College representatives and Montgomery College students gathered for the Transfer Fair at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus on Oct. 1.
In the ST atrium, students met with area college representatives to explore programs, degrees, and benefits to gain insight into what they look for in transfer applicants.
For students planning to transfer, Valentina Leon-Ledezma, transfer coordinator at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, emphasized the importance of timing.
“If a student is graduating with an associate degree in the springtime, many students prefer to jump straight into a four-year college the next semester to lessen any gaps in their academic history,” she said.
UMBC looks for students who consistently perform well in their classes, dedicate time and effort to their studies, and engage actively on campus and in the classroom, according to Leon-Ledezma.
George Washington University Assistant Director of Admissions Ellie Frank, who uses they/she pronouns, noted the importance of community involvement.
“We want to see not only how you’ve thrived in a class environment but what you’ve been doing with your time outside of class,” they said.
GW considers an applicant’s involvement in extracurricular programs, work, or personal obligations when assessing potential fit within the student body and how they might contribute to GW’s community, according to Frank.
Mary Kate Luft, manager of recruitment and transfer access at the Universities at Shady Grove, pointed out a trend of non-traditional students transferring to their campus.
“We are a campus that caters more to non-traditional students, so those are students who might be older, minority students, or first-generation college students,” she said.
According to Luft, USG offers resources such as scholarships and specialized advising to help students transition smoothly into a four-year program.
Students attended the transfer fair for various reasons.
“I came here to learn about colleges and see what kind of transfer opportunities they offered,” Celia Burns, a general studies major, said. “It’s very helpful to actually meet people who are with the college. They know a lot about the opportunities and what they offer.”
According to Burns, affordability, transfer scholarships, honors agreements, location, and academic programs are some of the most important factors when looking at colleges.
Colleges, in turn, seek students with a range of experiences and involvement.
From the admissions side, prospective transfer students have “a little more experience under their belt,” Frank said. “Because of that drive and passion, we want to make sure we’re supporting our transfer community to the best of our ability by applying that passion to their academics.”
To learn more about transfer events from participating colleges, visit https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/academics/transfer/transfer-events.html, and for transfer agreements, visit https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/academics/transfer/agreements-and-information/index.html.
