Transfer Shock and Resilience: How Transfer-Related GPA Drop and Rebound Predict Student Departure

• In Event: Assessing Student Progress and Attainment

Abstract

Transfer students often experience a sudden drop in GPA, known as “transfer shock,” while adjusting to their new college's academic and social expectations. However, the reasons behind this phenomenon and the factors that contribute to student retention remain unclear. An analysis of over 25,000 transfer students at a large flagship university revealed an average first-term drop of -0.30 GPA points, but the impact on student departure depends on initial GPA, steepness of the drop, and students’ ability to rebound their second term. To promote transfer student success, sending institutions can help students prepare for potential setbacks while receiving institutions can provide targeted outreach to those who arrive with a GPA below 2.0 or suffer a GPA drop steeper than -0.50 in their first term.

Authors

• Shanna Smith Jaggars, The Ohio State University
  Presenting Author

• Marcos D. Rivera, Stack Overflow
  Presenting Author

• Melissa T. Buelow, The Ohio State University - Newark
  Presenting Author