campuses, submitted your application, paid your application fees. Now what? You still have a few more items to cross off your list.

What happens next »  

Have a question about the application?

See options for contacting us »

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Everything you need to know (and do) to transfer to IU Bloomington

IU Bloomington is a great place to finish your degree, and the campus welcomes approximately 1,000 transfer students each year.

Students who are enrolled at an accredited, two- or four-year college, including another IU campus, and meet published IU Bloomington eligibility requirements will be guaranteed admission to the IU Bloomington campus. Once admitted, students have the opportunity to pursue and complete the admission requirements for their preferred academic program.

Use the following step-by-step instructions to learn what you need to do before you start your application , when you are ready to apply , and after you have submitted your application .

International applicants should visit the Office of International Services .

Download our transfer guide

Get your copy of the IU Transfer Guide and learn more about applying for admission, transferring credits, and gaining admission to your school or college.

Ready to become a Hoosier?

Go straight to the Apply IU Application if you’re ready to apply to IU Bloomington as a transfer student.

Apply Today

The next deadline is June 1.

Before you apply

Before you begin the application process, learn what you need to do to get ready to apply.

Identify what kind of transfer student you are

If you’ve completed at least 12 semester hours of college coursework following your graduation from high school, you’re eligible to apply as a transfer student. If you have completed fewer than 12 semester hours, please complete the freshman application .

If you have completed fewer than 26 semester hours (or 39 quarter hours) of transferable college coursework, you also need to submit your official high school transcript as part of your application to IU.

If you have been a degree-seeking student at any IU campus, or any other regionally accredited two- or four-year institution, please complete the Apply IU application .

Know our deadlines

Find out when to apply, when you’ll be notified of acceptance, when you need to pay your enrollment deposit, and more. Please note that the deposit is nonrefundable and will be credited toward your first-semester tuition expenses.

See all deadlines

Review admission standards

These are the minimum requirements to transfer to IU Bloomington. In most cases, admitted students exceed these standards.

We pay particular attention to grade trends, your cumulative and most recent term grade point averages (GPA), and the breadth and depth of your previous college program. It’s also important that you have maintained good standing with your previous institution.

Grade trends

If you have grades that are consistently above average, or show steady improvement in a challenging academic program, your application will likely be competitive for admission. If your transcript shows declining grades, grades below C in the most recent term, or a less demanding academic program, we may ask you to take additional coursework to demonstrate your readiness to be successful at IU and reapply for admission for a future term.

Cumulative college grade point average (GPA)

• Indiana residents should have a minimum college cumulative GPA of 2.3 on a 4.0-point scale before applying to IU Bloomington.
• Nonresidents should have a minimum college cumulative GPA of 2.5.

Because of the competitive nature of our applicant pool, few transfers are admitted with a GPA below those listed above.

High school record

If you have completed fewer than 26 transferable semester hours (or 39 quarter hours) of college coursework, your high school transcript will be reviewed as part of the holistic admissions process.

Generally, a transfer student who earned a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average and met the high school curriculum requirements set by faculty could be considered for transfer admission after only one semester of college level work after high school. Transfer students who earned less than a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average could still be considered based on a holistic review of their application and early success in college level work, including AP, IB, and Dual Credit earned while in high school, but may be asked to complete additional coursework at the college level prior to admission.

Please review the “When you Apply” section for details as to how to send your high school transcript.

Other decision-making factors

SAT/ACT scores are not required for transfer students. However, you may submit test scores if you would like to have them considered as a part of your admissions review.

Self-reported race or ethnicity information will not be made available to individuals responsible for reviewing admission applications and/or making admission decisions.

Research academic programs

Before you apply, make sure you spend some time exploring our different schools and 200+ majors .

When you fill out your application, you’ll be asked to choose an intended major. If you know what you’d like to major in, select that major.

If you don’t know what you want to major in, that’s OK. IU students who have not yet chosen a major are considered exploratory students. It’s fine to spend time discovering the path that’s right for you. Indiana University promotes academic exploration above all else. It’s why over 40 percent of freshmen begin their studies in University Division (UD) , where they fulfill the general requirements needed to certify into a degree-granting school or college.

