Watch what you're doing, you might get burned!
Jun 27 '00
I transferred school not once, not twice, not even three times, but four! So I'd like to think I'm somewhat an expert :) My advice might not work for everyone, but I did do a cross country transfer. So this might be helpful for some.
I started off my academic career at the University of Michigan. I was enrolled in the Art school, on my way to becoming an Industrial Designer. Then I realized this WASN'T for me. I realized I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher OR a drafting teacher. Since Michigan is saturated with elementary teachers, it was drafting for me. Which meant I was transferring.
I left Michigan after the fall semester of my sophomore year. I returned home to the local community college. I met with an advisor and picked classes that would transfer to my next school (or so I thought). I was planning on transferring to Western Michigan. And they had a different set of "core" classes from Michigan, so I was picking up some slack.
Well the plan changed. I got married (BIG SHOCK) and followed my husband (who I met at UM) to Las Vegas. Before I got there I had already applied to UNLV and been accepted. Then I met with the advisors there. They weren't going to accept some of my Michigan classes JUST because of the class numbers! For example my math class at UM was MAT 105. It's the LOWEST math at Michigan, but it's pre-calc! Pre-Calc at UNLV was like Math 180! So I had to "prove" my case. I'll get into this later. Also UNLV had a MUCH larger core than UM or even WMU. I had to make up ALOT of classes. When you're a junior your core should be completed. So I was taking 20-22 credits a semester to get through on time.
While at UNLV I discovered I had to take all my major classes (drafting) at the local community college. So again, I had to go through the transfer process. I not only had to transfer my classes to there (community college), I also had to transfer any classes I took there, back to UNLV! It was LOTS of fun, and LOTS of paperwork.
So going through all of this, what is my advice? Well, keep ALL syllabuses! Keep tests, keep papers, keep major assignments! These can help you prove you've taken an equivalent courses elsewhere! Look for loop holes. See if you can request waivers for "required" courses. I was waivered out of quite a few of my required course, for taking similar, but NOT exact, courses elsewhere. Keep a copy of the course description book for the year you took the class! This is a BIG way to prove you've taken classes that are similar.
Investigate the school! As soon as you suspect you want to transfer look at the other school. See what you've taken that will transfer, and look at what you could take that will transfer.
Hopefully you won't have to go through as many transfers as I had to. But in case you're wondering, I graduated in 4 1/2 years, start to finish. I went year round from my sophomore year til I graduated. I graduate with a 3.75 from UNLV, and a 3.92 from CCSN (community college). I earned a BS in Education, and a AAS in Drafting Technology- CAD emphasis. I also had the joy of graduating with like 150 credits, it only take 128 for a BS :) The joys of transfering!
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Epinions.com ID:
ElmoTicle
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Member: Amy Porter
Location: Michigan
Reviews written: 106
Trusted by: 26 members
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