By Rosi Linda Sanchez
Staff Writer
As the fall semester winds down, many Brookhaven College students have submitted applications, set appointments with advisers and plan to make the move to four-year institutions.
Deciding which university to attend can be frustrating. Gathering and collecting transfer material from colleges takes time. Many four-year schools make formal visits to Brookhaven and set up information tables in the first floor of S Building. Students can acquire as much information as possible from the resources conveniently located on campus, such as the Advising Center in S113.
Students can ask the advisers questions concerning the top colleges of interest and verify that college transfer credit requirements are met. Examining all options available as a transfer student is important. Obtaining as much information as possible from the Advising Center will help the transferring process go easily.
Leanne Burck, an enrollment services counselor at The University of Texas at Dallas, recommends doing research and making campus visits to all colleges and universities of interest. “Choose the best school for you, pay attention to deadlines and no procrastinating,” Burck said.
Students interested in transferring to UTD are invited to attend Preview Fridays, which offers transfer students a chance to learn more about UTD.
Enrollment service advisers will provide information about transfer admissions, scholarships, financial aid and student life. The UTD Office of Enrollment Services offers support specifically for transfer students and will host a New Transfer Student Orientation Jan. 5.
The University of North Texas at Denton offers transfer students a similar event. Every Friday at 2 p.m. transfer tours are available. The tours are provided by current transfer students, for transfer students. The tours take about 90 minutes and focus on transfer student needs. UNT’s application deadline is Dec. 1.
Kristina Jefferson a transfer adviser at UNT said: “Submit your application by late October or November. Be sure to look at the equivalencies guide and attend orientation.” University fees and tuition are high and costly. Upon completing the registration and application procedures, transferring students should have financial aid forms in process.
Jefferson said: “Financial advising can be provided after the application process has been met. Communicate with the Advising Center about any FAFSA inquiries. Be persistent and constantly request updates on the financial application status.” Various scholarship information can be retrieved through university websites or through any transferring adviser at Brookhaven in the Advising Center.
Nancy Skochdopole director of transfer and transition services at Southern Methodist University said: “Students interested in SMU should come visit our campus. We have special information sessions and tours for transfer students called Transfer Tuesdays. To apply for transfer to SMU, students should go to our website. All of the steps for applying are outlined there.”
Skochdopole also said that SMU and the Dallas County Community College District have an articulation agreement, and students interested in transferring should have at least a transferable GPA of 2.7, 30 or more transferable hours. Her advice to make a smooth transition to any university is to plan well ahead of time.