It’s fairly common for students to have doubts about the college they are attending or the major they planned to pursue.  Sometimes these doubts are genuine and in other cases they are simply running away from a challenge.

Here are some questions you might ask your son or daughter about this decision to change colleges.

• Why do you want to change your college? 
• What will the new college offer you that your current college doesn’t?
• What credits will you lose when you change college?
• Will your new college count your current grades?
• Will your current scholarships or financial aid transfer?
• How will the transfer affect your graduation date?
• Are you confident that the new college will accept you?

Many of these questions could also be asked about a change in major.

• Why do you want to change your major?
• Will you be accepted by the other major?
• Will you lose any course credits?
• Will the transfer affect your graduation date?

Deciding to transfer is not a decision students should make in the middle of the semester.  Decisions at this time are often driven by a difficult challenge and not for the right reasons.  In effect students are running away from the challenge rather than facing it.

Parents also need to be careful not to push their son/daughter into a college or major they really don’t want.  The ultimate impact of this parent assertiveness is bad grades and a dispirited student

There’s a fine line between helping your student make a wise decision and pushing them into a college/major choice that isn’t what they want..