Last Minute Advice from Our Counselors Who Were Transfer Students
Transferring is a major decision, and the final days before submitting an application can feel overwhelming. To support students during this critical time, we asked our counselors who were once transfer students themselves to share their firsthand experiences, last-minute advice and resources that made the biggest difference in their journeys. Their responses reflect a range of transfer pathways and offer practical insight for students preparing to submit their applications.
What is something you wish you knew right before you applied to transfer?
Rachel Cho
Transferred from California State University, Fullerton to USC
“Something I wish I knew before transferring was how many resources were available to me at USC and that I didn’t have to navigate the process all on my own. Transferring from a four-year school to USC was challenging because there was no transfer center or counselor at my institution to help me through the process. I didn’t realize that I had a counselor at USC that I could reach out to ask questions. I also didn’t utilize the articulation documents, which I think would’ve been super helpful in preparing my course plan.”
Allegra Gutierrez
Transferred from Santa Monica College to UCLA
“Few things. I wish I knew that the admission counselors I had emailed, seen tabling at college fairs, and gave information sessions were the same people reading my application. Maybe I would have been more inclined to ask my specific questions if I had made this connection and known they had seen and heard it all. Also, I would have felt much better knowing the general education and major preparation requirements on transfer admission plans were the same tools used by admission counselors reviewing my application. I guarantee I would have felt reassured in my transfer preparation.”
What last-minute questions do you normally receive from transfer students in your territory?
Rachel Cho
Transferred from California State University, Fullerton to USC
“The most common last minute question I receive is about submitting transcripts to USC as a part of the transfer application. As a reminder, we require both high school and college transcripts (and they must be official), regardless of when a student graduated from high school. We also require transcripts from every institution a student has attended, not just the most recent school.”
Yatin Saini
Transferred from Skyline College to UCLA
“One of the most common last-minute questions I receive is whether an extension can be granted. Depending on the circumstances, extensions may be approved, usually for a day or two, especially if a student is experiencing connectivity or technical issues. My advice is to know who your admission counselor is and have their contact information readily available. In most cases, students’ applications are nearly complete and just need a little extra time due to unforeseen obstacles.”
Anna Babakhanians
Transferred from Glendale Community College to UCLA
“Not super, super last minute but try your best to attend a transfer information session! The information sessions are an amazing way to learn everything you need to know about our transfer process - what we’re looking for, resources, etc.”
What resource was most helpful to you while finalizing your applications?
Anna Babakhanians
Transferred from Glendale Community College to UCLA
“The most helpful resource for me was the articulation agreement and the school’s general education pattern. Using the two, I was able to plan out exactly what courses were needed to transfer, what the equivalent was at my community college, and make sure I was making strong progress as a transfer student. I also met with the transfer counselors at my community college’s transfer center throughout to confirm I was on the right track!”
Yatin Saini
Transferred from Skyline College to UCLA
“Transfer centers were one of my most helpful resources, particularly the workshops they offered. I also met with a counselor at Skyline College every semester, including right before submitting my application, to make sure I was on track. I leaned on other transfer peers who were applying at the same time because having someone you trust to review your work or talk things through can make a big difference.”
How did you know your application was ready to submit?
Yatin Saini
Transferred from Skyline College to UCLA
“I submitted my application about two weeks before the deadline to avoid any last-day technical issues. Before submitting, I carefully checked my grammar and sentence flow and reviewed my coursework to ensure all classes were entered correctly. Even though transcripts are required, I also had to self-report this information. Inputting courses is one of the most tedious parts of the application, so I kept my transcript in front of me and checked off each course to make sure I did not miss anything.”
Allegra Gutierrez
Transferred from Santa Monica College to UCLA
“A gut feeling that everything was ready! Not sure if everyone experiences this, but I was almost more nervous once I realized everything was complete and ready to go. I suggest reviewing every section one last time and thinking to yourself that everything here, that you submit, is what the admission counselors will be seeing when they review your application. Also, I always recommend submitting from a laptop, not a phone, and making sure you have a stable internet connection so you can clearly review everything before hitting submit.”
Rachel Cho
Transferred from California State University, Fullerton to USC
“I knew my application was ready to submit after I had spent plenty of time writing and revising my personal statement. I asked people around me to review it and offer feedback as well, and after a few drafts I finally felt confident enough to submit.”
Final Thoughts for Transfer Students
No two transfer journeys look exactly the same, but one theme remains consistent: students are rarely as unprepared as they feel in the final moments before submission. Whether it’s leaning on counselors, reviewing articulation agreements, double-checking coursework, or asking for help when unexpected technical challenges come up, preparation and self-advocacy go a long way. As our experiences show, transfer students bring determination, reflection and resilience to the application process, and those are great Trojan traits.
Written by: Allegra Gutierrez , Assistant Director – USC Office of Undergraduate Admission