Learn more about our philosophy on academic exploration

Learn how transferring your credits will work

If you are admitted to IU, we will evaluate your transcript(s) to determine if your coursework from another institution translates into credit at IU Bloomington. You will receive an email with information on how to check your online transfer credit report via One.IU. It will take approximately four to six weeks to complete a transfer credit evaluation once a transcript arrives in our office.

Here are a few important notes about transfer credit:

• Only coursework earned at a regionally accredited institution will transfer.
• Only courses in which you received a C or higher will transfer.
• Transfer credit may count toward your degree at IU, but it will not count toward your GPA at IU.
• Individual schools and departments at IU determine how transferred credits will apply toward your degree requirements.
• Courses for which IU does not have an equivalent offering can sometimes be transferred as undistributed credits. Your academic advisor will be able to assist you with how undistributed credits may count toward your degree.
• Adult learners may be awarded credit based on assessment of non-academic prior learning experiences.
• Veterans may earn college credit for educational experiences in the armed services.

Learn more at our Credit Transfer Service

Review AP, IB, and other credit guides

IU awards AP and college credit that can help you get a head start on your degree program.

Read more about advanced placement, credit, and exemptions

Transferring from another IU campus

If you’re currently taking classes at one of our nine IU campuses , we invite you to apply to IU Bloomington! Every year, hundreds of students transfer to IU Bloomington from another IU campus.

Start your Apply IU application

IU academic credit for intercampus transfer applications must be completed at an IU campus by the time of application , and excludes courses that do not count toward an IU Bloomington degree, such as English or math classes considered pre-college level. Other specific exclusions are physical education electives and learning-skills courses such as freshman seminars. If you have specific questions about academic credit, please contact OVPUE Records .

If you want to complete a summer class or a semester of coursework in Bloomington before returning to your home campus, learn about enrolling as a visiting student .

Find info for Guaranteed Admission, Indiana College Core (ICC), and Transfer Single Articulation Pathways (TSAP)

Students who earn the ICC milestone at any Indiana state public institution prior to enrolling at IU Bloomington would not be required to complete this general coursework at IU.

Learn more about ICC

Transfer Single Articulation Pathways (TSAP) provides an opportunity for students to complete a bachelor’s degree at IU Bloomington in 60 credit hours, following completion of the corresponding TSAP associate degree at either Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University. 

Learn more about TSAP

Indiana University Bloomington and Ivy Tech Community College have also collaborated to establish Guaranteed Admission Agreements in each of the following areas: Biology, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Informatics, and Psychology. 

The bachelor’s degrees earned by TSAP and Guaranteed Admission students at IU Bloomington are the same four-year degrees earned by students who matriculate as freshmen, and the degree requirements are also the same.

Learn more about Guaranteed Admission Agreements

Find Jacobs School of Music requirements

If you’re interested in the Jacobs School of Music, you may apply using the Apply IU Application . After your application, you must complete the Jacobs Schools of Music supplemental application and submit an additional fee.

Please Note:  The deadline to submit the Jacobs School of Music supplemental application is December 1.

Learn more about Jacobs School of Music requirements

When you apply

Find out what to do when you’re ready to send in your application.

Submit your complete application

Transfer applicants apply using the Apply IU Application.

Start your Apply IU Application

You will need to submit the following materials to apply for admission:

• The application. Transfer applicants apply using the Apply IU Application .
• IU specific-essay:  In 200–400 words, you’ll be asked to describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. If you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, you may share those experiences and how you overcame them. Find more information about completing your essay on our FAQ page .
• The $65 application fee. The application fee is nonrefundable. If you experience any payment issues, please contact us at [email protected] or 812-855-0661 .
• Your official college transcript(s) , which your college(s) should send directly to the IU Office of Admissions.

If you have completed fewer than 26 semester hours (or 39 quarter hours) of transferable college coursework, you also need to submit the following materials to apply for admission:

• Your official high school transcript , which your high school should send directly to the IU Office of Admissions.
• SAT/ACT scores are not required for transfer students. However, you may submit test scores if you would like to have them considered as a part of your admission review.

Make sure you allow pop-ups and enable third-party cookies to ensure that your application and fee payment will be submitted correctly. If you experience any payment issues, please contact us at [email protected] or 812-855-0661 .

Make sure you read through the information on this page and our FAQ page before you get started.

