Did you know around 1/3 of college students transfer schools before finishing their degree? Whether you started out at a community college and are now looking to transfer to a university, or you are changing universities to find a better fit for you, we know how important it is to have a smooth transfer process. I am sure you have heard transferring schools is hard and maybe even a little bit scary, but we are here to debunk 5 of the most common transfer student myths!
Myth #1: You have to pay for your classes when you register
Truth:
Tuition at Tarleton State is not due until a week before classes begin. At Tarleton, we offer payment plan options to help you pay for your tuition. We encourage you to meet with your advisor and register as soon as you can, because classes fill up quickly. You will have plenty of time to complete financial aid, scholarship forms, and sign up for a payment plan all before tuition is due.
Myth #2: Transfer students do not need to see an academic advisor
Truth:
We require all transfer students to meet with an academic advisor prior to registration. Why? Because they are a part of your success team at Tarleton. Your advisor will help ensure your credits will transfer and can fit them into your degree plan for the major you choose, help you verify requirements for specific programs, and inform you of different tools and resources to help with your success.
Myth #3: You will lose a lot of credit when you transfer
Truth:
Credits can flow easily if you choose to follow degree requirements and talk with your academic advisors early! Many degree program outlines are offered online, so feel free to check those out when you are planning classes at other institutions. Tarleton uses the common course numbering system to make it easy to see which of your credits will transfer. If you want a second opinion or to discuss credit transfer further, send your unofficial transcript to Emily Treadaway at [email protected].
Myth #4: There is no aid available for transfers
Truth:
Tarleton created the Transfer Guaranteed Award Program ( T-GAP) to guarantee scholarships to our transfer students. It is one of the only guaranteed scholarship programs in the state that is offered even if you don’t plan on enrolling full-time!
On the financial aid side of the house, the amount of aid you are eligible for is partly determined by your estimated cost of attendance, which is different for each school. So what does that mean to you?
- Not qualifying for financial aid at your current college DOES NOT mean you won’t qualify at Tarleton.
- If you qualified for grants like the Texas Grant, you could qualify at Tarleton too. We cannot consider you if you dont list Tarleton on your FAFSA! Tarleton’s code is 003631.
- There are a number of Work Study options perfect for transfers interested in working on campus.
Myth #5: Transfer students don’t fit in
Truth:
At Tarleton we offer many resources to help transfer students connect.There are over 150+ student organizations that form around shared interests or majors. With events like Texan Camp and T-Week, we introduce you to other transfer students just like you. We know that finding the right fit for transfer students is just as important as freshmen, and we are here to support you!
Transferring to another school to continue your journey to your degree should not scare you! We are here to assist you through the enrollment process and hope to show you a smooth transfer. If you are ready to take the step to transfer to Tarleton, sign up for a Transfer Information Session!