By Morgan Christian
Everyone’s college journey is unique. Some people go straight to a four-year school right after high school. Some people don’t attend college until later in life. Some people find they only need a two-year degree to achieve their goals.
And some people — including many community college students like you — start at one school and finish at another.
If you’re considering transferring to a four-year university to get a bachelor’s degree, you are not alone. Transfer students make up 38 percent of all students pursuing higher education, and more and more schools are working to meet their specific needs. In 2018, two area schools, the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of North Texas, were among the top 10 institutions in the country for number of enrolled transfer students.
Flexibility is important to college students — especially this year — and transferring schools may help you achieve your educational goals faster. It could also open opportunities you hadn’t considered before. Here at Dallas College, we partner with UT Arlington, UNT and many other schools to provide transfer pathways for common majors so that you can stay on track and save money.
Keep reading below to learn more about the transfer process, or visit our transfer students webpage for more resources, including contact information for your campus transfer liaison. They can help you with picking a degree plan and registering for the right courses during your time with us.
Transfer Timeline: One Year Out
The first thing to consider about transferring (after you have an idea of what you want to study, of course) is which four-year school will be the best place for you to continue your education. In addition to the schools we partner with, you might want to research other universities, too. Here is a list to get you started.
We recommend starting your search at least one year before you plan to transfer. Five important pieces of information to find for each school are:
- Transfer admissions requirements
- Course equivalencies (Remember: Public universities in Texas use a common course numbering system for lower-division courses, as well as a common, transferrable core curriculum!)
- The university catalog
- Financial aid processes
- Available scholarships
You should also make sure you’re familiar with tuition costs and have a plan to save for expenses. A three credit-hour course at Dallas College costs $237 for Dallas County residents. At UT Arlington, a local student would pay $1,401. At the University of Texas at Dallas, they would pay $2,729.
Don’t forget to start polishing your resume and seeking out contacts to serve as references during this time, too. It will come in handy when completing your admissions application.
During Your Last Semester
Once you’ve begun your last semester here at Dallas College, it will be time to submit your admissions application to the school of your choice. And don’t forget to apply for graduation with us, either!
Then, once you have been admitted, keep an eye out for information from your new school about housing, scholarships, financial aid and orientation. Although the enrollment process for transfer students varies by school, we have put together a general overview that will give you an idea of what to expect. Your new advisor will also be there to help you navigate course registration.
And as for us, while we’ll miss seeing you around campus, we know you’ll be successful wherever you go! Don’t forget to keep in touch and share stories of all your new adventures.