College Admissions 101 - Transferring After Your First Year
We asked our 2024 Summer Interns to give advice on a variety of topics for student-athletes entering the college admission process. Next up, we asked Maeve Clark about the process of transferring after her first year of college.
Q: What school do you attend?
MC: I go to Ithaca College
Q: Why did you choose your school?
MC: The overall team environment was very welcoming and fun. I met all of the players and coaches and knew that Ithaca was a team that I really wanted to be a part of. I really enjoyed the campus and the surrounding area, there is a really cute downtown and a lot of hiking trails and nature surrounding it. Ithaca also has a really good school of communications, and a specified sports media program that I was interested in.
Q: What factors influenced your decision?
MC: My decision to transfer was made after I realized that the team and coaching staff at my previous school did not have the same values as me when it comes to what a team should look like and treat each other. I could not see myself there for the next 4 years, and I knew that in order to make any change, I had to be the driving force. I entered the transfer portal after our season ended, because even though I loved a lot of things about the school outside of my sport, at the end of the day I could not see myself giving up field hockey and I didn’t want to be at school without the sport that I loved.
Q: Was your college application and decision process different this time vs. high school?
MC: I committed to play at my previous school during my junior year of high school, so when I had applied to school my senior year, I only did one application. On top of that, I never met any of the team when I visited the school, and I did not do an overnight. My second time around, I talked to the coaches multiple times, talked to current players and alumni, and talked to professors in the communications department. I made sure to cover all of my bases, and even took an overnight visit during a long weekend I had at school.
Q: What is it like applying to other schools while in college? Describe that experience.
MC: Balancing applying to several schools, while at the same time scheduling meetings with coaches, visits, and maintaining grades and getting schoolwork done was definitely challenging. Most coaches were very flexible with my schedule when setting up visits and meetings, and had a lot of support from my family and friends.
Q: Did you look for different things compared to your first college process?
MC: Coming out of a program that I knew I didn’t like, it gave me a lot more information about what I actually wanted in a school. When I first committed to my previous school, I was so caught up in the opportunity to play at a Division 1 level that I did not really consider what I wanted from my college experience. When I was transferring, I decided to look at all divisions, because truly what I wanted was a team that I would fit in with. At Ithaca, I really like the focus on academics and community. The coaches and team put a huge emphasis on being a team and treating everyone there with love and respect. Academics are also highly prioritized, which is important when you consider where you want your life to be when you are no longer playing your sport.
Q: What advice do you have for an incoming college student or someone going through the process of choosing a school?
MC: Talk to as many people as you can about the school. Have phone calls or zooms with coaches, talk to players in the same major as you, ask them questions and get the best feel for the school that you can. I would also recommend going to ID clinics on campus, where you can see campus, meet players, and usually get a feel for the coaches' coaching style. Make sure when you make your decision to consider why you play your sport, and look for a program that has the same values as you. Consider where you want to be in your education when you are out of college and no longer playing a sport. Everything happens for a reason, which was my motto during my recruiting process. Even now, after transferring I still really believe it is true. Without my previous school, I would have never met some truly great people and wouldn’t have had the chance to become the person I am now. When one opportunity closes, it just means there is another one waiting for you. Knowing what I know now, there is a school that is the perfect fit for every athlete, don’t try to force yourself to be happy somewhere that you are not.
Q: Now that you have been in school what are some things you wish you knew beforehand
MC: Dorms look a little like jail cells. Bring lots of decorations and pillows to make it more homey.
About Maeve Clark
Maeve is from Beverly, MA, and graduated from Hamilton Wenham High School in 2023. Last year, she attended Monmouth University, where she played field hockey and studied communications. This year, she transferred to Ithaca College, where is continuing to play field hockey and is studying sports media and advertising. Maeve was an Operations Intern for the 2024 Bay State Summer Games.
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