Transfer Student Resume

I'm transferring from a big state school (SEC) to a top-20 (semi-target), and I'll start as a junior at the new university this fall.

My problem is that I don't have a GPA at the new university. I only have one from the old school.

That said, I'm obviously going to have to list the better university at the top of my resume.

How should I approach this issue? Should I list the new university without a GPA and assume that someone reading the resume will understand the issue by looking at the dates? Should I report a cumulative GPA underneath both schools? I had a 3.96 at the old school, and I'm applying for SA positions at BB's, MM's and boutiques.

Thanks.

How to show school transfer on resume?

There are numerous ways to demonstrate the fact that you have transferred on your resume. It is important that you highlight:

  • The name of each school and the major pursued
  • Location of each school
  • The dates you attended each university
  • Your GPA at each university

The school that you are currently attending should be at the top of the resume.

Check out an example below.

Read More About Transferring and Resumes on WSO

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I would make a notation under your current school that you are a transfer student. Then, under your old school, listed below, specify the dates of attendance as well as your old GPA. Any employer would know that you have just transferred schools and therefore cannot have a GPA at your current school.

 

For instance:

NEW SCHOOL Bachelor of Science Candidate, Expected June 2011; Transfer Student

OLD SCHOOL Completed Freshman & Sophmore Year Coursework, 8/2007 - 5/2009 GPA: 3.96 ....

Something to that effect

 

What about after graduation? If someone spent 1 year at an undergrad school, and then 3 years at a second school from where they received their degree -- how would you present it on a resume?

I would think that you would only mention the degree granting institution and put your graduation month/date instead of putting the years attended?

Also, how does it work for MBA admissions? How would you "explain" a transfer? What's the best way to do it if it was only a slight step up in prestige but more due to a better cultural/location fit?

 

I'm in your exact predicament, GPA and all haha.

I listed the GPA under the old school and am putting N/A for gpa, with (transfer student) in parentheses. When I start going to classes I'll put a predicted GPA, although I'm debating about that b/c it seems extremely un-legit.

 
Best Response

I decided to list the new school at the top with its location, my degree title and my expected date of graduation. I didn't include anything like "GPA: N/A (transfer)" because I thought it looked weird.

Under the new school, I listed my old school with its location, my degree title, my dates of attendance, my GPA (just rounded it to 4.0 lol), my SAT, my honors and my relevant coursework.

I figure that someone looking at the resume would see that I attended the old school until May 2009, so I've not completed any coursework to list GPA, Honors, etc. for the new school.

Tell me whether or not you think I should indicate that I'm a transfer student somewhere, or if you think that the dates of attendance explain everything. Also (by the new school), should I say "Expected May 2011," or should I put "Aug. 2009 - May 2011"?

 

Do transfers even have to put their old school? If you transferred after one year, why not just put your current school and put "Expected 20XX" instead of dates attended? You're not lying or anything.

 

Well, if he didnt put his old school, then he would have no way of conveying that he achieved a 3.96 in his first two years of college. It would be misleading to somehow put only his new school and then also put his 3.96 GPA somewhere underneath. Just my two cents, though.

 

Yeah, I've definitely got to include some GPA and 3.96 or 4.0 - whatever you want to call it - is nothing to hide. I think I'm going to leave the better school with the expected graduation date alone to convey my continued pursuit of my bachelor's degree.

I'll mention the "transfer" word in the cover letter, but the only real point that I need to make in my resume is that I've attended two universities, and that I had great success at the past one.

Side note: I hear rounding a 3.55, 3.56, 3.66, etc. to 3.6, 3.6 and 3.7, respectively, isn't that bad and is considered more than commonplace.

 

I think you're right to include both institutions, especially since you've done so well at your prior one.

And though people may have done it, I think rounding to the nearest tenth decimal place is inaccurate. I think the nearest hundredth is acceptable though.

 

Yeah, you can't put down a GPA from your old school and don't act cute by putting N/A or N/M. Just mention that you're a transfer.

I've seen kids from junior colleges put their junior college GPAs, which are usually pretty high if they transfer to a top-30 school. I've seen others, who after a semester at their new school do a cumulative average.

But if you have 2 distinct 4-year colleges, I'd put them both, especially if your GPA's are good in both. For every dude who thinks you're not "exclusive" enough to be a monkey for 2 years there'll be another who'll consider your path as a "rags-to-riches" story and will give you extra points.

 

Hey,

I was a transfer student as well. I had the exact same question, because my gpa from the school I transferred from was terrible. I was very fortunate to transfer into my new school.

I left my prior GPA off of my resume; however, if you have a good gpa just keep it on there.

I have friends that transferred as well and they completely left off prior school information.

I guess it doesn't really matter; do what you think will make your resume look good.

