Transferring an easy move for prepared students
JUSTIN COMBS
Senior Writer
seniorwriter@occc.edu
Transferring to a university can be frustrating, but preparation is the key to a smooth transition, a transfer official said.
The most effective way for students to ensure an easy transfer process is to earn their associate degree before moving on, said Sara McElroy, Transfer and Academic Advising coordinator.
Transferring without an associate degree allows the university to pick and choose what classes may satisfy its requirements, she said.
“When you graduate with your associate degree and then transfer, it goes as a package,” McElroy said.
Associate of arts and associate of science degrees are “university parallel degrees,” which are designed to completely transfer to a four-year university, she said.
In addition, McElroy said, students should be aware of the steps that must be taken when applying to a university.
The admission process requires various paperwork and students should begin collecting their documents as early as possible, McElroy said.
She said students will need an official OCCC transcript and transcripts from any other college they have attended.
Nathan Steinman, sophomore music major, will transfer to East Central University in Ada after graduating this spring. He said it’s important to be patient about the process.
“Some applications are really long and require a lot of information,” Steinman said. “I also applied at Oklahoma City University and OU and both of those schools required an essay as part of the application.”
Steinman said because of his major, he not only had to do the general paperwork every student does but also had to contact ECU’s music department to schedule auditions.
Students should check with the university they are transferring to and be sure they complete any additional admission requirements for specific departments, he said.
For instance, Steinman said, “you may be accepted into the school, but you may not be accepted in to the music program.”
Students need to pay especially close attention to application deadlines as some are earlier than expected, McElroy said.
For instance, the University of Oklahoma’s deadline for summer and fall enrollment is April 1.
Many applications are available online, McElroy said.
OU’s application fee is $40. The application can be downloaded from its Web site.
Michael Hoggart, OU transfer and recruitment associate director, said students should plan ahead so they aren’t rushed into a decision.
“You want to give yourself enough time to compare and contrast various schools and find one that best fits your academic pursuit,” Hoggart said.
Oklahoma State University also has a $40 application fee, said Jessie Porter, OSU administrative assistant.
She said the university does not have a specific application deadline, but in order to enroll, transfer students must submit their application one week before classes begin. OSU’s summer classes begin May 17 and fall classes begin Aug. 23.
Amy Graham, ECU transfer enrollment manager, said there is a $20 application fee at her university but no deadline. Students can enroll for the summer semester up until June 1 and for the fall semester until Aug. 16.
George Anaya, University of Central Oklahoma transfer counselor, said it costs $25 to apply to UCO. The form also is available online.
While there is not an application deadline, Anaya said, students are encouraged to apply before the early enrollment deadline, which is April 2.
“Students who apply after the deadline will have to wait behind current juniors and seniors to enroll,” Anaya said.
It will take UCO two weeks to respond to the application, Anaya said.
“If the process does take longer than expected, the college will notify the student that their application is still pending,” he said.
OCU has a $40 application fee and accepts applications up until classes begin — May 17 for the summer semester and Aug. 23 for the fall, said Joel Durham, OCU transfer admission counselor. The application also requires a 250-word essay, he said.
OCCC graduate Murod Mamatov transferred to OCU and said the process wasn’t as tedious as he thought.
He said the university presented clear guidelines of what needed to be done.
“I went to a student orientation where we became better acquainted with the campus,” Mamatov said. “I was able to sit in classes in the summer and observe lectures.”
Steinman said after doing research, filling out applications, paying fees and submitting all necessary paperwork, transferring students should remain patient but not stress out.
“You put in a lot of work at making it this far,” he said. “So, after you jump through all the hoops, you just need to put some trust into what you’ve done and wait for things to work out.”
