【七德校友】聊一聊大学转校 | Transferring Brings Opportunities & Challenges

文稿：Mr. Robbie Shields

升学指导&职业生涯规划&校友联络

除了都当过美国总统以外，特朗普和奥巴马并没有太多共同点，他们想法不同、行为不同、连长相也不同。但是，你可能不知道，在教育方面他们有一个共同点：都在大学期间转学过。奥巴马从洛杉矶的西方学院转到纽约的哥伦比亚大学，就读政治科学和英文文学；特朗普则是从布鲁克斯的福特汉姆大学转去宾夕法尼亚大学的沃顿商学院，学习经济学。

Donald Trump and Barack Obama don’t have much in common. Although both have served as US presidents, they don’t think alike, act alike, or even look alike. But you might be surprised to know that educationally, they do have something in common; both transferred universities. Barack Obama started his studies at Occidental College in Los Angeles and then transferred to Columbia University in New York where he studied Political Science and English Literature. Donald Trump began his education at Fordham University in the Bronx but transferred to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied Economics. 

图片来源：https://www.cnbc.com

President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama talk on the East steps of the US Capitol after inauguration ceremonies on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. Robyn Beck | AFP | Getty Images

尽管奥巴马和特朗普不同寻常，但他们转学的决定却很普遍。根据美国非盈利教育数据统计组织NSC，约有三分之一的美国大学生选择转学（见下图）；而英国、澳大利亚、加拿大的转学比例则低许多。本篇推文将结合七德毕业校友们的亲身经历，来看一看转学的利弊。

While much about Messrs Obama and Trump is unique, their decision to transfer universities is actually quite common. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, a US-based nonprofit dedicated to gathering and analyzing educational statistics, roughly 1/3 of all students at US colleges and universities transfer.[1] Though the percentage of transferring students in the UK, Australia, and Canada is significantly lower, it is a possibility. In this post, we’ll look at the pros and cons of transferring, while also hearing from some QD alumni who transferred and are willing to share their experiences. 

Graph taken from Inside Higher Ed article “More than a Third of College Students Transfer”

转学能带来许多收获，尤其是当你更好地了解自己的教育需求以后，在一所新学校重头再来是值得的。我们与一些正在转学或考虑转学的七德毕业校友聊了聊他们的原因：

Changing schools can bring many benefits. A fresh start at a new school can be rewarding, especially after you have a better understanding of what you want out of your education. We spoke with QD alumni who either chose to transfer or are currently considering it, and here were some of the reasons they listed:

有时候，学生会发现大学提供的学术课程不符合自己的期待。比如2019届的校友吴雨桐告诉我们，她想上更多科学和人文课程，而目前所在的学校不提供这些，于是她决定从艺术学院转到综合性大学（密歇根大学安娜堡分校、埃默里大学、或纽约大学）。同届的胡扬正在考虑转学去杜克大学或哈维穆德学院，因为他“想要学习更多硬核的工程学课程，但我目前的学校没有工程学院”。

Sometimes students find that the academic experience at a school doesn’t fit as well as they’d hoped. This may be because a school doesn’t offer a specific course of study. Alina Wu, an alumna from the class of 2019 indicated that she chose to transfer from an art school to a more comprehensive university (Emory, UMich, or NYU) because she wished to take more science and humanities courses which her previous school didn’t offer. Max Hu, also an alumnus from the class of 2019, is seeking to transfer into Duke University or Harvey Mudd College, partially because he “wanted to study more hardcore engineering and my current school doesn’t have the engineering school.” 

对另一些学生来说，他们转学的理由不是为了学习新知识，而是为了有一个更适合自己的学术环境。2019届的俞圣楠与我们分享了她在美国州立大学的经历，这段经历促使她申请转学去西北大学和埃默里大学。“我的学校是公立综合性大学，学生人数很多，师生比不高，所以和教授接触的机会有限。而且公立学校大部分课都是几百人的大课，教授会让学生去找助教，我没机会和个别教授交流”。

2019届校友 俞圣楠 Iris

For other students, they wish to transfer not to study something new but for a more suitable academic environment. Iris Yu, an alumna from 2019, shared her experience at a large American state university and why it motivated her to apply to Northwestern University and Emory University. “My college is a public university and so there is a huge number of students. The student to teacher ratio is pretty high, and there are limited chances for us to reach the professors” Yu said. “Since most of the classes in public schools are big classes with hundreds of students, professors will ask students to find TAs (teaching assistants), so I didn’t have a chance to communicate with some of my professors.” 

