Submitting Transcripts from Withdrawn Colleges for Transfer Applications

I'm applying as a transfer student, but I have grades from a college I withdrew from. Should I still submit those transcripts? How do colleges look at these kinds of transcripts during the transfer process?

Yes, you should submit all your college transcripts even from institutions where you have withdrawn. It is standard practice in the college admissions process to request all transcripts from every post-secondary institution you have attended. Failing to do so may result in incomplete applications or misrepresentation.

When evaluating these transcripts, colleges will take into consideration the circumstances surrounding your withdrawal from the institution. This information can provide valuable context about your college experience. For instance, if you had to leave because of a family situation, illness, or other personal reasons, admission officers may weigh that information alongside your academic performance.

However, keep in mind that doing poorly at any college you previously attended and then withdrawing, particularly without valid reasons, could raise concerns regarding your overall academic performance and ability to cope with college-level work. This could potentially have a negative impact on your application, especially if patterns of withdrawals or poor grades repeat at the other colleges you attended.

Finally, I'd recommend adding an addendum or an explanation in your application where you can clarify the reasons for your withdrawal from this college. This will give you the opportunity to provide context, pick up lessons learned, or demonstrate steps you've taken to improve and ensure your success in the future. For example, should your prior performance have been impacted by personal issues, discussing how you've addressed these concerns can be constructive.