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Transfer Shock and Resilience: How Transfer-Related GPA Drop and Rebound Predict Student Departure from a Flagship University Campus

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Title: Transfer Shock and Resilience: How Transfer-Related GPA Drop and Rebound Predict Student Departure from a Flagship University Campus
Language: English
Authors: Shanna Smith Jaggars, Marcos D. Rivera (ORCID 0000-0002-5995-3717), Melissa T. Buelow
Source: Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice. 2025 27(1):228-249.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: College Transfer Students, Grade Point Average, Student Adjustment, Academic Persistence, Student Characteristics, Grade Prediction, Grades (Scholastic), School Transition, Influences, Universities
DOI: 10.1177/15210251231163837
ISSN: 1521-0251
1541-4167
Abstract: As they navigate the social and academic expectations of a new college, transfer students commonly suffer "transfer shock," or a sudden drop in GPA. However, little is known about why some students suffer transfer shock, why some bounce back, and the consequences in terms of student retention. This analysis of over 25,000 transfer students (N = 25,000) at a large flagship university finds an average first-term drop of -0.30 GPA points, but the impact of this shock on student departure is dependent on initial GPA, the steepness of the drop, and the student's ability to rebound in their second term. To support transfer student retention and graduation, sending institutions can help students to pre-appraise the potential setback as normal and temporary, while receiving institutions can provide proactive outreach to transfers who arrive with a GPA below 2.0 or who suffer a GPA drop steeper than -0.50 in their first term.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1466253
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Transfer Shock and Resilience: How Transfer-Related GPA Drop and Rebound Predict Student Departure from a Flagship University Campus
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shanna+Smith+Jaggars%22">Shanna Smith Jaggars</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Marcos+D%2E+Rivera%22">Marcos D. Rivera</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5995-3717">0000-0002-5995-3717</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Melissa+T%2E+Buelow%22">Melissa T. Buelow</searchLink>
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Transfer+Students%22">College Transfer Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+Point+Average%22">Grade Point Average</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Adjustment%22">Student Adjustment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Persistence%22">Academic Persistence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Characteristics%22">Student Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+Prediction%22">Grade Prediction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grades+%28Scholastic%29%22">Grades (Scholastic)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Transition%22">School Transition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Influences%22">Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities%22">Universities</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/15210251231163837
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: As they navigate the social and academic expectations of a new college, transfer students commonly suffer "transfer shock," or a sudden drop in GPA. However, little is known about why some students suffer transfer shock, why some bounce back, and the consequences in terms of student retention. This analysis of over 25,000 transfer students (N = 25,000) at a large flagship university finds an average first-term drop of -0.30 GPA points, but the impact of this shock on student departure is dependent on initial GPA, the steepness of the drop, and the student's ability to rebound in their second term. To support transfer student retention and graduation, sending institutions can help students to pre-appraise the potential setback as normal and temporary, while receiving institutions can provide proactive outreach to transfers who arrive with a GPA below 2.0 or who suffer a GPA drop steeper than -0.50 in their first term.
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        Value: 10.1177/15210251231163837
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
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      – SubjectFull: College Transfer Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade Point Average
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      – SubjectFull: Student Adjustment
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      – SubjectFull: Academic Persistence
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      – SubjectFull: Student Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: Grade Prediction
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      – SubjectFull: Grades (Scholastic)
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      – SubjectFull: School Transition
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      – SubjectFull: Influences
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      – SubjectFull: Universities
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      – TitleFull: Transfer Shock and Resilience: How Transfer-Related GPA Drop and Rebound Predict Student Departure from a Flagship University Campus
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