By Chelsi DeVaul and Heather Horton
Students have many things to consider when deciding to transfer to a four-year school.
Terrell Shaw, academic advisor in the SE transfer center, said four key factors exist when it comes to transferring. Students should make sure developmental courses are done, tackle core courses, identify which program or career they want to enter and, lastly, look at what schools they may be interested in, he said.
Many students are not aware that transfer centers can help them build their class schedule just as the counselors can. The academic advisors in the transfer centers know what classes students need to take to transfer to a four-year school.
“Each school has a transfer equivalency guide,” Shaw said.
The guide helps students understand what classes will transfer to a desired school so they don’t waste time.
Joshua Lewis attended Everest College before enrolling at TCC and understands what steps to take to ensure he successfully transfers to a four-year university.
“I don’t like to waste time,” Lewis said. “I might as well get my Associate of Arts degree, and that will give me enough time to decide what I really want to do.”
Lewis said one of the benefits of getting an associate degree is that most classes taken in the core curriculum will also transfer to a four-year university.
The University of North Texas has open house transfer events throughout the year. The upcoming transfer events are March 21, April 25 and May 23. Students should make sure to take their unofficial transcripts so they can be evaluated.
UNT also offers transfer mixers and transfer kickoffs so prospective students can socialize and get to know other transfer students and faculty.
South Campus student Kelsey Lee Bussey is planning to transfer to Tarleton State University after taking her core requisites at TCC. Bussey lives in Cleburne and attending college in Stephenville is ideal because of the proximity to her family.
“I am kind of a homebody, and I just wasn’t ready to move out into a dorm,” Bussey said.
The University of Texas at Arlington has Maverick Transfer Night. This can be good to go to even for students still a semester or two away from transferring, Shaw said.
The more prepared students are, the easier their transfer transition can be.
Students should apply for financial aid and many scholarships as soon as possible, Shaw said. He suggested scholarship sites such as scholarship.com, schoolsoup.com, fastweb.com and finaid.org.
When transferring, students should not procrastinate, Shaw said. The longer students wait, the harder the process can be. Going to speak with an academic advisor at the transfer center as early as possible is a great start. It is a good idea to get official transcripts from all schools. Although advisors will look at unofficial transcripts, official ones are required. Shaw said students should also remember that a grade point average is very important when transferring.
