Students can earn strong grades and complete the coursework needed to transfer, but mistakes on applications or failing to meet with a counselor can still create problems during the transfer process.
Citrus College counselor Alicia Longyear said she has seen students face application denials and appeals after answering questions on their application incorrectly.
Longyear said meeting with a counselor is highly encouraged for students preparing to transfer. She also encourages students to attend transfer center workshops, where counselors review students’ coursework and help them plan for upcoming terms. However, some students do not take advantage of the opportunity to meet with a counselor and receive guidance throughout the transfer process.
“Do you have enough units? Do you have all the classes that are required to transfer?” Longyear said, describing some of the questions counselors ask students. Counselors can use those questions to help students create a transfer plan and identify requirements they may have missed.
Longyear said making counseling mandatory could help address problems that occur when students do not know which classes they need to take.
A second Citrus College counselor, who requested anonymity because of their employment status, also encouraged students to meet with counselors during the transfer process. The counselor said counselors can help students navigate the application process and understand deadlines and course requirements.
“A lot of students don’t know deadlines or what specific classes to take if they want to transfer somewhere,” the counselor said.
Meeting with a counselor early can help students determine which courses they need to complete before transferring, the counselor said.
Longyear said online planning tools can also be helpful, but students should not rely on them as their only source of information. The tools may not show every requirement for a student’s intended university, she said.
“It’s not the full picture,” Longyear said.
Because counseling is a free resource available to students, Longyear said meeting with a counselor can provide additional guidance as students prepare to transfer.
