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Planning ahead: the first step for transfer students
The Advocate
Planning to transfer to another college or university can be complicated but MHCC offers many resources to assist students in making a smooth transition.
The Academic Advising and Transfer Center can help students prepare to transfer and, as Academic Adviser David Arguello said, “The best thing that students can do is plan ahead.”
In the Transfer Center, students can use the Internet to research potential schools; view catalogs for colleges and universities in partnership with MHCC; access college and university videos and CD-ROMs; browse advising guides for popular majors; and pick up admissions applications and financial aid materials.
MHCC has partnerships with colleges and universities in Oregon that allow students completing an associate degree at MHCC to transfer to prospective schools at a sophomore or junior level in order to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Many of the curriculums outlined in MHCC’s catalog are designed to meet requirements from four-year institutions and there are four degree choices: associate of arts-Oregon transfer degree; associate of science-Oregon transfer degree; associate of science degree; and the associate of general studies degree.
The TRIO Student Success Services program is open to students who are low-income, have a disability or are first-generation college students. TRIO offers individualized academic advising and planning, counseling, referral services and tutoring for students accepted into the program. Students will have access to goal-setting assistance, loans for calculators, laptops, and textbooks, and study and life skills training.
Patricia Morse, administrative assistant for TRIO-SSS, said, “The goal is to get students in here meeting other students.” They try to provide students with a place where someone will “hold their hand and make them more comfortable in a college atmosphere,” she said. To find out if a student qualifies for TRIO-SSS, they can pick up an application in the office located below the College Center.
Students also need to make sure their MHCC credits will transfer to their prospective school. Arguello said when “selecting a university, the earlier the better. It will save students money, time, and frustration to know what credits will transfer.” He suggested students take the time to choose a school within their first year at MHCC and regularly check to make sure there have not been changes in what credits will be accepted.
A big problem students encounter is they “don’t get proper advisement because they don’t know what they want to major in. The responsibility falls on the student to seek advisement,” said Jerry Kohler, faculty adviser for business transfer students.
Talking to an adviser is “an absolute must,” said Janet Campbell, faculty adviser for political science majors. “Students may be able to use DARS and navigate MHCC requirements but there are lots of little ins and outs that students simply don’t know. Advisers can save you time and money.” DARS is also available for students use so they can track what degree requirements have been met and what courses students still need.
During the fall, winter, and spring terms the Transfer Center and Learning Success Center sponsor Transfer Days. College and university representatives visit the MHCC campus providing students the opportunity to speak with other colleges regarding more specific information about transfer majors and transfer procedures.
“Students need to contact that school (prospective school) to make sure they are lined up with them,” said Kohler.
Campbell said, “The best strategy is to pick three schools, with one being a school that you’re pretty sure you can get into, with the other two more challenging. Several students I know have achieved law degrees, PhDs (one is studying abroad) and others are interning at really cool places.”
For information about Transfer Days, students can contact the Academic Advising and Transfer Center in AC2182, or call 503-491-7315.
Campbell said many students transfer successfully and some go to prestigious universities.
“A couple of highlights are one student who got into Reed College and another that went to Stanford,” said Campbell. Her advice for students planning to transfer is “to aim high.”
The Advocate reserves the right to not publish comments based on their appropriateness.