News
By Whitney Garrison
|
September 17, 2003
Transfer students applying to the University face virtually the same application as first years, save for one essay question, which asks, "Why do you want to transfer?"
The question is one that transfer students may find themselves revisiting once they are accepted and decide to face the social, logistical and academic upheaval associated with switching from one school to another.
Yet, in the end, most transfers say the rewards of being a University student outweigh the stresses of the process.
Admissions, Take Two
Perhaps the biggest challenge for potential transfer students is getting accepted.
Though 39 percent of first-year applicants are admitted, the University only admits about 22 percent of the approximately 2,200 annual transfer applicants.
Director of Institutional Studies George Stovall said he works in conjunction with the admissions office to determine the number of transfer spots the University will offer each year.
"Based on past experience, the University knows how many qualified applicants we are going to get and then the Provost approves the number," Stovall said.
He added that the University tries to accept as many students from the Virginia community college system as they can, but that group accounts for only a third of the transfer population.
Housing Hurdles
Because transfers receive acceptance letters even after first years get their housing assignments, housing slots are scarce until openings arise early in the school year.
"Housing is the number one concern of transfer students coming in," said Virginia Barb, co-chair of the Transfer Student Peer Advisor program.
Most transfers have their housing horror tales to tell, but with the closing of Bice and the incomplete status of two new apartment complexes, even more transfers were scrambling for housing than usual this semester.
Housing does not guarantee accommodations for transfers.
"Usually, we do reserve some spots for transfer students in the fall, but this year because Bice was closed our first priority was returning students," Chief Housing Officer Mark Doherty said.