 

i would definitely put it. 3.77 is definitely pretty good whether you went to school in a maximum security prison. sometimes people over react to all these variables. your gpa is really a non factor after the first hurdle. its about showing them why you want whatever job your looking for and what have you done in the past shows your capable of getting the job done.

during my super day, i saw a couple transfer resumes that had even

 

i transferred, and didn't put my gpa from my former school. i transferred from a top 5 LAC.

none of my courses on my transcript had grades, so i didn't feel like i had any pressure to include it.

it was much lower than my current gpa (3.87).

i never once got asked about why it wasn't there.

 

1)Only put down the degree you are going to earn since the credits you took at your prior school are transfering towards your current degree and you don't have a b.s./b.a. from the first school.

2)Or if you really want, you can just put down major/credits earns and omit the "B.S./B.A." degree for the first school because it does not really matter which it was since you never actually got it from that school.

3) If you feel uncomfortable with any of those suggestions, ask your career center. This would be your safest bet and it really wont take that long.

 

I listed the school that I transferred from below the school that I am currently completing my degree at.

i.e. This is how my career counselor at my school suggested that I format it:

University of X, Random City, Random State Candidate for Bachelor of Arts in Economics, May 2009 Cumulative GPA: 3.XX/4.00 Dean’s List 2006 – 2007 Academic Year * Relevant Courses: * Spring 2008 Coursework:

University of X, Random City, Random State, August 2005 – May 2006 Cumulative GPA: 3.XX/4.00 Honors Program, Presidential Scholar: Fall 2005 – Spring 2006 * Relevant Courses:

BTW: Don't neglect the school you transferred from. The employers I talked to loved to hear about why I transferred. Unless you come across as someone who transferred just out of prestige, but instead actually had valid reasons, then it really can work to your advantage in an interview.

Just my 0.02.

 

Not okay- You cannot combine GPA's from two different schools. I transferred as well and decided to put my old school and GPA on a different line in my education section. These are two separate animals.

 

So something like:

SCHOOL B---City,State GPA: 3.XX/4.0---------Expected May 2013 SCHOOL A---City, State GPA: 3.XX/4.0---------August 2009 - May 2011

?

Obviously everything will line up correctly, just can't do it on WSO.

MM IB -> Corporate Development -> Strategic Finance
 

I am wondering the same thing, i transferred from one semi-target to another semi-target. i have a very similar gpa at both schools (slightly better at my new school). should i list them individually (not currently doing that because it uses up an extra line on my resume) or should i combine them under my new school (called 'combined cumulative gpa')?? or i could only list my new gpa, but my gpa at my old school was very strong (3.89) for a semi-target and i dont want recruiters to think that poor grades was the reason for my transferring. thanks

 

Dude if you're at a target and doing well, leave whatever on your resume that makes things look clear. If that's listing very briefly in your current school section a line that says "Transfer student from x Community College" you're not going to immediately get dinged.

Believe it or not, people look highly on candidates with a chip on their shoulder and that don't come from the most normal of backgrounds.

 
no homo:
Dude if you're at a target and doing well, leave whatever on your resume that makes things look clear. If that's listing very briefly in your current school section a line that says "Transfer student from x Community College" you're not going to immediately get dinged.

Believe it or not, people look highly on candidates with a chip on their shoulder and that don't come from the most normal of backgrounds.

Completely agree, leave the CC on there because it does show that you were willing to take a leadership role regardless of the institution you were at.

 
akptech:
If you're already about to graduate for sure take it off the resume. I'm planning to remove my old school after a single quarter at transfer.

This guy is doing it right. ^ only put whatever you're graduating from.

Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor. -Dr. Alexis Carrel
 

Yeah I figured that for the resume. But for the Linkedin profile, should I just list _____ University, 2010-2012? Won't it look weird I only went there for 2 years? Plus, wouldn't adding my old school from 2008-2010 provide the slightest chance of an alumni network benefit even if I didn't graduate from there?

 

Ok thanks, but what about for the Linkedin profile? Is it fine to put two schools at two years each, or should I put only my degree granting school at 2 years only? Again, I'm not ashamed or anything of the first school, it was actually a more selective school.

 

Yes, to lose the bad GPA and be closer to home. So does anyone have any opinions on whether to include both 2 year stints at the schools on my Linkedin, or only the last school with 2 years? (which would imply either I took 30 hours a semester or transferred...)

 

I'm a transfer myself from a non-target state to a target state. I leave the first school on the resume on just one line, and above that I put my graduating school with the full degree title and GPA. In my opinion, leave the first school on so you can explain what you did for two years (you can't get a bachelor's with only two years at your graduating school)

 

Not sure if there is an actual protocol here, but I would just put your new school on there since that is where you will be graduating from. If it comes up in conversation, you can mention that you transferred from wherever, but I don't necessarily think it has to be on your resume for any reason

"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed." Theodore Roosevelt
 

Leave the old school off

My transcript has 5 schools but I list my current school and current school GPA

If you had a 2.5 at non target and a 3.9 at the target then it might be a lil sketch but you'll be fine

 

I was a transfer myself. I went from a 4th Tier State University to an Ivy. Ever since my Junior year, I've only put the latter on the resume. I was in a very similar situation as yourself - I had a few impressive scholarships from the State University, but graduated summa from the Ivy.

