What Should You Be Doing Now?

It's summer!  You've been admitted to Chico State!  You can relax now, right?  Don't pick up that bottle of sun screen quite yet.  There are some very, very important tasks that admitted students need to complete before classes begin on August 27th.  Let's make sure you can check them off your list.
 

Transfer students, have you . . .

Requested final transcripts from all previously attended institutions to be sent to the Chico State Admissions Office?  Our address is 400 West First Street, Chico, CA 95929-0722.  All outstanding documents must be in our office by July 14th.   

Signed up for an orientation?  Orientation is a new student's first chance to register for classes.  Orientation isn't mandatory, but if students don't attend they'll have to wait till July 23rd to register. 

Made housing plans?  The Chico housing application is still open, but at this point students should check out alternative housing options here and here since on-campus housing is looking less likely this late in the year.

First Time Freshmen, have you. . .

Requested final transcripts from your high school to be sent to the Chico State Admissions Office?  Our address is 400 West First Street, Chico, CA 95929-0722.  All outstanding documents, including test scores must be in our office by July 14th. 

Taken an English Placement Test (EPT) and/or Entry Level Math (ELM) test if you were not otherwise exempted through EAP, SAT, ACT or AP test scores?  You should take placement tests ASAP if you are required to.  If students show up to orientation without test scores on file they won't be able to register for classes!  Danger, danger future Wildcat!

Completed your Early Start registration? If you scored less than 50 on the Entry Level Math test and/or less than 138 on the English Placement Test it's absolutely essential that you register for an Early Start experience.  The website csusuccess.org can give you an idea of what classes are available.  You'll be contacted by the campus where you've elected to take your Early Start classes with further registration information. 

Signed up for an orientation? Orientation is a new student's first chance to register for classes.  Orientation isn't mandatory, but if students don't attend they'll have to wait till July 23rd to register.  If you still have to take an EPT or ELM test, sign up for an orientation after your test scores are scheduled to arrive. 

Made housing plans?  The Chico housing application is still open, but at this point students should check out alternative housing options here and here since on-campus housing is looking less likely this late in the year. 

The Secrets of Successful Transfer Students

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Transfer students make up a good portion of our student population each year.   Last year Chico State admitted 3,306 transfer students alone.   As an insider to the admission process, I wanted to share some strategies I wish more students would employ to avoid disappointments and delays when trying to transfer.  

1.    Successful transfer students understand what classes they need to take.   Not all community college courses are transferable.  I’ve seen students fail to grasp this essential fact over and over again.  Working with your community college transfer center, a community college counselor and assist.org will help clarify the difference between transferable and non-transferable courses. 

2.    Successful transfer students leverage all their resources.  I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get help when you need it.  Community colleges are busy and very crowded places.  Students need to learn to self-advocate, to ask questions and be persistent.  Does your campus have cross enrollment programs?  Can you join EOPS?  What programs are available to help students be successful?  Find out and join up, you won’t regret it. 

3.    Successful transfer students understand the application process clearly.  It’s important to connect early on with the university you want to transfer to.  I’ve witnessed a lot of confusion about admission requirements.   How many units do you need to complete?   Does having an AA or an AS guarantee admission?  Does your transfer campus require you to complete lower division major requirements as part of admission?  Students need to find out directly from the source.   If you want the bottom line, ask admission representatives what will keep you out of their university. 

4.    Successful transfer students know grades matter. Transfer admission in an era of budget cuts is becoming an increasingly competitive.   Students with lower GPA’s are finding it more difficult to transfer.  If a campus requires a 2.0 GPA to be eligible to transfer, a 1.98 GPA will not cut it.   Often campuses look at cumulative GPAs; a bad semester will follow you wherever you go.   Start strong, and finish strong academically.  
  

5.    Successful transfer students read university e-mails frequently and take deadlines seriously.  It’s common for Chico State to get over 22,000 applications in a year.   If a student does not respond to a request, pay a fee, or submit a transcript, chances are they won’t be an applicant for long.   The reality is that students who don’t follow through with deadlines make it easier for others to get admitted in their place.

Take it from me; successful transfer students are not passive.  They've learned their stuff and not only in an academic sense.  Do you have specific questions or topics you'd like to learn more about.  Feel free to ask in the comment or shoot me an email at chicoadmissioncounselor@gmail.com.