Request to have your transcript(s) sent

College transcripts

We require an official transcript from each college or university you have attended. If your school sends transcripts electronically and the transcript vendor requires an email address for delivery, please use [email protected] . You can also have your official transcript mailed to the following address:

Office of Admissions Indiana University Bloomington 940 E. Seventh Street Bloomington, IN 47405

High school transcripts

If you have completed fewer than 26 transferable semester hours (or 39 quarter hours) of college coursework, we will review your high school transcript as part of the admissions process.

Ask your high school to send your transcript to the address noted on this page.

In general, if your high school record does not meet IU’s future freshman admission standards , you will not be considered for admission as a transfer student until you have completed at least 26 transferable semester hours (or 39 quarter hours) of transferable academic work at another institution.

After you apply

We’ll let you know if you’ve been accepted four to eight weeks after we receive all your application documents.

Create your IU computing account and email account

Seven to ten business days after we receive your application, you should receive an email containing your university ID number. (If you do not receive an email regarding your university ID number, contact the Office of Admissions .) Use your university ID number to create your IU computing account , which you need to check the status of your application . You can create your IU email account during this same process. If you have already created a computing account but not an email account, you will need to return to your computing account setup and follow the prompts to create your IU email account. Please note: This computing account and email account are different than the account you created to apply. Creating an IU email account will allow you to receive important information from the university—it does not commit you to enrolling at IU.

If you have not set up your computing account to check your admission status, you can also use the steps below to take care of this task. If you already have a computing account, you can follow the prompts to create your IU email account. 

• Open Create My First IU Account in One.IU .
• Read and agree to the Guidelines for Appropriate Usage.
• Enroll in the Passphrase Self-Service Reset System . If you forget your passphrase, this tool will let you reset it yourself without having to visit a UITS Support Center location in person.
• Save or record your account information in a secure place. You will need this information each time you log in to your IU computing account.
• Follow the instructions to set up your IU email account.
• Exit. It may take up to 24 hours before you can log in to some services.

What to do if you have forgotten your ID or other information

• Forgot your 10-digit university ID number? If you are an ACP student, use the Information Recovery Form . All other students should first try the Student Self-Service University Lookup Form . If you still need assistance, please email the Office of Admissions at [email protected] . (In order to help you, we will request additional information.)
• Forgot your username? Contact the UITS Support Center .
• Forgot your passphrase? Reset it here .

Please note that if you have previously been enrolled in or participated in a program at any IU campus and were given a 10-digit university ID number and username, you will use the same university ID number and username to access (or set up) your IU computing account.

Check your application status and To Do List

Now that you’ve created your IU computing account, you’ll be able to check the status of your application and To Do List in One.IU .

You’ll find the To Do List helpful. This list will tell you when our office has received each of your application materials. Please be aware that after your items are received, it may be up to four weeks before you can see this online. Please be patient and check back frequently.

If you receive an email from us asking you to complete your application but you just sent the missing materials, assume that the email was sent before we received your materials or that they have not been processed yet.

To check the status of your application

• Go to Application Status in One.IU and click “Start.”
• Log in using your IU username and passphrase to see the status of your application to Indiana University.

To find your To Do List

• Go to To Do List in One.IU and click “Start.”
• Log in using your IU username and passphrase to see your To Do list.

If you have any outstanding items listed, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Please send all outstanding To Do List items to our office or contact us if you have questions.

Make changes to your application

To learn how to make changes to your application, visit the Make a Change to Your Application page . Please note that if you change your intended major, your application for admission will be reviewed again, even if you already received a decision.

Contact us with any questions

Cancel your application

If you’d like to cancel your application after you’ve applied, send a message using our contact form. Select "Application" as the topic, then choose "Cancellation" in the drop down menu and put your cancellation request in the comment box.

Access your Transfer Credit Report

If you are admitted, you will be able to access your detailed Transfer Credit Report approximately two to three weeks after admission. This report will list all courses taken at other institutions, indicate whether each course will transfer, and note the equivalent course at IU Bloomington for which you'll receive credit.

To view your Transfer Credit Report:

• Log in to One.IU .
• Type "transfer credits" into the search box at the top and click on the "Transfer Credits" app box.
• Log in using your IU username and passphrase to see how your course work from another college or university transferred to IU.

