Transfer Application Checklist

1. Visit the Common App landing page. Select "Apply for transfer" on the right-hand side of the page.
2. Create a new Common App account or log in to an existing account.
3. From the "Add Programs" screen, search for "Virginia Tech". There are six program options available. Please select the correct application based on your intended entry term and citizenship status. Remember: major availability will vary by term as noted on the available majors page. Prospective transfer students who apply for Spring entry but are not admitted or do not enroll may reapply for Summer OR Fall consideration in the same admissions cycle; however, students may apply for either the Summer OR Fall entry term, but not both, in the same cycle. Applications for these terms are reviewed together with the same admissions criteria and have the same review and notification timelines. In cases where a student submits both a Summer and Fall application, only the Fall application will be processed and reviewed. Spring applicants are advised to wait for the outcome of that process before applying to either Summer or Fall. Applicants who are current U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents will submit the Domestic application for their intended term; all other applicants should complete the International application for their planned entry term. Once you have added your program, you may hit "continue" below and then "Continue To My Application" from the following screen.
4. From the "My Application" screen you will begin completing the four main components of the application:
   • Personal Information
   • Academic History
   • Supporting Information
   • Program Materials (Virginia Tech Program Questions)
5. Personal Information - Please complete each subsection in full. Note: Once you have entered information for all subsections you will automatically advance into the Academic History section.
6. Academic History - Please complete each subsection as noted below. Note: Once you have entered information for all subsections you will automatically advance into the Supporting Information section:
   • High Schools Attended - Only basic high school information is required here for Virginia Tech. High school information is not used in the transfer review process.
   • Colleges Attended - Report all prior institutions attended as instructed.
   • College Coursework - College coursework information is not required nor should be reported here for Virginia Tech, though it may be requested or required here by other schools/programs to which you are applying through the Common App. Most applicants will be required to complete a separate applicants will be required to complete a separate Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) Record where they will outline their entire academic history from every college or university they’ve attended previously (see further details on this page under "Steps for completing the STARS").
   • GPA Entries - Add a GPA for each institution attended.
   • Standardized Tests
     • SAT/ACT - These tests are not required or reviewed for any transfer applicant. 
     • IELTS/TOEFL- scores should be added for international applicants not studying at an English language institution. 
     • AP (Advanced Placement) - Applicants are advised to report their full AP exam score history here, if applicable, though this information will also be requested and required in the STARS Record.
     • IB (International Baccalaureate) - Applicants are advised to report their full IB exam score history here, if applicable, though this information will also be requested and required in the STARS Record.
     • CLEP (College Level Examination Program) - Applicants are advised to report their full CLEP exam score history here, if applicable, though this information will also be requested and required in the STARS Record.
     • If you do not have any test scores to report, select "I Am Not Adding Any Standardized Tests".
   • Continuing Education Courses - Nothing is required for this section. Applicants may add any CEU information or select "I Am Not Adding Any Continuing Education Courses".
   • SAT Subject - These are not required or reviewed in the transfer process. Applicants should continue to the next section.
   • Senior Secondary Leaving Examinations - This section is not reviewed for any applicant.
     
   • Community-Based Organizations - Here you may identify and list details for any community-based organizations which have provided you with free assistance in your transfer process. If you do not have any organizations to list, select "0" in the dropdown box and then select "Save and Continue".
7. Supporting Information - Complete all subsections as noted below. Note: Once you have entered information for all subsections you will automatically advance into the Program Materials "Virginia Tech questions" section.
   • Experiences and Achievements - Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete these subsections noting any information which may be relevant to providing their application with a comprehensive holistic review. Activities and experiences from high school, college, or outside of academic life may be relevant. Note: No additional CV/resume will be reviewed.
   • Documents - Additional CV/Resumes uploaded here will not be reviewed by Virginia Tech. DD214, Green card, or Joint services transcripts may be uploaded here if applicable, but additional documentation may be requested elsewhere.
   • Affirmation Statements - Applicants are required to complete this section.
8. Program Materials - If not already selected, select your Virginia Tech application program. You will then see three tabs: Home, Questions, and Documents. The Home tab contains helpful information and external links. Application questions specific to Virginia Tech are found under the Questions tab and are required to submit your application. More information on the Documents tab is noted below.
9. Program Materials - Questions (Virginia Tech Program Questions)
   • Complete all of the Virginia Tech questions which are required, including the required personal statements known as the Ut Prosim Profile.
   • Special note regarding required supplemental materials following Common App submission: Under the "General" section heading, applicants will acknowledge a statement regarding steps and required format to provide supplemental academic information following Common App submission, which is based on their reported college/university history.
     • Any transfer applicant who has formally studied outside of the United States at the college or university level (regardless of domestic/international status) should upload ALL college/university transcripts to the Documents tab of the Program Materials section of the Common App prior to submission. Transcripts may also be emailed as attachments to admissions@vt.edu. If additional academic information is required, you will be contacted via email with further instructions

     • All other transfer applicants must submit the separate STARS Record to complete the application process. Applicants who must complete the STARS Record will need to select “I Am Not Adding Any Documents” under the Documents tab to move forward with application submission.

10. Submit the Application - Once you have answered all of the required components from each section of the Common Application, including the Virginia Tech Program questions, you will submit the application from the "Submit Application" ribbon near the top of your screen. Note: Certain information may not be edited following submission of the application. You will need to email appchange@vt.edu to request a change or correction to Virginia Tech specific questions or statements.

Who should complete the STARS?

