March 6 2013
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Year 44, No. 8
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Liberal, KS Permit NO.114
Liberal, Kansas
Jayhawk West Champions — Page 1B
Crusader photo/Jose Medrano
Leslee Smith (4), who scored the game winning shot, celebrates along with fans who stormed the Green House floor after the Saints defeated Hutchinson’s Blue Dragons 62-60 in the Jayhawk West Championship game. The Saints have now won the Jayhawk West title three years in a row and continue post-season play in the NJCAA Region VI Tournament.
The Guide of
College Apps — Page 3
T RANS F E R S Preparing to transfer to a four-year university
V I S I T
Editorial: Student Support Needed — Page 4
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Visit the colleges that you’re interested in.
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Get a feel for the atmosphere, instructors and campus.
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Visit at least once the campus that you plan on attending.
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Ask plenty of questions during your visit.
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Apply to every college that you’re interested in early.
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Make sure to have transcripts, ACT/SAT scores, and FASFA information ready.
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Schools charge a fee to apply, remember that it may get costly.
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Make sure to get in all necessary information before the deadlines.
Jose Medrano Editor Choosing whether to go to college or skip it is rather simple in the Game of Life, but life is not a game. For students who choose not to skip college and begin their education in a junior college the choice of transfering can be difficult. Some students have already made up their minds and have begun. Others aren’t quite sure and wait until their last semester to make plans. Transferring can be difficult whether students are in their first year of college or their last semester at a junior college. Visits, applications and transfering credits can overwhelm students. “If they know their major, they should look at and research about all the schools that they fit into,” said Bill Disberger, assistant director of admissions and transfer coordinator at Kansas State University. Disberger was at Seward County Community College/Area Technical School for a college visit last month to visit with students about what programs KState has to offer them. “If a student is planning on transferring, they should do it in the fall semester, a year ahead of the fall semester they plan on attending,” Rhonda Kinser said. Kinser is a counselor and retention specialist at SCCC/ATS. Her job includes helping students with the transfer process.
T RANS F E R
Typically most SCCC/ATS students who are seeking to transfer go on to schools like K-State, Fort Hays State, Wichita State, and other in-state schools since credits typically transfer easily to in-state universities. Students who are planning on transferring are recommended to apply early, stay in contact with their advisers and contact the admissions office of the college they plan on transferring to early. Some of the basic questions students who are transferring need to ask themselves are, “Does this institution offer my major?” “Is the location right for me?” “Do I meet the GPA requirements?” and “Will the financial aid I receive cover my expenses?” There are three key steps in order to fully go through the process: visit, apply and transfer. Visiting a college campus allows students to know what setting and environment they will be working in. Sometimes students have to visit and re-visit a school in order to get all of their questions answered. The second step is to apply, not only for admission, but for scholarships, financial aid and programs as well. “Students who are applying typically forget to apply for the program or designated school they are hoping to attend,” Kinser said. Engineering, pharmacy, and medical programs require that students apply for them separately in most four-year institutions. Students should make sure that they have
met all of the requirements for admissions also. Most transfer scholarship deadlines are set early in the spring. The final step is to transfer credits over to the four-year institution. Students should gather all the information required and meet with their college adviser when they are ready to begin the transfer process. Freshmen are encouraged to start applying, visiting or taking to admission officers within their first year. “If you don’t know what school you really want to go to, pick your top five schools and visit all of them. That way you’ll be able to talk to college officials, instructors and students and know if meets what you want,” Disberger said. “Don’t put off everything until the last minute,” Disberger said. Students who wait until the deadlines to apply for transfer typically do not receive the help they need early enough. Sophomores, there is still time to apply; most major universities do not end their admission of transfer students until the last month of the spring semester. This year’s early priority dead for the Kansas FASFA is April 1, although different universities may have priority dates for students. For more information on transferring, contact the office of admissions of the universities of interest, talk to an adviser or speak to Kinser for list of transfer information and guidance.
Transfer Checklist (Cutout this list and place it somewhere where you can easily see it)
Spring Break — Page 6
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Prepare transcript records and a list of all your credits.
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Plan a meeting with your college adviser to figure out which credits and classes will transfer.
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Spring Forward — March 10
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Talk to an admissions officer at the college you are planning on transfering to. Attend an orientation session for transfer students at your transfer school. Contact your new adviser before you transfer or as soon as you arrive to your new school. Transfer scholarships are available at most universities. Talk to the office of admissions for information.
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Have you selected a transfer school? Have you talked to a college representative? Will your credit hours transfer over? Have you visited the campus? Have you submitted an application? Did you send a transcript? Do you need to submit an essay, letter, etc.? Have you filed the FASFA or for financial aid? Have you received a letter of admissions?
(For more information about transfering contact your SCCC/ATS advisor, admissions representative or counselor Rhonda Kinser in Room A150.)