Time to Pack Your Bags?

5 Signs It’s Time to Transfer as a College Athlete

By Sammie Grant|Updated on June 27, 2023 (originally published on August 26, 2022)

Have you ever felt out of place at what you once thought was your dream school? If so, don't be alarmed–college athletes transfer all the time so you're not the only one who feels this way. But if you do relate, it's probably a sign that your current school isn't the best fit for you, and you should start looking elsewhere if you want to have a positive college experience to look back on. If you're considering transferring, read on for signs that it may be time to find a new dream school.

You never feel like you truly adapted

Does that feeling of homesickness you had during the first couple days in college still linger even though it's been well over a year? Do you feel like you don't really fit in at your school? If you answered yes to either of those questions, it probably means you never really adapted to what is supposed to be your new home.

Related: Knowing When to Transfer

You'd rather be at home than at school

Do you get overly excited when it's time to go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas break? Does staying over the summer on campus to train seem like the worst idea ever? If you live within driving distance of your hometown, do you find yourself going home whenever you have time? It's okay to visit family, but always choosing home over staying at school isn't the best sign. Your college should start to feel like a second home to you if you truly belong there. While it's quite normal to feel homesick during the initial transition to college, if it's been over a year and you still prefer being at home it might be time to start looking elsewhere.

You don't feel supported by your teammates or coaches

You should feel like you are part of a big family when you are with your team. You don't have to get along well with every single person on the team, but when all of you are together it should feel like you are in a welcoming and safe environment. If it feels more on the hostile side and if the dynamic feels off, you probably don't want to be a part of a group like that.

With your coach(es) you should also feel like they are a part of a second family. You should be pretty comfortable coming to them with most issues or concerns you may have and have a strong bond with them. So if you are feeling the opposite about them, it might be best to move on.

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits

You dread going to practice

Complaining about practice and your sport in general is almost inevitable for all college athletes. After all, it's a lot of work balancing what is essentially two full time jobs (your sport and school) and sometimes you need to vent. But if you genuinely have no excitement going to practice whatsoever, you're probably losing love for your sport. Chances are you had to have enjoyed your sport enough to decide to play it in college. Transferring might be the answer to start regaining that love for your sport again.

When people ask you if you're enjoying college, you don't know how to answer

In my opinion, this is one of the biggest red flags. Most people that are truly enjoying their college experience won't hesitate when asked this question. If you like something, you are usually pretty vocal about it, but if you can't answer this question right away, you're probably not enjoying your experience enough.

The transfer process may seem scary, but if you aren't happy where you currently are, it is 100% worth it. You have all the resources you need to go through with the decision at your university, and we provide many informational articles on the topic as well. At the end of the day, be sure to make the best choice for yourself.