Counselor’s Corner - Are You Transfer Ready?

Believe it or not, even though you may have just recently started at Henry Ford Community College, it is time to begin planning for your transfer to a four-year college if you plan to do so. I know, I know, you are probably thinking “But, I just started here.” However, the sooner you begin preparing to transfer to a four-year college or another type of institute of higher learning, the easier it is to transfer. Beginning earlier than later also increases your chances of locating scholarships.
Did you know that transfer requirements can differ from one college to another? For example, the grade point average for University of Michigan – Ann Arbor is different from University of Michigan – Dearborn. Another example is University of Michigan – Dearborn and Wayne State University transfer requirements for psychology major requirements are different. I can go on and on with examples of dissimilarities of transfer requirements for various four-year colleges and their majors. The bottom line is the sooner you begin preparing for transfer, the easier the process will be.
So, what do you do?
The first is to schedule a career counseling appointment. A counselor can help navigate course selections based on your major program at Henry Ford Community College and the major you want to pursue at a four-year college. Counselors can show you how to fulfill your requirements for an associate degree while fulfilling your requirements to transfer.
These are some suggestions you want to find out about the college you want to transfer to:

Does the college accept paper applications or online applications?

What are the application deadlines?

Does the college require ACT or SAT scores to be considered for admission?

What are the application fees?

Do they allow transfer student to apply for early admission consideration?

There is a new online application called the Common Application, do they use that method?

Will a letter grade of “C” transfer to the college of your choice?
Another tool which will help you prepare for transfer is called MACRAO agreement, which means the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officer. The purpose of the MACRAO Transfer Agreement is to facilitate transfer from community colleges to baccalaureate colleges and universities. It provides for transferability for up to 30 semester credits to meet many (and in some cases all) of the General Education requirements at participating Michigan four-year colleges and universities. Students may complete the MACRAO Transfer Agreement as part of an associate degree or just as a stand-alone package.
Once the specified set of courses is completed, the courses will transfer and be applied toward meeting the general education requirements at the four-year college or university. Though, many Michigan colleges and universities honor the MACRAO Transfer Agreement, some participate in a more limited manner. Make sure you verify that the MACRAO is accepted at the school of choice.
Okay, now you have seen a counselor, you know what courses to take based on your major and the school; or, narrowed it down to two or three colleges you want to transfer. The next step is to visit the college campuses, participate in colleges’ tours and orientations. If transportation is a challenge and you can’t get to the college—and even if it is not—visit the different college recruiters who visit the Henry Ford Community College during fall and winter semesters. The recruiters are normally located in the student union when they visit. College recruiters have a wealth of information and are great resources for information on scholarships, transfer requirements and school environment for the college of your interest. A list with times and dates of the recruiter’s on-campus visits can be located in the counseling office.
So, the next concern to consider is how will you fund your education? Henry Ford Community College is an excellent resource for scholarship information. You normally can find the link to scholarship information on the home page of the college’s website (hfcc.edu). You simply enter information about yourself which will generate a list of scholarships for which you are eligible. There are several scholarship websites as well where you can find scholarship information. However, be careful in using any website and make sure that it is credible source of information.
Lastly, schedule an appointment with a counselor for a degree audit at minimum, the semester before you are scheduled to transfer or obtain your associate degree to make sure you are on track.
If you would like more information regarding transfer preparation and the new online application method Common Application, attend “The Uncommon Common Application” workshop scheduled for February 15th which will provide information regarding transfer preparation and the Common Application to prepare you to be transfer ready!