Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Transfer Information Packet

Transfer Advising Form


 

Last Name_____________First Name_________Middle Name______________

Telephone (Cell or Home) ______________ Alternate Phone________________

Email__________________ School Email__________________

  1. Degree Plan at UACCB__________________________________


     

  2. Intended Bachelor's Degree_______________________________


     

  3. Intended Transfer Institution ______________________________


     

  4. Intended Transfer Date (after which semester at UACCB)____________________


     

  5. How many credits have you earned? (Circle the appropriate range)
  • 0-12 credits
  • 13-29 credits
  • 30 credits
  • 45 credits
  • 60+ credits
  1. Are you a current Pell recipient? (Circle one) Yes / No


     

  2. Do you receive the Challenge/Lottery Scholarship? (Circle one) Yes / No


     

  3. Do you receive the Go Grant? (Circle one) Yes / No


     

  4. Do you plan to commute to campus, live on campus, or live in the same city off campus? _________________________________________


     


 


 


 


 


 

Transfer Suggestions for you

  1. Make sure the institution you like offers the degree you're considering. You need to fully research your transfer institution, visit the campus, attend a class, eat in the commons area and make sure that this is a good fit for you.
  2. Look at the transfer resources available at UACCB and online. Go to the department of your major, visit the financial aid office, tour residence life, ask about student organizations and attend an event on-campus.
  3. Make your campus experience work for you. When you call to schedule a campus visit, if you're not going with a group, ask about attending a class, and about what's going on, on campus. You are in the driver's seat with your transfer!
  4. Ask to speak with an advisor in your program. Understand that there are limitations on what they can tell you if you're not an admitted student yet, and you haven't had your transcript evaluated. They can give you an estimate, but not anything definite.
  5. How does your institution define "transfer"? Do you fit the requirements for admissions purposes? Typically institutions require a minimum number of transfer credits, or you could be admitted as a freshman instead of a transfer student.
  6. Pay close attention to scholarship and registration deadlines! (You want more money, right??) Apply early in the semester prior to your transfer.
  7. Pay closer attention to admission requirements for particular majors and look for prerequisite courses for major requirements that you may be able to complete prior to your planned transfer.
  8. When requirements conflict among institutions, follow the policies of the institution where you plan to graduate or the institution where you plan to get your bachelor's degree.
  9. Don't leave unpaid bills or incomplete courses at your current institution, or they may not release your grades to your transfer institution.


     

    Transfer Timeline

    9-12 months prior to expected transfer

  • Check college application deadline
  • Review program/major requirements and application deadlines
  • Scholarship deadlines- apply for as many as you qualify for
  • Housing deadlines come early-plan ahead. If you plan to live off-campus, ask if there is someone on campus to help you find appropriate housing close to campus
  • Check the ACTS program on the www.adhe.edu website, under the students tab, to see which of your classes will transfer, and which will not.

6 months before expected transfer

  • Apply to your institution by priority deadline.
  • In addition to your application, send an official transcript from every college you have attended. Your application will not be processed without an official transcript on file. Send another transcript when you finish your semester or after each course you finish at UACCB.
  • Send your shot records.
  • Update your FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov to include your transfer school's code.
  • Meet with a transfer advisor at your transfer school.

    3 months before expected transfer

  • Attend transfer orientation
  • Become familiar with the policies and procedures on campus
  • Find out what student organizations and activities will be a good fit for you
  • Request a final copy of your transcript be sent to your transfer school
  • Calm down and enjoy your free time…since you have it now…since you've done everything early! Yay!


 


 

Transfer Checklist

  • Have you researched any colleges or universities?
  • Have you chosen a college or university that offers your desired major?
  • Have you researched what the minimum GPA needed to transfer to your college or university of choice?
  • Do you have the required GPA?
  • Do you need to send your high school transcript or ACT scores to your chosen college or university? *Some colleges & universities require these documents even though you have attended a two-year college.
  • Have you completed the required coursework to transfer into your major program of study?
  • Does the program you are interested in have more requirements than general core curriculum (general education courses) for admission?
  • Have you inquired about transfer scholarships or other scholarships you may be eligible for?
  • Have you completed the necessary paperwork including admissions, financial aid, and scholarship applications before the deadline?
  • Have you completed the admissions application with the correct application fee (if a fee is required) before the deadline?
  • Have you had official copy/copies of all your college transcripts sent to your transfer college or university?
  • Have you arranged to have your financial aid sent to your chosen college or university?
  • Have you checked into housing (dorm room or apartment/house)?
  • Have you set an appointment to meet with your new advisor?
  • Have you requested a campus tour of the college or university you have chosen?


     


     


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Transfer Checklist

  • Have you researched any colleges or universities?
  • Have you chosen a college or university that offers your desired major? (this is a biggie!)
  • Have you researched with the MINIMUM GPA needed to transfer to your college or university of choice?
  • Do you have the required GPA?
  • Do you need to send you high school transcript or ACT scores to your chosen college or university? *Some colleges & universities require these documents even though you have attended a two-year college.
  • Have you completed the required coursework to transfer into your major program of study?
  • Does the program you are interested in have more requirements than general core curriculum (general education courses) for admission?
  • Have you inquired about transfer scholarships or other scholarships you may be eligible for?
  • Have you completed the necessary paperwork including admissions, financial aid, and scholarship applications before the deadline?
  • Have you completed the admission application with the correct application fee (if a fee is required) before the deadline?
  • Have you had official copy/copies of all your college transcripts sent to your transfer college or university?
  • Have you arranged to have your financial aid sent to your chosen college or university?
  • Have you checked into housing (dorm room or apartment/house)?
  • Have you set an appointment to meet with your new advisor?
  • Have you requested a campus tour of the college or university you have chosen?
Whew. Did you get all of that??

