The Transfer 101 workshop that is offered 5-6 times per semester is a place to find out more of what you need to know about moving along your plans to go to a four year college out of DMACC. This 45 minute session is led by an academic advisor each time. The session I attended was presided over by Kris Olds who is an Academic Advisor with a specialty in Liberal Arts students.
While it is recommended by DMACC to take this time out of your busy schedule to learn as much as possible or take SDC 165 Transfer Planning (1 credit class) we will summarize the most important points and resources here.
Your college experience is about deciding what is important to you, not your family or anyone else, but what you want to do with your life, career-wise. According to the workshop, choosing that major will help you select your DMACC coursework and transfer college. And doing research like job shadowing, talking to counseling services and the career and transfer resource center in Building 1 will help you tremendously.
Transferring to a four year college is something that you need to plan for from the start of your time at DMACC or at least get serious about it near the end of your second semester according to Olds. She said “first and second semesters no problem but by the time you get to your third or fourth semester you need to optimize.”
Your goal should be to graduate with an AA or AS degree from DMACC to get the most out of your DMACC experience and be as ready as possible for the 4 year school. Those degrees (AA for most, AS for anyone in a STEM related field) will get you the 60 credits that those schools want out of you. And sometimes there will be double counting when you take a class and it counts towards the AA/AS and as a full class at the 4 year school.
Working towards that goal when you are in the serious stage about going somewhere after DMACC is to make sure your classes here at DMACC line up with the college you intend to attend. DMACC has relationships with practically every college in Iowa and many across the midwest and will assist you.
In the end it’s all about being prepared and making sure you aren’t wasting time and finances especially when you know what you want to do in the future. Let your college advisors here at DMACC and at any future college help you make the most of everything.
Other important things to ask your advisor about or research yourself
- Admissions partnership program at area colleges
- Cross Enrollment
- SDV 130 Career Exploration Class
- If in Design or Engineering fields extra care involved
- Financial Aid deadlines – if you need help contact Erick Danielson, Troy Andersen, or Jessica Schultz at Iowa College
- Access Network here at DMACC. Their offices are right inside Building 5 by SAC and you can find out more information about them at ICANNsucceed.org.
- Overall link to check out www.dmacc.edu/transfer/
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