Transfer Student Spotlight

Clayton Booth

Clayton is a transfer student who came to the U from Weber State University.  He is majoring in International Studies with an emphasis in global health. His long-term goal is to go to dental school. 

Clayton is actively involved on campus working for the University of Utah Ambassadors Program in The Welcome Center.  For many prospective students, Clayton and the other U. Ambassadors are their first contact with the University of Utah. Clayton does a fantastic job welcoming these students and their families providing them with the information they need to find their place at U. Clayton is also involved at the LDS Institute on campus, and he volunteers in the Emergency Department at the U Hospital once week.

Getting to know people and offering them helpful services are the reasons that Clayton has chosen to be a dentist. Another thing drawing him to dentistry is his love for learning about the human body; Anatomy and Physiology are two of his favorite classes. He also loves to learn about different cultures and communities thus his major in International Studies.

After graduating from dental school he hopes to set up practice in his home town, Ogden, Utah.  He also hopes to travel the world helping people with his dentistry skills.

Clayton chose to transfer to the U because he knew it was a great research institution which offered an ideal place to prepare for dental school.  He likes the U’s dynamic environment. He enjoys seeing all the new construction and brand new buildings on campus. He also appreciates the emphasis on entrepreneurial activities at the U. It’s exciting for him to see faculty and students pushing boundaries with their innovations.

The biggest challenges that Clayton faced as a transfer student were in the early stages of transferring. He found it difficult to negotiate the complex transfer process and make a smooth transition. Transferring credits, finding a new job, getting to know campus, and accessing resources for Pre-Dental students were all early challenges for Clayton. The U offers lots of resources for transfer students, but it can be hard to discover opportunities and find out how to participate in them.

Clayton has certainly overcome these challenges and has gone on to become extremely knowledgeable about programs, resources, and policies. He uses this hard won knowledge and his own experiences as a transfer student to help others as they make their own transition to the U of U.

U Decide: U Explore Open Houses

U DECIDE

If you are a transfer student unsure of your major or minor, the U Explore Open Houses put on by the Major Exploration Center are a great resource to begin exploring some of your options.  These events bring together faculty, advisors, current students, and alumni from a variety of U of U majors and minors. In addition, extra-curricular resources related to highlighted majors are also present at these events, so you can not only find out about academic options but also ways to build a resume of real experiences.  Upcoming open houses include:

Going Global – March 2

·         International Studies

·         Latin American Studies

·         Comparative Lit and Cultural Studies

·         TESOL Certificate

·         Middle Eastern Studies

·         Asian Studies

        Public Policy and Advocacy – March 9

·         Ethnic Studies

·         Campaign Management Certificate

·         Political Science

·         Sociology

All Open Houses are held in the Collegiate Room in the Olpin Union Building from 12-1:30 PM.  At these events transfer students can enjoy free food, free parking, and a chance to explore some exciting options at the University of Utah.

Find out more at: http://advising.utah.edu/uexplore/uexplore-open-houses.php.

Check Out the U of U College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

The University of Utah’s College of Social and Behavioral Science has a lot to offer transfer students including: 12 majors, 17 minors, excellent professors, and tons of extracurricular opportunities!  Find out more by checking out their website for prospective students:

Http://csbs.utah.edu/prospective-students.php

Be sure to look at the alumni spotlights which show some of the amazing things that can be done with a degree in the social sciences!

Now Is the Time to Apply for Fall 2015

Are you thinking of transferring to the U of U for Fall 2015?  If so, then apply now! 

The official application deadline for Fall Semester is April 1^st, but don’t wait until then to apply. Registration for Fall Semester 2015 classes will begin in April and popular classes can fill up very quickly. Processing of applications can take several weeks and following acceptance you must attend an orientation session before you can register for any classes.  If you apply for Fall Semester now, your application should be processed in time to get into the classes you want to take.

Here is what you need to do:

• Fill out your application online: http://admissions.utah.edu/apply/undergraduate/transfer/index.php.

• Pay your application fee.

• Send transcripts from all colleges and universities from which you have credit.

• Use the Admissions Application Tracking System to follow what is going on with your application.

• Once accepted, you will need to pay a $150.00 enrollment deposit to hold your place at the U. This deposit will go toward your first semester’s tuition.

• Sign up for a New Student Orientation.

Let Us Help You Select Your U of U Major

U DECIDE

Deciding on your major is a daunting task, especially for transfer students. It’s difficult to research all your options when you are not physically at the school you plan to attend. Don't use this as an excuse to delay making a choice. It is very important to make this decision as early as possible because selecting courses, determining when to transfer, and many other academic planning decisions rest on your major choice.

Never fear! The University of Utah has some amazing resources to help you select the best possible major and minor for you.  We have online resources that can be accessed from almost anywhere and on-campus activities and events that are open to current and prospective students.

Over the next several months The Transfer Center will partner with the U of U Major Exploration Center to bring you a series of posts which highlight major and career exploration resources for transfer students.  We are calling the series, U Decide.

If you are unsure of your major or minor or if you’d just like to be sure your current choice is right for you, check out our U Decide posts!

Transfer Student Spotlight

Michael Francisco Daniel

Michael is a transfer student from Salt Lake Community College (SLCC).  His major at the U of U is Communications with an emphasis in Journalism.

Mike was very involved in extra-curricular activities while at SLCC working as a Peer Action Leader in the Multicultural Center.  He assisted with events and activities which helped people learn about and value cultural diversity.  When he got to the U. he continued his involvement by becoming a peer mentor in the Center for Ethnic Student Affairs (CESA) working specifically with diverse transfer students.  As a peer mentor, Mike uses his experiences as a transfer student and his hard-earned knowledge of the U to help other students who want to transfer to the U. He advises students weekly at various SLCC campuses as well as coordinating activities and events at SLCC and the U.

Mike has enjoyed his role as a transfer student peer advisor so much that his long-term career goal is to work with them as a professional academic advisor.  He also enjoys performing and would love to try his hand at stand-up comedy or acting.

Mike has other fascinating and diverse interests outside the classroom. He is a DJ for the University of Utah’s student radio station, KUTE. He specializes in blues, jazz and swing music. He is also passionate about martial arts.  He trains in a variety of styles but his favorite is Jiu Jitsu. He would love one day to become a specialist in the history of martial arts.

Mike enjoys being at the U. but admits it was challenging adjusting to his new school when he first arrived.  He found the homework requirements different from his experience at SLCC, and the physical size of the U campus was also daunting.

The U of U is lucky to have a great student like Mike! The way he so willingly shares his talents and abilities with others truly enhances the University community.

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!