学生可能在其他学校找到更合他们口味的学术环境，比如主修专业、辅修专业、研究方向，以及课堂规模、资源、或是本科研究机会。无论如何，一旦你觉得目前大学的学术体验无法满足自己，那么大胆探索其他学校能使你更好地实现目标。

Students may find that for various reasons the academic environment at another institution better fits their preferences. This can relate to a major, minor, or concentration, as well as class size, resources, or undergraduate research opportunities. Regardless, if you find that you are unsatisfied with the academic experience at your university, explore options that would allow you to better accomplish your goals. 

有些学生想转学是为了追求名校声誉，他们觉得从排名顶尖的大学毕业能带来更好的职业前景。2017届的毕业生汝隋阳实在地说，他转学的首要原因就是名牌大学效应，“我的职业兴趣是金融，需要强大的关系网和学校声誉”。因此，他转学去了纽约大学。

Some students wish to transfer to enhance the prestige of the university they attend, feeling that graduating from a top ranked university will result in better career prospects. Vincent Ru, a QD alumnus from the class of 2017, mentioned that this was a consideration he made when transferring to NYU. “I’d say branding was the top reason” Ru said in a recent conversation. “My career interest in finance needs strong networking and branding” and hence he elected to move to NYU. 

对个别行业和职业来说，换学校格外重要。一些知名公司会在大学之中定向招聘，青睐那些在课程体系、声誉、传统方面符合他们公司招聘需求的应聘者。投资百科Investopedia近期的研究显示，当大银行招聘投行职位时，60-80%的录用者来自目标大学（包括纽约大学）。综上所述，如果你有一个明确的职业目标，而这个目标要求你必须毕业于排名顶尖的大学，那考虑转学也无可厚非。

Changing can be particularly important for careers that relate to certain industries. Some of the most famous companies conduct “targeted recruitment,” favoring applicants from certain institutions whose curriculum, reputation, and traditions align with their hiring needs. A recent report by Investopedia indicated that when big bulge banks are recruiting for positions in investment banking, between 60-80% of hires come from target universities (which include NYU)[2]. Consequently, if you have a specific career goal that is better served by attending a higher ranked and more prestigious university, it may merit considering transferring. 

很多学生选择转校的主要原因之一是想换个地方。也许你刚开始在大都市上学，但之后发现自己更喜欢小城镇，反之亦然。无论怎样，地理位置也是转校的一个大诱因。

A major reason many students choose to transfer schools is because of a desire to change locations. Perhaps you started your studies in a large urban environment, but later decided you prefer to be in a more intimate, small community. Alternatively, perhaps you started in a smaller community but have determined that you like the energy of a city. Regardless, location can be a great driver in the decision. 

2018届的校友李卢妍说，她之前学校的地理环境太轻松惬意了，她想要改变，“加州的生活方式对我来说过于随性了，作为一个艺术爱好者，我更喜欢有历史积淀的地方，然而圣地亚哥没有很多艺术资源”。这种观点强调了择校时兼顾大学多方面的重要性。当大多数学生只关注学校排名和名气时，你还应该关注大学周边的社区以及整体的生活体验。

2018届校友 李卢妍 Candice

QD alumna Candice Li (2018) said that for her, the location of the first university she attended was too relaxed and that she wanted something different. “The lifestyle in California is too chill and casual for me” Li said. “I prefer places that have a more historical background…and as an artistic person there aren’t many resources in San Diego.” This sentiment underscores the importance of considering multiple aspects of a university experience when choosing a university. While most students pay the most attention to ranking or reputation, you should also pay close attention to the surrounding community and the overall experience when choosing a school. 

