“Sail on to the university or college of your choice”

1. “Sail on to the university or college of your choice” The Transfer Process

2. Transferring from DSC to a 4-year college or university may seem overwhelming and confusing; however, by following the guidelines and suggestions provided here, the process will be smooth and efficient.

3. More than 50% of students in upper-division courses at Florida's universities are community college transfers. • Completion of an AA degree guarantees admission to a Florida 4-year institution but does not guarantee admission to all programs at all universities. • SSS Transfer Counselor (Vanessa Bouey) will ensure students complete each university’s required courses and other criteria for entry into the desired program(s). Telephone: 506-3715 Building 500, Office 110

4. What do I need to complete at DSC prior to my 4-year Transfer? • Meet Associate of Arts Degree Requirements • Complete Program Prerequisites as required by the 4-year school • Secure Official Transcripts

5. Associate of Arts Degree Requirements Sixty (60) hours of transferable college level credit to include A) 36 hours of General Education Courses B) 24 hours of Electives (transferable) C) College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) All students MUST complete the CLAST or CLAST alternatives. D) Complete 2 semesters of a foreign language at DSC or have completed 2 years at the high school level. The 2 semesters or 2 years MUST be in the same language.

6. Complete Program Prerequisites as required by the 4-year school. **Important to note** Prerequisites will vary according to school and program, so please see the SSS Transfer Counselor, Vanessa Bouey, for assistance.

7. Official Transcripts If you met the foreign language requirements while in high school, you will be required to request an Official High School Transcript. Remember to request a final transcript from DSC, which indicates an AA has been granted.

8. When should the transfer process begin? 6 to 9 months prior to your anticipated transfer date you should: • Select your major and a choice of 2 - 5 schools • Obtain admission criteria and required program prerequisites • Familiarize yourself with admissions and financial aid dates and deadlines • Collect letters of references and recommendations from instructors and academic advisors • Prepare an admission essay

9. WHAT IS YOUR COLLEGE Major ? Need help? Consider the following…What are your interests, hobbies and skills?What are your favorite courses?Describe your “dream job,” what college major will help to achieve it?Are you a people person or do you prefer to work alone? Selecting a Major

10. Where will I attend college?Points to consider… • Identify important school attributes Large or small campus In-state or out of state Tuition fees Variety of majors Extracurricular activities Geographic location Student-faculty ratio • Attend SSS campus visit Meet with admissions and financial aid staff Meet with program coordinators Talk with current students Compare pros and cons of several campuses

11. How Will I Pay? • Grants • Work Study • Employment • Scholarships

12. I Have Been Accepted!Now What?? • Complete and submit a Student Health Form. Obtain any required immunizations and/or physical. • Schedule “New Student Orientation” and pay any required fees to reserve your seat. • Complete Housing application if you plan to live on campus.

13. I HAVE ARRIVED…What do I do next???? • Make a realistic class schedule, allowing 2 to 3 hours of study for each hour in class • Make a weekly schedule; include your study and class times, tests, project due dates, work and PLAY time • GO TO CLASS ! • Don’t make excuses, decide what you want to accomplish, then start working • Set Priorities • Be aware of university calendar dates and deadlines: advance registration, midterms, breaks, holidays, finals, etc.

14. Top Ten Issues Identified by College/University Students(Jane Rhoads and her College Reading & Study Skills classes of Wichita State University) • Personal responsibility "In college you have freedom to do as you please...to go where you wish...to do as you wish. Unfortunately, this freedom is easily abused. The student carries 98% of the responsibility and control." • Class attendance "As a college student, you will decide whether you want to go to class or not. Being absent will hurt you in the long run." • Teacher attitudes "Your instructors will not hound you to do your work. It's entirely up to you." Get to know your teachers. If your teachers know you, it will be easier for them to look out for you and help you if you're having trouble." • Types of assignments "In high school we were given a homework assignment every day. Now we have a large task assigned to be done at a certain time. No one tells when to start or what to do each day. Once you get an assignment, start working on it right away. It takes a daily effort to keep up." • Importance of performance "Don't take your courses or studies lightly. The decisions you make in college will decide your future, in some respects. Remember that you are here for an education."

15. Top Ten Issues Identified by College/University Students(Jane Rhoads and her College Reading & Study Skills classes of Wichita State University) • Time management "The amount of free time you have in college is much more than in high school. Always have a weekly study schedule to go by. Otherwise, time slips away and you will not be able to account for it." • Amount of study "In high school I was a B student with out studying. In college I was a C/D student without studying. To succeed, you have to study!" • Size of institution/classes "Lecture classes are much larger than high school classes. This can be scary for a new student." • Difficulty of college work "College is probably going to be tougher than high school. Don't let that stop you!" • Social life "Sometimes it seems harder to make friends because of the size of the school. But there are a variety of organizations and activities. Get involved and meet the people!"

16. Effective Study Skills • Center yourself around your values and principles • Put first things first • Discover your key productivity periods and places • Look to continually challenge yourself • Look for better solutions to problems • Remain motivated and disciplined • Set specific learning goals • Remain flexible and creative when designing study strategies

17. Final Words . . . The only person responsible for your success as a college student is YOU! And you can achieve it!

18. Quiz Questions(Please answer the quiz questions and give a copy of the answers to a SSS staff member) • Does completion of the A.A. degree ensure acceptance to all programs at universities? • What do you need to complete before you transfer? • What are the A.A. requirements? • Do pre-requisites for programs vary from college to college? • When should you prepare for the transfer process? • What should you do to prepare? • When choosing a college/university what should you consider? What is the advantage of attending a SSS campus visit? • What should you do once you have been accepted to a college/university? • Once you enroll and start at the college/university what should you do? • What are (5) top ten issues identified by college students. • Which SSS staff member should you make an appointment with to prepare for the transfer process?