Coming Soon: The Transfer Student Spotlight

Here in the Transfer Center we know that transfer students are amazing!  In meeting with hundreds of transfer students year after year we’ve come to appreciate the impressive accomplishments of students who have transferred to our school.  We want to be sure that others recognize this as well. To achieve this we are going to begin a new series of articles on the Transfer Center Blog, The Transfer Student Spotlight. Each month we will highlight the accomplishments of one of the U of U’s incredible transfer students. Don’t miss this chance to get to know transfer students from a variety of U majors who have accomplished great things in and out of the classroom.   

Transfer Students!

Want to Know What Classes Transfer to the U? Check out our Getting Ready Guides

Knowing what will transfer to your new school and what your credits will count for once you are accepted is essential information for a transfer student.  If you are a student attending any Utah college or university and know that you want to transfer to the U of U, this information is right at your fingertips and can be accessed long before you ever apply to attend the U.  

The University of Utah works closely with all Utah institutions of higher education (public and private) to create online transfer resources called Getting Ready Guides. The Guides show which credits will transfer to meet general and major requirements at the U.  The Getting Ready Guides can be found at:

http://admissions.utah.edu/apply/undergraduate/transfer/guides/

The Guides are organized by major and show which classes can be taken at other Utah schools to meet specific departmental requirements. Drop down menus make it easy to find your school and your U major.  A separate section explains which transfer credits meet U of U General Education requirements.

Smart transfer students use The Getting Ready Guides to plan their classes from the moment they decide they want to transfer to the U.  Careful planning will help keep you on track to your ultimate goal: graduation!

“My Transfer Credit Isn’t Filling a Requirement; What Should I Do?”

The U Transfer Center wants to welcome all new transfer students starting at the U in Spring Semester 2015!

We also want to answer a perennial question asked by many new transfer students, “What should I do if my transfer credits are not filling requirements at the U”?  The answer to this question depends on what type of requirement you are trying to fill. 

For General Education or Bachelor’s Degree Requirements:

Come to the Transfer Center. 

We are the ones who review classes that might have been missed in the initial credit evaluation done by the Admissions Office. If a class is determined to meet a requirement, a Transfer Center advisor will make a substitution on your DARS report.

You can make an appointment to sit down with an advisor and review the classes in question. This is a good idea if you have multiple classes that you would like reviewed. Make an appointment by going to: http://advising.utah.edu/scheduling/ or call the appointment desk: 801-581-8146.

If you have just one class you’d like to have looked at you are welcome to come to the Quick Answer Desk in the Transfer Center (450 SSB) and talk to an advisor.

It is a very good idea to present a course description and syllabus from the class to the advisor when you speak to them. 

In some cases it may be necessary for a student to do a General Education Appeal to get a transfer credit to fill a requirement. If this is necessary, your Transfer Center advisor can provide the needed paperwork and explain the appeal process to you.

For Major Requirements:

See your major advisor.   

Each department makes its own decisions on the applicability of transfer credits for major requirements.  Once again, you may need to provide a course description and syllabus to have your course evaluated.

Find contact information for your major advisor at: http://advising.utah.edu/mandatory-advising/first-year-advisors.php

Don't Pay the Application Fee Twice!

A common misperception among students transferring to the U is that once they have been accepted as a U student they can choose to attend any semester they want. This is incorrect.  When a student applies to the U it is for a particular semester.  If the student does not attend during that semester, then their admission is inactivated and they will need to re-apply, and pay their application fee again when they decide that they want to attend. 

Plan carefully before turning in that application! A Transfer Center advisor can help you decide if you are truly ready to apply.

U Admissions Office Verifies Previous Enrollment

To be accepted to the U of U as a transfer student you must send transcripts from all previous institutions you have attended. You cannot elect to send some of your transcripts, but not others. The U Admissions office will verify previous enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities for all applicants through the National Student Clearinghouse and will not begin processing your application until all transcripts have been received.  

Transfer Scholarships

Interested in applying for a transfer scholarship?  For certain types of scholarships you won't need to fill out a separate scholarship application. All transfer students applying to the U will be automatically considered for University-funded merit (grade-based) and diversity scholarships.  In the past, a separate application was required for these scholarships, but starting in Fall, all students who fill out the U admissions application and submit transcripts to the Admissions Office by April 1^st will be considered for these scholarships.

Departmental, college, need-based and all other scholarships will continue to require separate applications and will have varying application deadlines.  More information about these scholarships can be found at http://financialaid.utah.edu/. 

Transfer to the U and See the World!

The Center for Learning Abroad at the University of Utah is committed to making learning abroad a possibility for all students, including transfer students.

Why should transfer students consider a learning abroad program?

Participating in a learning abroad program is an amazing opportunity for students to expand their horizons and boost their resumes. The advantages are endless. Learning abroad—also referred to as study abroad—is a scholarly, credit-bearing program that provides students with opportunities to gain valuable experience and develop critical skills while attending school in another country. Recent studies indicate that learning abroad helps students develop career skills, and in today’s competitive economy, every advantage counts. Learning abroad experiences demonstrate to potential employers that a job applicant has valuable skills for the workplace. Such skills include the ability to expand professional networks, communicate effectively and problem solve. In fact, in a recent survey, 90% of employers believed that job applicants with learning abroad experience are likely to possess key skills for job success.

The Center for Learning Abroad  at the U offers over 200 programs in over 50 countries, with opportunities for all majors in both English and other languages!

Which learning abroad programs are transfer students eligible for?

As long as students are matriculated (degree seeking) at the University of Utah, they are eligible to participate on any Learning Abroad program.  This includes faculty-led, exchanges and affiliated programs. Faculty-led programs are short-term programs which typically take place during the summer.

 These programs offer direct University of Utah credit (not transfer credit), and are hence our best recommendation for  transfer students who would like to accumulate some credit hours here at the U.

Exchanges are long-term programs which last for either one semester or for the full academic year. In order to participate in an exchange program, students must have completed 24 credit hours at the University of Utah. This means that transfer students are eligible for these programs, but only after they have attended the U for at least 2 semesters.

Affiliated programs are facilitated through third party organizations. These can be short-term or long-term programs. As long as students are registered and matriculated here at the U, they are eligible to participate in affiliate programs.

Can transfer students receive scholarships for learning abroad?

Yes! Last year, The Center for Learning Abroad awarded over $260k in scholarships, to 1 out of 4 students who applied. Any matriculated University of Utah student is eligible to apply for scholarships through the Center for Learning Abroad, regardless of class standing or transfer status.

There are also hundreds of scholarships available through the government and third parties; our peer advisors and coordinators work with students to help them find the best scholarships for their needs and background. Federal financial aid can be used on all of our approved programs.

 To find out more about studying abroad students can go to:  http://learningabroad.utah.edu/  or go to the Center for Learning Abroad offices in room 159 of the Union Building on the U campus.