By Sarah Allen/reporter
Students who want to further their careers and future need to start on an appropriate checklist to transfer to a university.
Students have to meet certain deadlines to apply and need to have taken classes that are transferable to the university they plan to attend. Students should get started early and meet with an advisor, so they can sign up for classes during open enrollment.
“Students should be planning ahead for their future,” said Julie Flores, admissions counselor at the University of Texas at Arlington. “It is never too early to start thinking about transferring. Certain scholarships are available, and merit transfer scholarships are available to students with the appropriate grades.”
The registration process is the same every year. Certain steps need to be taken, such as meeting with a university counselor, checking to see if classes transfer to the university, filling out an application and attending transfer orientation, Flores said.
“Students should have declared a major and should have selected their top three potential universities by the time they are in their sophomore year at community college,” NW Campus transfer advisor Lourdes Davenport said.
TCC students should make connections to universities to find out as much information as possible prior to applying for admission, Davenport said.
“There are scholarship opportunities available to students that have already chosen their major if their grades are adequate,” she said.
Upon being admitted, eligible undergraduate students should receive automatic consideration for general academic scholarships administered through the university scholarship office, UTA senior transfer counselor Andi Scott said. The deadline to be admitted for scholarship consideration is usually mid-February.
Admission to the university by the scholarship deadline does not guarantee a scholarship award. However, after the deadline, awards may be awarded on a funds-available basis, and eligible candidates will be reviewed in the order of their admission date.
“The money awarded to students varies on their scholarship that they are receiving,” she said.
If students are members of Phi Theta Kappa and have a 3.25 cumulative transfer GPA, they could be awarded a transfer honors scholarship of $2,000 and a renewal of up to two years, Scott said.
“You can schedule an appointment with an admissions counselor or an academic department to have specific questions answered,” she said.
Admissions counselors are available Monday-Friday following a mandatory campus orientation tour and can answer specific questions about the admissions process as well as general questions regarding financial aid, housing, support services and campus life.
“There are 82 majors at UT-Arlington listed online with plans for each that will show you what classes you need to take for each major,” Scott said.
Accounting major Kate Zotina wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to do with her future before she decided to go to UTA. With help from professors and guidance from peers and mentors, she said she discovered unknown potential.
“We all push each other to strive further while offering unwavering support at the same time,” she said. “My professors never fail to motivate me to grow and pursue my biggest and wildest dreams.”
Students should do everything they can to get started early on applying to universities so that they can succeed.
“It will really help a lot of students to start early,” Flores said. “If you’re unprepared, you’re going to have to get prepared.”
