Transfer Students
From OSU Wiki
Whether you're transferring to OSU with a few credits or an Associates of Arts Oregon Transfer degree (AAOT), it can be hard to adjust to such a big school. This can be especially true if you aren't living in an environment that aids meeting people. If you aren't transferring with a degree, it's important to submit your transcript and have your credits transferred. This way you can recieve credit for the OSU equivalent of the courses you have taken. Also, your advisor can help you plan out what courses you have left to take. If you have your AAOT, this makes the process a bit simpler. With an AAOT, you are not responsible for much of the Baccalaureate core, just the two upper-division synthesis courses. Check with your advisor to make sure there isn't any other lower-divsion required classes that you need to take despite having the AAOT. Don't assume that an AAOT gets you out of all lower division classes at OSU.
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Transferring from Out of State
Transferring from out of state can be a little different than simply transferring from another Oregon school. This is especially true if you come to Oregon State not knowing a single person. The best advice is to get involved, live on campus, get to know your teachers and soon it becomes just like home. It is also a good idea to get to know the City of Corvallis a little better. If you are coming from a state that is very different from Oregon such as weather differences, people, suddenly finding that you aren't allowed to pump your own gas etc. it is a good idea to get to know people who did grow up here, and maybe even travel around Oregon.
Out Of State Transfer Success Story
My name is Jeff Tomastik and I am someone who actually did transfer from out of state. I am a junior and spent the first 2 years of college at Radford University in southwestern Virginia. I decided after 2 years that it seemed as if everyone from my area were doing the same things and going the same places. I decided that I wanted to do something drastically different from everyone else. So I started searching for schools that had a good international business program and were somewhere that I had never been before. After narrowing it down from a lot of schools I came up with Oregon State and University of Nevada at Las Vegas. I visited both and decided that Oregon State was a much better place for me to attend and be successful academically. The only downside was that I knew no one in the whole state of Oregon, so the transfer was a definite leap of faith. I happened to already joined Kappa Sigma Fraternity at my prior school so when I came to visit I stopped by the Kappa Sigma house here. I decided to move in with them and now that I have been here for a couple of weeks now I feel fully comfortable like I have been here for much longer than I really have. I have been going to all of the football games, participating in intramural sports, using all of the workout facilities on campus, exploring the campus, and going to all different restaurants and stores around Corvallis. I definitely think moving across the county without knowing anyone is a huge risk but I am very glad I did it and am looking forward to helping new transfer students out in the future with anything that they may need to feel like this is their new home.
Get Involved
OSU is a big school with lots of students. Why not meet some of them? A great way to do that is to get involved at OSU. It's important, not only for the social aspect, but in regards to your future. If you visit the Organizations page, you can find information about clubs and organizations here at OSU.
Classes
You may have known what classes to take and which instructors/professors had a fitting teaching style for you at your old school, but now you're in a sense starting over. Try visiting the College of Business Courses section of this page. When you transfer, you'll have to meet with an advisor before you can register for classes. Some departments, like the College of Business, do group advising. If the group advising session seems late and you start worrying you won't get into any classes you need/want, stop! The advisors can help you, they want you to see you succeed.
Living here
Commuting to Oregon State isn't very helpful as far as meeting people. Dorms are an option and you can find student-provided information at Rate the Dorms. The daily commute from say Salem, takes about 45 minutes each way. So unless you have a deep desire to spend a lot of time in the car, moving here is your best choice (I had to learn this the hard way). Look hard at all your options before you decide.
Another option worth looking into is Greek Life.
The Daily Barometer shows listings for "roommates wanted," which is a quick way to make a couple friends and lower living costs. There are plenty of apartments and rental houses close to the University. The Off-Campus Living page has plenty of information reguarding this.
Many websites for apartments in Corvallis rarely have postings. I've found that [Beaver Chat Online] and [Salem's version of Craigslist] frequently have new living opportunities available.
If all else fails, there are some obscure options to try as well. One option, often talked about but rarely attempted is the "Matt Foley" option of living in a van down by the river. Or simply living out of one's car or trailer. This is not recommended unless having a large vehicle. However, it could be possible and would save thousands of dollars in living expenses. The Dixon Rec center has showers, there are multiple food options at the Memorial Union/other locations, study in the Valley Library, and it would be a "home on wheels." After parties, there would be no worries about receiving a DUI because you are already home.
Before you start
Before you start your first day of classes, check Blackboard. Some teachers will post their class syllabus on Blackboard and other materials needed for class. Check if you need anything for your first day! Login using your ONID username.
Look over a campus map to get a feel for where your classes are. OSU has a large campus and you don't want to be late for class on the first day.
If you need to park your car on campus, you recieve a map when you purchase your parking permit at Adams Hall.
Get your student identification card! You will need it to take advantage of student services, for identification at campus events and teachers may ask for it at exam time. They are issued at the University ID Center in room 215 of the Memorial Union, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Transfer Tips
-Apply with plenty of time remaining in the school year, possibly early enough to build your final term or semester's schedule at your current school around classes that will easily transfer over to Oregon State.
-Take as many Baccalaureate Core courses as possible (especially WR 121, COMM 111, and HHS 231), before transferring to Oregon State.
-Take a look at the Transfer Credit page on Oregon State's website to get a feel for what classes will transfer over.
-Even if courses you have taken or are taking are not listed as transferring over, provide syllabi of those courses to an advisor at Oregon State, and often a class will be transferred over that was not listed as doing so.
-If hoping for a scholarship, be sure to sumbit your applications before the scholarship deadline of February 1st.
-Make sure you declare your major(s), option(s), or minor if its time to do so. You should start work on your minor as early as sophomore year.
-Not sure what you want to do with your life? No worries. You can visit with advisors from different colleges or an exploratory studies advisor to help with that decision. If you are transferring as a junior or even a sophomore, visiting with advisors to discuss hypothetical courses of study should happen sooner rather than later.
-Tuition bill high? Get your money's worth and look into what being a student here gets you. With your student ID you can use Dixon Rec center, which saves you money that you would have normally spent on membership dues at a gym.
-From my own personal experience, I would suggest to save your money and not buy a parking permit. They are expensive and it is difficult to find a parking spot.
-Make sure you talk to an advisor from the university you want to transfer to before you start at the community college, because the university is much better at letting you know what kind of classes you need to take.
-Start your transfer quest at least a year in advance so you're not caught offguard by living situations, class availability, credit transfer difficulties, and the like.
-Distance Learning classes are a waste of time if you live on or off campus. If your job has you working too many hours and that's the only option, then take them. However, they act as a separate cost from regular tuition so you pay full price for each class. Normal classes go down in price the more credits taken, distance learning classes just add the full price to the total. Plus, it's difficult to meet anyone on campus that way.