All transfer applicants who have attended a college or university within the United States must submit a Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) Record to complete the application process. This is separate from the Common Application (Common App). Applicants who have attended a college or university outside of the United States (location of high school/secondary school does not matter) must upload all college or university transcripts directly to the Common App (see instructions on this page under Completing the Common App) or email them to admissions@vt.edu. All other applicants must submit a STARS Record to document all completed, in-progress, and planned college work and outcomes. Uploaded, emailed, or mailed transcripts will not be accepted or reviewed for applicants required to submit a STARS Record.

Spring 2026 applicants: The deadline for STARS submissions is October 8 (application deadline is October 1). Final academic grades through Summer 2025 as well as in-progress coursework through Fall 2025, if applicable, must be reported.

Summer and Fall 2026 applicants: The deadline for STARS submissions is March 11 (application deadline is March 1). Final academic grades through Fall 2025 as well as in-progress coursework through Spring and Summer 2026, if applicable, must be reported.

Failure to include all required information by the STARS submission deadline may result in application cancellation.

Spring 2025 applicants: The deadline for SRAR submissions is October 8 (application deadline is October 1). Final academic grades through Summer 2024, or available by October 8, as well as coursework through Fall 2024, if applicable must be reported.

Summer and Fall 2025 applicants: The deadline for SRAR submissions is March 11 (application deadline is March 1). Final academic grades through Fall 2024, or available by March 11, as well as coursework through Spring and Summer 2025, if applicable, must be reported.

1. Once your Common Application has been submitted you will receive an email invitation to create your Applicant Portal.
   • Invitations will begin to be delivered in late September and by October 1 to all applicants who've submitted by this point (regardless of submission date)*. Those applying after this timeframe can expect to receive the Applicant Portal invitation within 1-2 business days following Common App submission.
     • *Note: this timeline is especially relevant to Spring applicants, who may have a limited window to create the Applicant Portal and submit the STARS Record prior to the October 8 STAR deadline for that entry term.
   • You will use the Applicant Portal to monitor your application status and eventually view your admissions decision. You should create/submit your STARS Record through the Application Portal interface. This will ensure the STARS Record is properly matched with your submitted Common Application.
2. Once you have completed the account set-up process and made it to the STAR Home tab, select 'Transfer Student' in the Student Type box, if this is not already selected. This will allow the interface specific to transfer applicants to populate.
3. Automatic linking - If you have created your STAR account or accessed a previously created account through your Applicant Portal, your application should be linked automatically. As such, you can select 'Begin' at the bottom of the Home tab to move forward.
4. Enter every college or university you have attended on the Enter Colleges/Universities tab, noting your dates of attendance for each. For your current institution it is advised that you list the 'To' date as the final month of your last planned enrollment at that school, rather than 'Today'. This will be especially important if you intend to enter planned coursework for a future semester (i.e. Summer). Note: you will NOT enter your high school information here, as your high school record is not used in the transfer admissions review process. After you have entered each college/university attended, select 'Enter Coursework' near the bottom of the screen to proceed.
5. You will need to enter your final or current cumulative GPA (unweighted) at each institution in the GPA/Class Rank box. You can obtain this from your transcript or online student record. If you are entering coursework for a school at which you do not yet have an established GPA, you may select "This school does not calculate or report GPA or I do not have one yet". 
6. Begin entering ALL completed and planned coursework for each institution attended. You should reference your actual transcript from each institution and enter courses and grades exactly as they appear on your record for each school. This includes instances of repeated coursework or withdrawn coursework as these courses typically appear on your official transcripts regardless of their impact on your GPA.
   1. In-progress coursework or coursework which will be completed prior to transferring (i.e. in the spring or summer) should be listed with a grade of "In Progress".
   2. Dual enrollment (DE) work from high school should be listed under the college/university providing credit and using their course naming, numbering, and grading conventions.
   3. Transfer credit for students who have studied at multiple institutions should be listed under the original college/university where it was attempted. No completed or attempted college coursework or final grades should be omitted, regardless of your assessment on potential transferability or relevance to your intended Virginia Tech degree of courses/credits. If admitted, failure to outline your academic record at the college/university level completely and accurately could be grounds for later dismissal.
   4. If transfer credit was granted from an outside source (such as an AP or CLEP exam) it should be listed appropriately in the Enter Exams tab of the STARS Record (see next step). Once you have entered your coursework for each institution, you can select 'Enter Exams' near the bottom of the screen to proceed.
7. SAT/ACT scores are NOT required or reviewed as part of the Virginia Tech transfer admissions process. Sources of potential college credit, such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), however, are reviewed and should be reported in full in this section. Full disclosure is advised as these scores can only help, never hurt, an applicant's chances for admission. Applicants should only list exams that have already been taken and for which scores have been received. Once you have finished entering exams, select 'Review' near the bottom of the screen to proceed.
8. From the Review/Submit tab, you can review the data you have entered. Once you have confirmed that everything is complete and correct, you will submit the STARS Record by completing the Electronic Signature box at the bottom of the page and pressing the 'Submit' button. Your submitted STARS will transmit to Virginia Tech within a few business days and be matched with your Common Application. The STARS Record must be submitted by the deadline noted above for your application to be considered complete and advance through the review process.
9. Should you need to correct or update your STARS Record, you may return and access your STARS Record from your Applicant Portal. Sign in then select 'Continue' from the bottom of the STARS Home tab and then 'Update STARS' from the Record Complete box to unlock the STARS Record. Any additions or corrections will only be transmitted to Virginia Tech once the STARS Record is formally resubmitted from the Review/Submit tab.