Transferring to a four-year university is a big deal and requires some planning. When I started community college, my main goal was to earn my Associate of Arts and transfer to a four-year university. However, I had no idea how many steps there were to the process. But for any student who may be unsure about transferring, I think going through the process is worth it.
Your first steps to transferring
The first thing you need to do to start the transfer process is meet with an advisor at your community college. They can likely point you in the direction of university transfer guide sheets. These guides list what course equivalents transfer to different universities and how many hours of each subject are required for the programs you're interested in. My advisor and transfer guide sheet helped me plan which courses I needed to take each semester for my two years at community college.
At first, I was only following the transfer requirements for my top college choice but soon realized it doesn’t hurt to check out the requirements for other universities too. So don't narrow your options down to only your dream school! You may find interest in other colleges once you start looking, and they'll likely have different requirements for the same program—my Journalism programs of interest certainly did.
Related: Fighting for Your Education: An Expert Look Into Transfer Credits
Figuring out where to transfer
After figuring out what courses to take, the next question is which four-year college or university will you choose to attend? Do you want to stay in state or go out of state? Asking yourself these questions will help you narrow down your list of four-year colleges and universities—they helped me decide I wanted to stay closer to home. While this helped me narrow down to my top three colleges, I also discovered that finding a university in state that offered my program of study was challenging. This is where college visits are helpful. Visit the departments of your programs of interest at a few universities to gain enough information to compare programs and decide which one is your best fit.
Looking at class sizes and student life activities can also help you make a decision. It will give you a better idea of what to expect as a student when making your transition to the university. Seeing different campuses provides a look at dorms, student life, and various other aspects of the undergrad experience. Some universities have smaller student environments and class sizes than others, but you may find you enjoy the larger environments like I did. I wanted more opportunities to meet and connect with others on a big campus.
Tackling the admission process
In addition to college visits and getting a feel for each campus, you must consider admission applications and available scholarships to further narrow down your choices. A lot of things go into transfer admission applications such as essays, lists of your accomplishments, organization and club involvement, and volunteering. All things you likely still had to do when you applied to your community college. However, some four-year college applications may be more detailed than others, so it's helpful to have someone look over each of your applications before submitting them. Some of your prospective transfer schools will offer you scholarships for grades or involvement at your current community college.
Related: From One College to Another: The Ultimate Transfer Guide
I ultimately decided to transfer to the University of North Texas, Denton. It had my program of study and wasn't too far from home, plus I liked the campus. When I was accepted, I applied for transfer orientation; after attending, I knew it was the right university for me. From there, my next steps were just sending my final transcripts, applying for classes, and frequently checking my financial aid and student email for updates. My family, friends, and mentors provided support and insight as I prepared to transfer, and they gave me tips and reminders for things to keep in mind, such as keeping myself safe on campus. They were a major push in helping me keep up with all the transfer deadlines. Overall, I had a positive experience transferring to a four-year university. Now I’m ready to start my new journey as a transfer student!
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