Bottom line: Only include the school you graduated from, and forget about the first University.

Calling Ron Paul an isolationist is like calling your neighbor a hermit because he doesn't come over to your property and break your windows.
 

Your second school GPA is not substantially higher than your target GPA. Since you've graduated, I think it's okay to leave your first school off your resume now. Dean's List isn't going to be a deciding factor on whether or not you get interviews now.

MM IB -> Corporate Development -> Strategic Finance
 

NEW SCHOOL----------------------- City, ST - Transfer Student----------------------- Expected May 2014

OLD SCHOOL----------------------- Town, ST - GPA: 3.76/4.00----------------------- September 2010 - May 2012
- etc - etc

Is how it should look until you get a new GPA.

I'll tackle the actual content later.

MM IB -> Corporate Development -> Strategic Finance
 

Use the search function.

Until you get your new GPA:

NEW UNIVERSITY-------------------------------------------------------------------------City, ST Bachelor of Science in Underwater Basket Weaving--------------------------------Expected May 2015 - Transfer Student

OLD COLLEGE-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Town, ST Completed Coursework in Underwater Basket Weaving---------------------------August 2011 - May 2012 - GPA: 3.X/4.0 - Honors: Dean's List, etc.

MM IB -> Corporate Development -> Strategic Finance
 
lookitsafreshman:
I'm transferring into a target school from a non-target.

Do I list my old school on my resume even though it has a bad or non-existent 'brand'?

I won't have a GPA at my new school until after my first semester here. I understand that this should not be a problem for summer internship recruiting but a contact wants my resume now for a fall internship position. Will having no GPA listed at all look very bad or is it understandable given the situation?

I mean, you got into the new school, so as long as you make that clear, you should be fine. I'm certainly no expert though, so maybe someone else can help you more.

 
Carpmc88:
I will be transferring to a top public school (Berkeley or UCLA) in CA in the fall but I have not been accepted as of yet. I put that on my resume so they will know where I am planning on going.

I do have a question about gpa. I put my cumulative gpa (3.9) on there but my major gpa is 4.0, so would it be better to put that on?

Any and all feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Including the 4-year school is pushing it. That's the sort of thing that could be mentioned in a cover letter or an interview (the fact that you're in the process of transferring I mean), but until you have the acceptance letter in hand it's really not right to include it on your resume. There's nothing wrong with including your 4.0 major GPA on there in some way, though, especially since econ and math are both pretty intensive majors (even the intro classes).

Is this resume for a specific internship of some sort?

Semper Fi

 
holla_back:
Including the 4-year school is pushing it. That's the sort of thing that could be mentioned in a cover letter or an interview (the fact that you're in the process of transferring I mean), but until you have the acceptance letter in hand it's really not right to include it on your resume. There's nothing wrong with including your 4.0 major GPA on there in some way, though, especially since econ and math are both pretty intensive majors (even the intro classes).

Is this resume for a specific internship of some sort?

Semper Fi

I've already taken off the 4 year school. But on the low my transfer counselor says I'm a shoe in for my top pick (military plus high gpa). I'm hoping to do some serious cold calling and networking to land an internship at a broker-dealer in the Bay Area this summer. My problem is that I won't know for certain what school I'm transferring to until late April but I need to start contacting firms now.

 

And also, I have never used the M&I format in the past, and I always see people posting about it. Is this format really worth using, or should I avoid considering mostly everyone already has some form of this resume? Thanks

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin
 

Just keep it on there until you're finished with your first semester. That is what I'm doing. I earned an associate's degree while I was in the military, so I could potentially leave it on there forever. I won't however, as I'll need the space. No one cares about an associates degree anyway. Come December, you'll be good to go.

When a plumber from Hoboken tells you he has a good feeling about a reverse iron condor spread on the Japanese Yen, you really have no choice. If you don’t do it to him, somebody else surely will. -Eddie B.
 
SECfinance:

Cons:

Not putting it is unethical.

Not necessarily. Just add a little note in the "additional information" section to explain the situation. Done and done.

 
SECfinance:

Cons:

Not putting it is unethical.

I took it off (also took off my extracurriculars section) because i had no more room after my SA. If you have a good resume, dunno why you HAVE to keep it. I mentioned i'm a transfer during interviews, and no one was like 'why did you take it off'
 

Your junior college is irrelevant. Use your current university and whatever your GPA is toward your degree. All of your credits that transferred have fulfilled your university's requirements and are therefore calculated into your GPA.

 

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