College Admissions 101 - Transferring After Your First Year

October 9, 2024

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.

See more recruiting tools and college admissions process information at our Recruiting Tools page.

College Admissions 101 Previous Posts

October 2, 2024 - Going to School Far From Home

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Bay State Games Announces 2025 Future Leaders Scholarship Recipients

November 18, 2025

The Bay State Games has selected six statewide scholarship recipients for the 2025 Future Leaders Scholarship Program. These student-athletes were selected from a large applicant pool after a process that included committee reviews of all applications and virtual interviews with selected applicants. These future leaders were selected based on their achievements and involvement in academics, community service, athletics, and leadership roles. The Bay State Games Future Leaders Scholarship program was established in 1989 and has since distributed nearly $400,000 in financial aid. Each of these high school seniors will receive a $1,000 scholarship for their first year of college. “Bay State Games is proud to continue the Future Leaders Scholarship program which since 1989 has provided over $400,000 in aid to support the continuing education of outstanding young leaders." said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. “These well deserving student-athletes have excelled in the classroom, on the field and in the community, representing a variety of schools, sports and regions across Massachusetts” This year’s six scholarship recipients are Elyse Bissada, Brooke Blahut, Abigail Howie, Olivia Laaper, Sabina Mackechnie, Molly McIntyre. Elyse Bissada is a senior at Dover-Sherborn High School, where she is a four-year varsity field hockey and track & field athlete, as well as the team captain for both sports. In 2025, Elyse was a member of the Bay State Games Southeast field hockey team where she won a gold medal. Elyse is the founder of the Veterinary Medicine Club at her school and in her free time volunteers at local farms and Animal Rescue Leagues across the state. Elyse has committed to play field hockey and study biology at Hamilton College, where she plans to pursue veterinary medicine and ultimately establish an affordable low-cost clinic that serves her community. Brooke Blahut is a senior at North Quincy High School where she is a 4-year varsity member of the soccer team, and captain of the varsity ice hockey team. Brooke is also a well accomplished figure skater. She began skating at age 2 at Winterland Skating School and is now a U.S. Figure Skating Gold Medalist. Brooke has participated in Bay State Games annually since 2016, medaled 6 times, and is a 4-year Bay State Games High School Ambassador. Brooke is also the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Ambassador for NQHS. Brooke is Vice President of her class, a member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society and academically ranks in the top 5% of her class with a 4.6 GPA. Brooke is a two-time team leader and participant in the FBI Teen Leadership Academy and plans to pursue her master’s in forensic science and criminology and become an FBI Special Agent. Abigail Howie is a senior at Wilmington High School, where she is on the varsity soccer team and is captain of the Winter and Spring Track teams. Abigail serves as President of Student Council and the Wildcat Service Council, where she founded the “Bridging Generations” community initiative. She is a member of the National Honor Society, DECA, and Best Buddies. Abigail coaches a Wilmington fourth-grade team and is a USSF-certified soccer referee. She has most recently created an Alzheimer's Awareness community service project for her senior year. She hopes to continue her athletic career in college while studying sports management and marketing. Olivia Laaper resides in Stow and is a senior at Fusion Academy in Burlington. Laaper has been a captain of multiple high school sports teams including Track & Field and Swimming. Olivia is captain of her archery team at Riverside Archers and has won multiple medals in archery at Bay State Games and state competitions. Beyond athletics, Olivia has gained hands-on experience in emergency medicine as a high school intern with Pro EMS and plans to take her EMT certification this fall. She gives back to her community by lifeguarding and coaching youth swimming at Goldfish Swim School, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters and at local food banks. In college, Olivia plans to pursue a degree in nursing with a minor in emergency medicine and psychology. Sabina Mackechnie is a senior at East Longmeadow High School where she is a three sport athlete and captain in Soccer, Basketball and Lacrosse. She has earned all-league and second-team All-Western Mass honors in soccer and lacrosse. Sabina has been a By State Games Ambassador for two years and is a member of her school's Athletic Leadership Council and Pink Ribbon Club. Sabina participates in canned food drives and fundraisers for her school sports teams. Sabina will continue her lacrosse career at Springfield College while pursuing a degree in Education. Molly McIntyre is a senior at Norton High School where she is a three-sport captain in cross country, basketball, and outdoor track, earning multiple TVL All-Star honors, and MVP awards. Molly serves in key leadership roles on Student Council, DECA, Best Buddies, and five National Honor Societies. She volunteers at local youth sports programs, community events, and the MSG Gregory Trent Foundation. Molly works part-time at a donut shop and local ice cream store. She plans on attending Stonehill College where she will compete in track and study Finance and Marketing. For more information on the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, click here. For a list of past recipients and the colleges and universities they've attended, click here . About the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation/Bay State Games The Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 1982 to host the first sanctioned state games of the Commonwealth. It operates with the mission of promoting personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship to Massachusetts citizens of all ages and abilities. The Foundation is recognized for hosting high quality, Olympic-style events through the Bay State Summer and Winter Games, as well as educational programs, including the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, and the High School Ambassador Program.