If you have general questions about transferring credits, please visit the Credit Transfer Service site or contact the Office of Admissions . If you have questions about a specific course equivalency or how your credits may count towards an IU degree, please contact the school or college in which you plan to enroll.

Admitted Students

If you’re admitted to IU Bloomington, you’ll need to reserve your space by indicating your intent to enroll.

Reserve your space

Campus safety and security reports

Indiana University’s annual security reports , which contain policy statements as well as crime and fire statistics for Indiana University campuses, are available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at [email protected] .

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FUTURE FRESHMEN

• See admission requirements
• Learn how to apply
• Learn about AP credit
• Check your status
• Correct your application

FUTURE TRANSFERS

• Learn about transfer credit

ADMITTED STUDENTS

• Learn how to enroll
• Declare your intent to enroll
• Set up your computing account
• Explore housing
• Learn about orientation

Transfer Admission

You can apply for transfer admission if:

• You have already started studying at another college or university after graduating from high school or earning a GED.
• You have or will have earned 24 semester hours of required transferable coursework at another college or university. The option to use coursework in progress is not available for spring semester applicants.

Transfer Credit Resources

Required Application Materials Deadline Extension: Summer/Fall 2024

The Common App and ApplyTexas summer/fall application is due March 1 (11:59 p.m. Central). Students may submit all additional application materials until Friday, March 8 (11:59 p.m. Central).

For questions, email [email protected] .

If you are a transfer student who is not a U.S. citizen and who is not a U.S. resident, please visit our International Transfer page.

If you are a current UT Austin student looking to transfer to a different major, please visit our Internal Transfer page.

Key Transfer Admission Dates

Summer/fall enrollment.

• ApplyTexas Application Opens Aug 1
• Common App Opens Sep 1
• Deadline to Apply March 1
• Admission Decisions Released Mid to Late June

Spring Enrollment

• ApplyTexas Application Opens March 1
• Deadline to Apply September 1
• Admission Decisions Released Mid-December

Required Application Materials

Application.

Transfer applicants can submit an application through ApplyTexas. They can also use the Common App .

Application Fee

Pay the non-refundable $75 application fee when you submit your application. Fee waivers are available. Request a fee waiver when you apply for admission or submit the Request for Fee Waiver form in MyStatus via the Document Upload System.

Along with your application, submit one essay. Applicants to the School of Architecture and Studio Art, Art Education and Art History must submit an additional essay. We recommend submitting your essay in the application. You may also submit the essay using the Document Upload System in MyStatus or by mailing them to the Office of Admissions.

Essays and Short Answers

College Transcripts and/or High School Transcripts

Send official transcripts documenting all coursework you have attempted at any college or university you attended. If you have attended more than one college or university, we’ll need a transcript from each school, even if the credits earned at one school were transferred to another. If you are applying for automatic transfer admission, submit your official high school transcript, as well. We cannot accept transcripts via email.

Transcript Info

Submit your resume offering additional information about your achievements using the Document Upload System in MyStatus. Your resume should include your previous five years of academic, extracurricular, community and work activities as well as honors and awards. You can also include high school accomplishments if they took place within the last five years.

If you submit a resume, you should include:

• Details about what each activity involved rather than a general description.
• The number of hours per week and weeks per year spent on each activity.

Review Optional and Additional Materials

Certain majors may require additional materials after you have submitted your application. You may also wish to submit additional materials to strengthen your application, such as letters of recommendation or an expanded resume.

Additional Materials

If applicable, the following materials may be required. All required items must be received by the appropriate deadline.

Major-Specific Items

Certain majors have required prerequisites for transfer applicants. These items can be found on each college and school on our Colleges & Degrees page. Please be sure to review the prerequisites for your first and second choice majors.

Colleges & Degrees

Letters of Recommendation

You can submit up to two letters of recommendation with your application or after you’ve submitted your application. These letters may be from mentors or people who know you well and can include teachers or school counselors, although we encourage you to provide letters from sources outside of your high school. The letter should be able to give additional context or information to support your admission that is not already provided in your application or other submitted documents (resume, transcripts). Letters of recommendation are not required but are encouraged.

