The partnering institutions in TransferOhio have compiled resources for advisors at both two and four year institutions to use with your students. Understanding that transferring schools can be overwhelming for students, these resources are developed to assist you in helping lessen the culture shock students may experience.
TransferOhio is a collaborative community with the goal of continuing to provide resources to advisors in their work with students. If you would like to contribute to this toolkit, please contact us. If you need to reach other partners in the collaborative, you can find contact information in the transfer advising directory below.
Ways to prepare and assist students in the transfer process
Assign single point of contact
Assign a single point of contact for transfer students and advisors. This person may not have the answers to all your or your student’s questions, but having a designated point of contact is a great way to ensure a personal connection between student and institution.
Make a contact list of partner institutions available to all advisors
Create, review, and update – as needed – a list of transfer contacts at your partnering institutions and make sure all advisors at your institution have access to this list. This will ensure a more seamless process for the student and save everyone time.
Keep in touch with your partners
Arrange for frequent meetings with partnering institutions to discuss transfer credit, student challenges, and updates to degree programs and articulation agreements, as well as to get to know each other.
Be aware of transfer credit eligibility
OTM, TAGs, CTAGs, MTAGs, AP, and CLEP credits are connected to Ohio public schools. Private schools are not part of the transfer credit guarantee.
Engage the student’s network
In addition to communicating with students, make sure you include parents/guardians and significant others in communication plans and visit programs.
Examples of transfer counselor/advisor questions to ask
The following questions can be asked by advisors or transfer counselors at either the sending or receiving institution.
- “What part(s) of [RECEIVING INSTITUTION] are you especially interested in or excited about?” – however, don’t assume that the student knows everything about your institution.
- Do not ask, “Why are you looking to transfer?” as this might be a sensitive matter. Instead, ask, “Are there things you are looking for at [RECEIVING INSTITUTION] that you did not find at your previous/current institution”?
- “What are you looking for in your college experience?”
- “What is your current major, and what would you like to major in at [RECEIVING INSTITUTION]?”
- “Is there a particular type of program you are looking for?”