Transferring entails a lot of planning

The Bizzell Memorial Library at the University of Oklahoma

By Chris Lusk, Editor

Staci Russell nearly did not make it into the University of Oklahoma — not because of grades or finances, but because she almost missed the deadline to apply.

“I had been putting everything off and I didn’t think I’d have everything I needed in time,” Russell said.

Luckily for Russell, the necessary documents she needed came in time for her to submit her application before the April 1 deadline.

“Those few days of stressing were my own fault, completely my own fault,” she said. “The process wasn’t necessarily hard. I could have saved myself a lot of stress by applying early.

“I should have been more prepared.”

Transferring to a four-year university is typically accompanied by anxiety, stress and frustration.

However, being properly prepared should help to ease most of these feelings.

Transfer and Distance Advising Coordinator Leslie Jones said, in addition to being prepared, students should start preparing early and ask questions.

“The more [students] know, the more they feel empowered,” she said.

Jones said, before arriving at their new four-year university, students should get a contact person.

“[Four-year universities] can seem like a big monster,” Jones said, “but if you have a contact person, it makes it easier to transition and to find resources.”

Many times, students can look to others as an example of what to do.

English major Kyle Eaton was fortunate enough to learn from his brother’s mistake.

“My brother messed around and didn’t get his stuff turned in before the deadline last year,” Eaton said. “So he basically had to take a semester off since he was done with his associates.

“Let’s just say my mom didn’t let me make the same mistake.”

Some students avoided problems by applying well in advance.

Business major Blake Hernandez has rested easy knowing he has already been accepted into Oklahoma City University.

“I applied for OCU back in December,” Hernandez said. “Luckily I started early because there were some issues with getting my transcripts, and if I would have waited until the last minute, I probably wouldn’t have met the deadline.”

Not all students were this lucky though.

All year, sophomore Andrea Gibson has been planning to attend OU in the upcoming fall semester.

Unfortunately for Gibson, much of the paperwork she needed was not received in time to submit her application.

“It sucks, but it’s my fault,” she said.

Gibson said, because she will complete her associate degree this semester, she will be taking the fall semester off to work and get her paperwork completed in time for next spring at OU.

“You can bet that I’ll be getting my spring application turned in soon,” Gibson said. “I don’t want to go through this frustration again.”

For additional information and help on preparing to transfer, contact Jones at 405-682-7567, or visit the Transfer Center’s website at www.occc.edu/transfercenter.

Editor Chris Lusk can be reached at editor@occc.edu.

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