Submitting Your Recommendations

We do not accept recommendations via email. Submit your recommendations via:

• MyStatus using the Document Upload System
• Parchment or Scoir

Residency Affidavit

You may qualify for residency if you aren’t a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident but have established Texas residency. Both the Common App and ApplyTexas applications will prompt those who indicate they meet these criteria to download the appropriate form. You can submit the affidavit to the address listed on the form.

Residency FAQs

Automatic Transfer Admission Form

Some transfer applicants are able to apply for automatic transfer admission. If you are eligible and would like to apply, complete the Automatic Transfer Admission form. More details about applicability and application instructions can be found on our Appeals page.

Automatic Transfer Admission form

Once you’ve submitted your application, you can track the status and submit additional documents in MyStatus. Be sure to regularly monitor MyStatus until your application is listed as complete and submit any to-do items prior to the deadlines.

Check MyStatus

You may be asked for additional information after you submit your application. Check MyStatus to stay up to date.

Complete the FAFSA/TASFA

Completing the FAFSA/TASFA before January 15 will maximize your eligibility for financial aid awards.

Complete Your Housing Application

You can apply for housing before you receive an admission decision. Housing is offered on a first come, first served basis. We recommend applying as soon as possible.

Check Your Email

We’ll alert you about your admission decision, financial aid awards, housing contract and other important details via email. Check your email regularly.

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Deposit Deadline Extended:

The enrollment deposit deadline has been extended to May 15, 2024 for first-year and transfer students.

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COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION IS EASY!

Required steps.

STEP 1: Submit your online application ($70 application fee)

STEP 2: Send an official transcript from all colleges attended (this  includes a college transcript for any dual enrollment classes taken during high school)

STEP 3: Send your final official high school transcript or a copy of your GED certificate

STEP 4: Send your letter of intent to enroll if you are applying under the Guaranteed Admissions Agreement

• Any Dual Enrollment or online classes you have taken 
• For transcripts to be considered official, they must be sent through a secure provider such as Naviance/Parchment, e-Scrip Safe, etc.* Your school can send documents through US Postal mail. If sending by mail, please use the following address:

James Madison University Office of Admissions – MSC 0101 100 E Grace Street Harrisonburg, VA 22807

*Any transcripts sent as an email attachment or fax are considered   unofficial   and will not be reviewed.

After applying, please check your email regularly.   We'll send you additional information for creating your JMU e-ID which you will use to   Check your Application Status   and your admission decision when it is posted.

Optional Application Information

Personal Statement:  You may complete a personal statement discussing your personal goals as they relate to your interest in transferring to JMU.

Standardized Test Scores: JMU does not require applicants to submit SAT/ACT scores.

If you have taken   any   college coursework after graduating from high school, you are considered a transfer applicant in our process. The more college coursework you have completed, the less we consider your high school record in our review. For students who were not competitive for admission to JMU directly from high school, we recommend that they complete or be in the process of completing at least 24 credit hours post-high school graduation at the time they apply.

In our review process, JMU considers the following from transfer applicants:

• College courses
• College grade point average
• High school courses
• High school grades

To be considered a competitive applicant, students should have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and successfully completed college course work in these core subject areas: English, mathematics, social science and lab science.

If you have a question about the process,   reach out to your regional recruiter  for guidance.

Please note, admission to JMU does not necessarily guarantee admission into your intended major. For information on majors that have additional requirements, please view our  Admission and Progression Standards .

Transfer dates and deadlines:

Fall term (aug.   –  dec.).

• March 1 -  Application  deadline for all pieces (application, transcripts, etc.)
• Early April - Admission decisions posted online in the  Applicant Center of MyMadison
• Early May - Enrollment deposit  deadline

Spring Term (Jan. – May)

• October 15 -  Application  deadline for all pieces (application, transcripts, etc.)
• Early November - Admission decisions posted online in the  Applicant Center of MyMadison
• November 30 - Enrollment deposit  deadline

Summer Term (Jun. – Jul.)

• February 1 -  Application  deadline for all pieces (application, transcripts, etc.)
• Early March - Admission decisions posted online in the  Applicant Center of MyMadison

Need help on your college transfer journey? Whether you are just starting or are already in the transfer process, Transfer Virginia can help.Through Transfer Virginia, students have access to current and consistent information as they research, plan and organize their college transfer journey.

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