Transfer students make up approximately 46 percent of the Newman University undergraduate population students as of fall 2017.
Creating a positive experience for those students is the main goal of Morgan Gilbert and Monica Heasty, members of the transfer admissions team.
A transfer student is any new student who is not classified as an incoming freshman. Transfer students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and each has a unique story. They can range from military professionals to cosmetologists to mothers returning to complete their degree and anything in between.
Gilbert and Heasty look forward to guiding students through each step of the transfer process.
Heasty said, “It’s so important (transfer students) talk to us because we are their guides through the whole process. We don’t have all of the answers, but we will know who does.”
The application for admittance to Newman University opens Aug. 1 each year and typically stays open until the following August, the week courses start. Applying to Newman University is the first official step in transferring but it can be beneficial to visit campus or speak to the transfer admissions team before that.
At least two Transfer Thursdays are offered each semester. These days allow more time for potential transfer students to speak with admissions counselors, faculty and get a campus tour if needed.
This year, students will also have the opportunity to attend a special Health Professions Day that will be held in the evening for potential transfer students to explore options in the health field.
Thinking ahead is of utmost importance for transfer students. The earlier transfer plans are made, the smoother the process tends to be.
Some students attend their first year of community college with plans already in mind to transfer after obtaining an associate’s degree. These students can work with their current advisor as well as a Newman advisor from day one to create a course load that coincides with their future plans at Newman.
Students who wish to apply to a specific program should speak with the transfer admissions team member about their college timeline as soon as possible. Each program has varying deadlines and start dates. Allied health programs typically have a limited number of seats, so applying early is important.
Gilbert said, “(Students) have to be admitted to the university before they can be admitted to the program and there are usually deadlines that come with that. We can work with them once they’ve been admitted. If they need to apply for fall, but then realize they can’t start until spring, we work with them.”
Newman University has articulation agreements with multiple community colleges in the area. This means previously taken credits are more likely to transfer between colleges.
Heasty said, “Transferring credits is typically not a problem. The question is how will it transfer, whether that is as an elective, but not toward their specific degree.”
If applicable, official college transcripts, and in some cases, ACT scores, should be sent to Newman after a student is accepted into the university. Most students who have completed less than 24 credit hours will need to send a high school transcript as well.
Newman University typically accepts about 100 transfer students each year and provides multiple transfer scholarship opportunities.
Each admitted transfer student is eligible for the transfer academic scholarship, a scholarship based on cumulative GPA.
Gilbert said, “There are other scholarships specifically for community college transfers, so if they go to a community college and we are their first transfer destination, there are a variety of scholarships they may qualify for.”
When seeking financial aid, transfer students should speak with a member of the university financial aid team as there may be additional forms to file.
Though not all transfer students will want to, Heasty said, “there are transfer students that stay in the dorms. There are some requirements for certain students to live on campus, but it’s just like others. If they are a certain age, or live within a certain mileage, they aren’t required.”
Transitioning to Newman can be a smooth process for anyone. Whether you’re ready to begin a brand new journey or looking to complete an old one, it all starts with an application.
