General Statement:
"Transfer process is straightforward. Students apply through the Admissions site, and we select them primarily based on their college GPA. A big chunk of the students transfer from community colleges but a decent number transfer from 4-year institutions as well. We have programming set up for students before they transfer to Illinois and after they transfer."
"The programming is different for each group since each group has different needs. For the former, it's mostly advising and teaching. For the ones who have successfully transferred over to Illinois, programming revolves mostly around orientation classes and social activities. Success rates, as measured by the Illinois GPA, between the regular students and the transfer students are more or less the same."
Q & A:
Scott Spitze (SS): Are there any differences in background between the average transfer student and the average student who started here?
Joe Waranyuwat (JW): It depends what you mean. But yes, I’d say so. We see more older students among the transfer population, perhaps more low-income students too, and some of them were less prepared for a 4-year school right out of high school.
SS: About what percentage of desired transfers do you accept?
JW: We admit approximately 300 applicants out of 1,000. There is no exact percentage or number. We just want to admit qualified students.
SS: Are there any common problems experienced by transfer students?
JW: Transition to a new campus, courses, and social life.
SS: What are the most important steps to assure smooth transitions for transfer students?
JW: Addressing #3 (previous question). We do this primarily through advising, teaching an orientation class, and providing opportunities for students to engage with each other and the larger campus community.
SS: Would you advise a potential student wanting to go to a school like uiuc to apply directly, or to take classes at a cheaper school before transferring?
JW: This really depends on the student’s individual circumstances and needs. I certainly recommend some to apply directly and others to start at a community college first.
I have asked some more questions about transfer students and am waiting for a response to them, so this post will be updated when I hear back.
I did a Google search on the person in this interview. It appears he works in the College of Engineering. It would be good to identify here whether he is talking about Engineering students only or about all transfer students on campus.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as an FYI, Engineering has a fairly high dropout rate among entering freshmen. As part of their business model, I believe they need transfer students to keep the graduate cohorts at near the same size as the entering cohorts. But this means they probably devote more resources to transfer students than some other colleges, where the transfer students don't play quite the same strategic role.
I changed my post to show that he works with engineering students, which I agree is an important disclosure. Thanks.
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