Do colleges consider high school grades for transfer students?

For those who've transferred colleges, do they look at your high school grades during the transfer process? I'm curious since I've been out of high school for a couple years, and I'm trying to weigh what will impact my application.

It generally depends on how many college credits you’ve earned when you apply to transfer.

If you have only a year or less of college credits, most colleges will want to see your high school transcript. This is because they don't have as much college coursework to judge you on, so they'll consider your high school performance as well.

On the other hand, if you've completed more than a year of college credits, institutions usually focus more on your college grades. That said, some might still like to see your high school transcript for record-keeping purposes, but it would hold less weight in their decision.

With these big-picture rules in mind, each school’s transfer admissions process can vary widely, so it's important to look into the specific requirements of the colleges you're applying to.

Remember that while grades matter, they're not the only factor. Your college involvement, recommendation letters, and application essays can also impact a transfer application. For example, being actively involved in clubs or holding leadership positions in your current college could strengthen your application regardless of the emphasis put on your high school or college grades by the institution you're applying to. Writing a compelling transfer essay that clearly communicates why you want to change schools and how you'll contribute to the school community can also be a noteworthy element of your application.

To get a sense of the weight a particular school places on high school grades versus college grades for transfer students, I'd recommend reaching out to their admissions office directly. They should be able to give you more detailed information tailored to your specific circumstances.