For some college athletes, there comes a time when you feel you have to transfer. It might not be the right fit or the school itself is not going well for you, but for whatever reason,  it's time to go and get a new start. There are lots of different reasons to transfer and whether it's the right decision or not is up to the athlete.

With that said, there's some prep work that has to be done before you take the leap to transfer to a new school. Here are the key conversations to have before transferring.

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits

Conversation #1: Have a Heart-to-Heart With Yourself

It sounds crazy, but first talk to yourself. You need to be honest with yourself about why you want to transfer–you shouldn't just want to transfer because you aren't getting the playing time you want. It truly has to be the wrong fit or a different legitimate reason. If you are leaving because of playing time, you will likely not be happy with yourself in the moment or in the future. So think about your relationship with your coach/teammates, your academics, or the school itself. If any of these things are off, transferring may be the best option for you.

Conversation #2: Get Feedback From Family and Friends

You also should talk with your family and close friends about it. Your family and friends will give you advice and tell you what you need to hear much of the time. You should talk to them about what you're thinking, where you want to go, and why you want to go. This is a good way to get objective feedback and make sure that you're not missing any blind spots in your decision-making process.

Related: Transferring 101: Basic Guide to Understanding the Transfer Portal

Conversation #3: Break Up With Your Current School (Cleanly)

After talks with yourself and your family, you should be talking with your coach and administration about your intention to transfer. Ask them what they want from you and if they need anything done. In addition, after talking to them, when your name is in the portal, you should be talking to other schools and their coaches. Be honest with them and be yourself. Really research their schools to make sure that the next school will be the right fit for you by asking the coaches and current players questions.

Regardless of your reason, these are the three conversations you should have before transferring schools. They are important for so many reasons including making sure you end up at the right spot. So if you're thinking about transferring, be sure to slow down and talk it out first.

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* Originally published on October 19, 2022, by Scott Abramson