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Transfer Anxiety and other issues that require chocolate....

I won't lie when I say that the favorite part of my job is dealing with students....it's right up there with transfer trips (my second favorite!), the fabulous ice machine at work, and the fun people I get to see every day at my job. 

Transferring schools can be a seamless process, but it can also cause a great deal of anxiety for the student, and, in many cases, their parents, and/or their support system (friends, other relatives, kids, ADVISORS!). 

Since this summer began, most of my time has been spent on transfer issues; whether the issues are with housing, transcripts, credits, GPA, or just plain old anxiety.  I've had several types of transfer students in my office this summer (their names have been changed to protect their identity).

1.  College Junior, recent transfer to a four-year, home for the summer, taking classes to improve his GPA and get off of probation. 
The Problem; A very connected, driven student while in his two-year plan, he did completely get the right information about courses from his four-year advisor, enrolled in a class with a heavy load (with lots of busy busy extracurriculars) and tanked his GPA. 
The Solution; Take six hours in the summer here (for much cheaper), increase his GPA, go back to his four-year in August with renewed energy, confidence, and a support system (so that I don't show up there) and knock those classes out of the ballpark this time.

2.  College Freshman, transferring in August to a four-year, taking classes this summer to improve her GPA for improved chances of success at the four-year.
The Problem; Very anxious about her academics when I met her in November, had some issues with coping strategies.  She was going to wait a year to transfer, because the two year setting provided the support system she needed to improve her GPA, and gain confidence academically and emotionally.
The Solution; Um, hello, TRiO?  The four year where she plans to transfer has a very active TRiO program (very similar to ours!), and we are making a trip in July, so that she can meet her new TRiO advisor, and make the seamless transition from advisor to advisor.  By taking summer classes, not only does she increase her GPA, but she also doesn't have a gap in learning, because she's continuously enrolled in classes.

3.  Recent Associate's Graduate, transferring in January to a four-year, taking classes this summer and fall to finish the requirements for an AA in General Education (where 100% of the classes will transfer, as opposed to an AAS, where many of the electives will not).
The Problem; She is a single mom with two children, has experienced much success in her recent past, but in her not-so-faraway past, she has experienced what she deems as failures (which I call life experience...because she's fabulous...and obviously she got here by having all of that experience).  She has great anxiety about moving her two children to the new town, new school, new friends, new everything.  Commuting may not be an option, because of the crazy cost of gas, and the time spent in her vehicle will be away from her kids. 
The Solution; Visit, Visit, Visit the campus.  She needs to make sure this is what she does before she jumps.  She has six months to make a plan, and explore all aspects of this transfer. 

All of these students share a common theme; transfer anxiety!  In our little two-year world (and I'm quoting a four-year transfer rep here...I won't name names...) we do a lot of "hand-holding", but so many of our students are first generation college students, who already may not have a support system at all in place.  College is stressful, and trying to get information from some colleges can be stressful if you don't ask the right people the right questions.  So, a two-year school, with many programs designed to reduce the anxiety of students, is the way to wade into the water without drowning. 

Planning a transfer is a big decision.  If you're a parent, or you already have an established job where you live right now, it's an even bigger decision! You have to put a great deal of thought into what will work the best for you.  An online program may be the way to go for you, if moving would cause you greater anxiety than you already have in your life.  Go and talk to your advisor, and transfer advisor, and always go and visit before you transfer.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

How to Get Better Grades & Other Surprising Solutions to the Stickiest of Class Situations

How to Get Better Grades & Other Surprising Solutions to the Stickiest of Class Situations

Mini-transfer fair on Wednesday, August 3rd for Summer Bridge STARS students

In addition to all of the planning excitement for new programs in the Fall of 2011, our TRiO group has the opportunity to host 25 incoming freshmen for a week on campus, August 1st-5th.  One of the favorite parts of my job is getting to work with transfer students, and providing them with opportunities and access to information on how to complete their Bachelor's degrees.  An Associate's degree might get your foot in the door, but if you want to keep climbing, you have to continue your education (I should be counseling myself, hello, Ph.D and Ed.D programs are calling).

On August 3rd, we will host transfer representatives from at least ten four year colleges and universities from around the region.  Students will have a "working" lunch where they will receive information about degree plans, transfer scholarships (the most important part, right??), information about housing, campus food, school mascots, campus life, and all of the answers to those pending questions on their minds, like "If it rains, do I really have to go to class??".

After eating and greeting the transfer reps, the students will then be released, with a list of questions, mind you, to talk with the transfer representatives individually about what that school can offer them. 

Our traditional transfer fair is in February, and is open to all UACCB students.  This can sometimes be an overwhelming situation for students to walk into a room filled with strangers and start asking them questions about what they can do to help them achieve their academic and personal goals.  By creating a smaller, cozier environment, I'm hoping to increase the expectation that these students will transfer and FINISH their Bachelor's degrees (and yes...we do expect you to transfer...as painful as it is for us to loose you...you have to leave the nest sometime...and yes...I will pack you in the transfer van and leave you there!).

Arkansas Community Foundation – Aspire Arkansas

Arkansas Community Foundation – Aspire Arkansas

Great links to Arkansas based grants, scholarships and all things good!