2011

Transfer students have been called “the forgotten students,” a group which has been neglected until recently. That’s beginning to change, however, with more students opting to start their higher education at the more affordable community colleges and many non-traditional age students returning to school to complete their degrees due to the stagnant economy. Colleges and universities are realizing that welcoming transfer and non-traditional students makes financial and academic sense, but many still do not have effective programs in place to help these students succeed. Unfortunately, this may result in many transfer students “falling between the cracks.” Counselors who work with transfer students can help these students cope more effectively with the challenges and stressors that come with a transfer, but only if the counselors themselves have an understanding of these stressors. Thus, in this article we provide an overview of the emotional, psychological, financial, and practical challenges encountered by transfer students in order to help counselors be more effective in facilitating successful academic experiences and personal growth for these students. We also examine recommendations for changes in higher education administration and programming, for which counselors can advocate in their role as consultants or student life professionals.