Dissatisfaction with a college can occur for any number of reasons. A student may not like the way courses are taught or methods of teaching may not fit in with a student's learning style. After a year of trying, a student may find she does not fit in socially with the student population. For example, a student who wants to focus devotedly on studies may not feel comfortable in a college that has a reputation of being a party school. A student who is unhappy at one college may find that there is another college that will meet her needs and allow her to enjoy the college experience.
Not all colleges offer the same majors and not all students graduate with the degree they intended in freshman year. A student who develops an interest in an area of study not offered at his current school may transfer to another school in order to pursue a degree in that area. Similarly, even if a student keeps his original major his school may cancel its courses in that area of study. In that case, a student will need to transfer to a school that does have a program in his major.
Some students first attend a two-year college and then transfer to a college that offers four-year degree programs. Two-year colleges are cheaper than four-year schools and most credits transfer into four-year degree programs. Two-year colleges also allow students to build up skills and improve grades so they can transfer into a better four-year college than they initially would have been able to get into.
Attending college is expensive and a student at a high-priced university may find herself in over her head financially. If the cost of one college is more than a student has the means of affording, she can transfer to a less expensive college that offers her degree of choice.
Some students attend colleges that are very far from their home and family. In an ideal situation this is not a problem, but occasionally a family crisis can occur. Illness, injury or the death of a family member may make it difficult for a student to study so far from their family. In this situation, a student may opt to transfer to a school closer to home.