| At the beginning of my senior year in high school, I | | | | college credits, the transfer school could put a hold |
| sent off half a dozen college applications and | | | | on your application to wait for high school transcripts. |
| recieved acceptance letters from most. After much | | | | It is best to send both off, preferably within a few |
| thought, I chose to attend the local junior college | | | | days of filling out your application. If you can, do it |
| instead of an out-of-town university. My plan was | | | | the same day. Don't wait for them to send you a |
| simple: spend two years earning my associates | | | | request for your transcripts. You should also keep in |
| degree, transfer, spend two more years to finish my | | | | mind that in-progress classes will not be counted as |
| bachelors. In the end, it didn't turn out that way. | | | | college credit. When you finish the semester and |
| They say hindsight is 20/20, so I am here to share | | | | your final grades are in, send a second copy of your |
| my experience so you may gain from it. Here is a list | | | | transcripts to the school or you won't get credit for |
| of what not to do when transferring colleges:1. Do | | | | the classes you just took.4. Do NOT expect them to |
| NOT put your associates before you bachelors | | | | contact you |
| degree | | | | This isn't saying they won't contact you, just don't |
| My first mistake was knowing the graduation | | | | wait for them to do it. Read up on their admissions |
| requirements for the junior college I attended and | | | | procedure, taking special notice of how long it should |
| paying little attention to the requirements for my | | | | take to hear back from them. If you haven't heard |
| transfer college of choice. I spent two and a half | | | | from them within the minimum amount of time, do |
| years memorizing the graduation checklist to get my | | | | not hesitate to call the admissions office and ask |
| associates. When I finally thought to look at what | | | | about the status of your application. Do this |
| would be expected of me at the university I had | | | | frequently until you recieve your acceptence (or |
| applied to for a transfer, I discovered almost a full | | | | rejection) letter. This will enable you to stay on top |
| third of my classes were not going to count towards | | | | of any requirements or any holds on your application. |
| my major. If I had compared the requirements for | | | | Most universities will attempt to contact you if there |
| both degrees sooner, I could have still earned my | | | | are problems with your application, but do not |
| associates without wasting those eight classes.2. Do | | | | depend on it.5. Do NOT wait for your acceptance |
| NOT put off your transfer application | | | | letter before acting |
| This is perhaps the one mistake I didn't make. My | | | | Even before I got my acceptance letter, I had |
| transfer university promised a response within two | | | | purchased a college catalog, made a list of classes I |
| months; I applied five months before the start of the | | | | would have to take and when they were offered, |
| quarter. It is always best to apply well ahead of time | | | | contacted the financial aid office, and made contact |
| to give yourself time to breathe and to tackle any | | | | with staff working under my major. I had also toured |
| roadblocks that might come up. Face it, they | | | | the campus with a map in hand, discovered just how |
| happen.3. Do NOT put off sending your transcripts | | | | bad parking would be, and what would be the best |
| This means both college and high school. Some | | | | way to get in and out of campus. This meant I was |
| colleges require an associates-level of college credit | | | | very comfortable with the idea of attending my |
| before they will accept a transfer, others are not as | | | | transfer university, before I'd even registered for my |
| picky. If you do not have the required number of | | | | first class! |