Definition
The GPA drop students experience when transferring from community college to a four-year university, typically temporary but often demoralizing. It's the academic equivalent of altitude sickness when climbing from base camp to summit.
Example Usage
She maintained a 3.8 at community college but experienced transfer shock, dropping to a 2.9 her first semester at the university before recovering.
Origin
Student success research term coined in the 1960s-1970s as transfer patterns were studied
Fun Fact
Transfer shock is so predictable and common that it's built into retention models, yet institutions do surprisingly little to prepare students for the transition.
Source: Transfer student success and retention research
Related Terms
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