Transfer students were second-class citizens. Although they always had a place at regional public institutions, many private colleges and universities largely ignored them. Admissions offices were built to work with freshmen, and transfer students were messy. They brought credits that were viewed as inferior and that did not fit into the curriculum smoothly. They generated questions about housing. They were also often viewed as backdoor students who were either not competitive enough to gain admission as freshmen or were trying to get around paying regular tuition.
For a large number of teenagers, the possibility of earning a college degree still seems out of reach due to lack of adequate financial resources, guidance, and support. Each year, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 34.1 percent of high school graduates fail to enroll in college. Many colleges and universities are ramping up their efforts to target students in traditionally underserved communities, particularly following last year’s College Opportunity Summit hosted by the White House.