虽然转学可以带来很多好处，但同时也伴随着很多挑战。选择离开一所学校去另一所学校，相当于放弃目前所建立的一切。另外，还有些其他挑战与弊端：

Although transferring schools can bring great benefits, it also comes with significant challenges. By electing to leave one school and go to another, you’re forgoing the benefits that come with continuing to establish yourself in a community. Additionally, there can be other drawbacks that come with transferring. Some of these challenges include:

很多终身挚友是在大一时结交的，因为当每个人都是新生时，友谊更容易滋生。此外，许多大学组织学生活动都是面向大一新生。身为转学生的你可能会感到难以融入，因为其他人早已交到好朋友，有了自己的生活节奏。当然你还是有充足的机会融入的，只不过你得更自信主动些。

During the first year of university, many lifelong friendships are made. Everyone is new and many bonds are built from the freshmen experience. Additionally, many universities structure new student activities predominantly toward first-year students. As a transfer student, you may feel that many people have already made friends and have routines and it can be harder to fit in. There are still plenty of opportunities to get involved, but it may require you to be more assertive. 

每所大学的课程体系各不相同。比如说，常常让转学生崩溃的是，他们在之前大学修的课程不符合新的大学的毕业条件。然而，如果你真的想转学，还是有办法将这种风险降到最低的。2018届的曾莉雯转到了同州的俄亥俄州立大学。她说：“最好在州内转学，因为很多课程可能不被其他州的大学接受”。她还推荐大家咨询热门网站transferology，跟踪学校间课程学分的转换。即使在同州转学，也要做好学分延迟的心理准备，因为两家学校的学期制可能不同。

2018届校友 曾莉雯 Tracy

Each university structures their curriculum differently. As such, a common frustration experienced by transfer students is that many of the courses they took at their first university don’t count towards specific degree requirements at their new university. However, if you are considering transferring, there are ways you can mitigate this challenge. Tracy Zeng of the QD class of 2018, transferred from one school in Ohio to Ohio State University. When asked about transferring credits, she indicated that “it’s better to transfer in state since lots of courses may not be accepted at out of state universities.” She also suggested students consult the website transferology, a popular website that tracks how courses have transferred between institutions. Even when transferring between universities in the same state, students should prepare that some delay may occur from loss of credit, particularly if transferring between credit systems, such as transferring from a US university that follows the quarter system to one that follows the semester system.

对于想转学外国或是英国学校体系的学生，就更难了。七德的前任升学指导Peter Carlisle老师是爱丁堡大学的研究生，他提到：“在英国转学很麻烦，英国学校不接受其他课程专业的学分。所以，如果学生想转学，他们要么就从大一重新开始，要么转到完全相同的专业（比如从生物学转到生物学），然后祈祷有些学分可以转换。”

For students who wish to change countries, or transfer within the UK system, the process can be particularly challenging. Former QD College Counselor Peter Carlisle, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, mentioned that “transferring in the UK can be tricky as UK schools usually do not accept credits from other courses (i.e. majors). So, if a student wishes to transfer, they either have to start from year one or, possibly, transfer into the exact same course (i.e. Biology to Biology) and hope that some credits will transfer.” 

这些挑战常常导致转学生付更多学费，花更多时间才能毕业，如果你下定决心要转学，请做好投入更多时间和金钱的准备。

These challenges often result in transfer students taking longer to graduate and thus spending more in tuition. If you feel that transferring is the right decision, be prepared that it could add time and cost to your degree. 

除了令人受挫的学分转换，更崩溃的是GPA没法转换。也就是说，你转去的学校会重设你的GPA。最终，这对你的职业发展目标影响不大。但你要心知肚明，在之前学校获得的荣誉和班级排名，在新学校都不作数了，他们只看你在新学校的表现。

Beyond experiencing frustrations with loss of credit, transfer students are often frustrated to learn that their GPA doesn’t transfer. Typically speaking, the school you’re transferring to will reset your GPA when you start. Ultimately, this probably won’t have much impact on your direction and career. But you should know that in terms of your acceptance into certain honor societies or how the school ranks you within your class, they will only evaluate you on your performance at their school.  

正是由于这些挑战，很多考虑转学的学生望而却步。其实大多时候，大一时感到挫败是正常的过渡情绪。如果你确定要读研，大可不必转学，等毕业后申请研究院就行。

Because of these challenges, many students who considered transferring elect to stay. Often students find that many of the frustrations they experience in their first year at university are natural feelings of transition. Additionally, if you are already fairly certain that you wish to attend graduate school, you may feel satisfied getting a different educational experience simply by attending a different institution for graduate school. 

决定转学和选择第一所大学同样重要，需要精心的分析。以下是七德校友分享的小贴士：

Transferring universities is a big decision that requires just as much care and analysis as choosing your first university. Here are some tips QD alumni gave when asked what advice they’d share about their experience. 

