ALUMS GIVE TRANSFER ADVICE

Earlier this month, Mt. Hood Community College held a Student Transfer panel event: Several former MHCC students who transferred to four-year institutions were interviewed about the jump and shared a lot of helpful advice and information about the process.

Here is a summary of what the panel members had to say:

First, prospective transfer students are encouraged to take as many of your required credits here at MHCC as possible. Most likely, credits here are MHCC will be significantly cheaper than at a four-year school. With that said, be careful to ensure the Mt. Hood credits you are taking will count towards your target degree, whether that be an associate degree here at MHCC or a bachelor’s degree at your transfer institution. You may lose a significant sum of money if you do not properly plan out your courses.

Notably, many four-year universities have a maximum number of transfer credits they will accept. Most public four-year universities in Oregon accept up to 124 transfer credits from community colleges, including Portland State University, Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, and Western Oregon University.

GET GOOD ADVICE

Realize that you do not have to plan out your courses by yourself: You have an academic adviser at Mt. Hood to assist you. Communicate with them to help you create a comprehensive academic plan. For more information about academic advising, see: https://www.mhcc.edu/AdvisingCenter/.

You also can contact an adviser at your transfer destination before you transfer, which can help tremendously in ensuring a smooth move. Do not be afraid to get help from your advisers and ask questions. It’s not a bother, because academic advisers love to help, and that is what they are there for.

If after a transfer occurs you find that some of your credits did not transfer, you have the option of petitioning for those credits. This process varies by school, so inquire with your academic adviser at your transfer institution about this option. In some cases, the instructor for the course you wish to transfer can advocate for the course transfer.

SEEK SCHOLARSHIPS

It is also highly recommended to apply for scholarships. Scholarship applications can be overwhelming since there are so many different ones you can apply to. Great, reachable scholarships to start with are the Ford Family Foundation scholarships and the Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) scholarships.

If you ever need help applying for colleges or scholarships, there are various resources available to help you. MHCC offers many resources for prospective transfer students, such as the TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO-SSS) program. TRIO offers help with college essays and scholarship applications, and more. TRIO does has eligibility requirements: You must meet at least one of these criteria: first-generation college student, low-income, or have a documented disability. To learn more about TRIO-SSS, visit https://www.mhcc.edu/TRIO-SSS/.

Even if you do not qualify for TRIO, you can still find help at the AVID Learning Success Center. AVID offers writing and English language tutoring that can help you to write college or scholarship essays. In-person writing tutoring is offered in Room AC1451, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.

Remote writing tutoring is offered 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. To learn more about AVID tutoring, visit: https://www.mhcc.edu/avid/.

ENGAGE AT MT. HOOD

Some of the transfer panelists shared a few miscellaneous tips and ideas.

Mt. Hood has a lot of unique outdoor courses, such as Rafting (PE185RT). If you are interested in those courses, seize the opportunity here at MHCC because they likely will not be offered at your transfer institution.

While you’re still here at MHCC, engage in extracurricular activities, go to events, and meet new people. A lot of those you meet will be prospective transfer students just like you, and you might friends with many of them even after transferring.