Throughout their final year of high school, seniors receive immense pressure to choose the perfect college. However, alternative options such as guaranteed transfers and community college transfers allow students to tailor this decision to better fit their financial needs and career aspirations.
Some top private universities are beginning to offer a guaranteed transfer option. Instead of being directly admitted to the university, students are given the option to attend another college for their freshman year, and if they meet certain academic requirements, they can automatically transfer into that selective university for their sophomore year.
This is beneficial to both the student and the college, as this process allows students to attend a top university. Meanwhile, colleges count this initial offer as a rejection, which lowers acceptance rates and maintains the possibility of an impressive student transferring institutions.
Senior Emily Drennan will be taking the guaranteed transfer route by attending the University of Pittsburgh for her freshman year and then transferring to Cornell University. Drennan said, “I never expected that I would get into a school like Cornell, so transferring in is a really good opportunity for me.”
Senior Sienna Pastore was also offered a guaranteed transfer by Boston University. Her offer is non-binding, so she will be spending her freshman year at Fordham University while having a reserved spot at Boston University for the following year if she chooses to take it. Pastore said, “I have the opportunity to go to an elite college, but if they do not give me financial aid, I can still stay at a good school for half the price with scholarships.”
Having this choice is vital because it allows students to have the ability to transfer to an elite college while also keeping financial considerations in mind before making their final decision.
Another non-traditional option for seniors is attending a community college for two years before transferring to a four-year institution. Whether it’s the proximity to home or more personal class sizes, going to a community college allows students to gain experience before transferring to a larger university.
Senior Jalyne Fernandez will be starting at Union College in Cranford before heading to Kean University to pursue her degree in art education. This route allows her to earn her teaching degree in a more financially efficient way. Fernandez said, “It doesn’t matter where you get your bachelor’s degree as long as you get your degree in the end.”
This time of year can be very stressful for anyone, and choosing one’s plans after high school graduation is personal and differs based on each person, so having more options allows seniors to make the best decision that benefits them financially, academically and socially.