考虑转学的学生必须有一个明确的根本原因。要知道，在大一第一学期，如果你感到不满意、想家、迷惘，都是自然的正常反应。在考虑转学前，扪心自问你是否已经竭尽全力改善现状？如果做到了还是想转学，请确保你能解释清楚原因。俞圣楠建议“评估目前的大学是否适合你，以及你认为在新的大学能获得什么。”

Students considering transferring schools should have a clear rationale as to why they are choosing a new university over their current university. Understand that if you are feeling dissatisfied, homesick, or lost, particularly in your first semester, that this is a natural part of the college transition. Before considering transferring, ask yourself if you’ve done everything you can to remedy your dissatisfaction. But if you've already done this and you elect to transfer, make sure you can articulate why. Iris Yu advised students to “evaluate whether the current university is suitable for you and what do you think you’ll receive at a new university.” 

正如新生申请大学费事费力，申请转学也不轻松，你得写个人文书、完成申请、请教授写推荐信，与此同时还要保持目前的学业。2019届校友陈艺文分享了她的经验：“平衡学术与社交真的很难，同时还得写申请文书。在大多数情况下，这些文书的截止日期和期中考试正好重合”。所以，当你计划转学时，请确保空出时间及时上传所有申请材料。

2019届校友 陈艺文 Eva

Just as freshman applications take time, so too will transfer applications. Writing personal statements, completing applications, securing letters of recommendation from professors, and other application requirements are time consuming, which you’ll have to balance while keeping up with your studies. Eva Chen, a QD alumna from 2019, shared her experience, stating that “it’s definitely difficult to balance between academics and social life as I have to write essays at the same time. In most situations, these essays are due while I was having midterms.” Consequently, when planning to transfer, make sure you set aside time to put forth your best work and submit all the materials on time. 

当你认为自己要离开一所学校时，你可能会懈怠学习，不再像之前那么努力。但保持学习非常重要，首先，申请转去顶尖大学的竞争也很激烈，如果你放弃学习导致成绩不佳，你很可能无法被理想的学校录取。另外，大多数大学要求C或以上的成绩才能转换学分。因此，糟糕的成绩不仅会影响你的录取，还可能延长你的毕业时间。最后，你还需要继续给你的教授留下好印象，他们对你的申请也很关键。七德校友王音童分享了她转学去纽约大学的经验：“很多学校要求转学生提供两封目前大学的教授推荐信，而不是高中老师，因为大学教授更了解你”。所以，学生必须和教授保持好关系，并且在每门课上名列前茅。李卢妍提醒大家务必要保持高绩点，和教授多交流，因为他们有某一领域潜在学术资源，还能给你写正面的推荐信。

There is a tendency when you think you’ll be leaving a school to quit putting forth the same energy or effort. Don’t make this mistake if transferring schools. There are a few reasons why this is particularly important. First, just as applications to top universities for freshmen admissions are competitive, so are applications for transfer admissions. If you quit working and earn poor marks you probably won’t gain admission to your desired school. Moreover, most universities will require a “C” or higher to transfer credit. So, students who fail to earn strong marks not only hurt their chances of admission but also may extend the amount of time needed to complete the degree. Finally, you need to continue to impress your professors as they will be critical to your application process. QD alumna Ingrid Wang shared her experience transferring to NYU, mentioning that “[m]any schools require transfer students to have two recommendation letters from college professors (not from high school teachers) who know the student quite well.” Consequently, students should always make a priority of getting to know their professors and excelling in all classes. Candice Li added that students should maintain a strong GPA and have consistent interaction with professors, as they can be potentially great resources for further knowledge in a field and serve as a positive letter of recommendation.

简而言之，大学转校是个非常重要的决定，不可轻易而为，它有很多好处，但并非毫无牺牲。如果你是七德毕业校友，并且在考虑转学，请联系我们alumni@qibaodwight.org。

In short, transferring universities is a substantial decision that shouldn’t be made lightly. Many benefits can stem from changing schools, but it’s not without sacrifice. If you are a QD alumnus and thinking about transferring universities, please contact alumni@qibaodwight.org for more information. 

参考资料：

[1]https://nscresearchcenter.org/signaturereport13/

[2]https://www.investopedia.com/articles/career-compensation/091616/heres-where-investment-banks-are-recruiting-gs-c.asp