So you’re thinking about transferring to a university such as Auburn University but still not sure of when? You begin to wonder: “Should I do it now, later, in the future – am I ready? What about my job? Will they allow me to attend school while working full time? My family? How much can I devote to school and my family? Being active duty in the military – will my JST’s transfer? Can I use my ASVAB for my test scores?”
There is so much to think about. A recommended first step is to contact a Transfer Advisor and request a meeting to speak with them. When you do call Admissions, be sure to ask your advisor what would they like for you to bring to the meeting and be sure to write that down! And also ask for their name so when you go you have their name! Being prepared is a major step when meeting with an advisor. That is your first step to entering your new institution to continue your education. Before you meet with your advisor write down the questions that you would like to have answered. Of course, you may not know what to ask at that time. Talk with other students that have transferred – they are an excellent source.
So now it’s time to meet with your admission advisor – a good question to ask is if the school(s) that you have/had attended are accredited? Some schools that students had previously attended, are not accredited (the credits will not transfer). When meeting with your advisor, bring your list of questions and suggestions from your friends who transferred in. You will need to know what your curriculum will consist of. With that you will also need to know what classes will transfer, what will come in as electives and unfortunately what will just come as hours. The admissions advisor can help you with the majority of the questions but in regards to what will “actually” transfer in and how long it will take you to graduate that is up to your academic advisor. We can discuss that in another time.
Now comes the money! There are many of us who do not have easy access for financial needs so now you must learn about going to the Financial Aid Office. Ask your advisor to tell you the location of this office. From grants, loans, work study, and of course what we all wish for — SCHOLARSHIPS! The Financial Aid Office can inform you of the details of tuition and how you can use their services to pay for some or all of your tuition. For those that are veterans or currently on active duty, you have the Veterans Resource Center to assist you. Your admissions advisor can inform you about scholarships and you may also want to visit the Office of Scholarships for further information.
Just remember one thing and that is this; transferring from a community college or another university does not need to be overly complex. The key is communication – that is, communication with your admissions advisor.
