Taking one step forward

Sponsored by Austin Community College's Transfer Academy program, 28 ACC students, who plan to transfer to a four-year university, were given the opportunity to visit Southwestern University (SU) and the University of Texas at Austin (UT) thanks to the Tour de Transfer trip Nov. 11.

ACC students were able to experience the two different, but local universities' environments during the tour in Austin and Georgetown, Texas. Students on the tour were informed that both institutions have articulation agreements with ACC.

"I want you to see first what will be good for you," ACC tour guide David Deroven said before leaving for the tour.

"Look first and you will decide if a small or a big educational institution will fit your plans," he said.

The tour was exciting for most students who were able to discover what the environments and available resources are like at each university.

"[The tour was] very helpful because, otherwise, it is hard to know and what to do," social work student Angela Roman said. "I liked the size of Southwestern University ... the intimacy of the campus and the student-teacher ratio."

Although SU has two deadlines for new applicants, April 1 for fall entry, and Oct. 1 for spring entry, ACC students are welcome to apply until November 15 according SU's partnership program.

Gail Roberson, associate director of SU admissions, explained to the ACC students that SU offers automatic acceptance to students who meet the following criteria: Have completed at least 24 hours of transferable course work at ACC, have maintained a 3.25 cumulative grade

point average and apply by the posted priority deadline. Students can also visit SU's website for more information at southwestern.edu.

SU has a student population of 1,372 who hail from 35 states and 10 nations.

It has 38 majors with pre-professional programs in dentistry, engineering, law, medicine, ministry, physical therapy and veterinary medicine.

Following the tour of SU, students traveled to UT to peruse the campus and eat lunch at the Longhorn Dining Hall.

Social work student Kelly Kann said: "UT is a large school and seems over whelming at first. It was a long day, but worthy. I may go for this university because they have classes for my major."

UT student Kelli Schultz served as the tour guide and led students in visiting classrooms, sports facilities and other buildings at the university. Schultz also informed students that it is possible to apply to UT with 30 transferable semester hours, however, admissions may be granted before completing 30 hours.

For the spring semester applicants must apply to UT by the Oct. 1 deadline. For summer and fall, March 1 is the deadline.

Online resources about transfer coursework can be found at bealonghorn.utecas. edu/transfer.

More information about transferring to SU can be found at southwestern.edu/ admission/transfer/index.php.

The UT office of admissions can also be reached at 512-475-7387.

The tour seemed to be very informational and successful for those in attendance.

"Transfer day was fun and we saw the differences between large and small schools," pre- nursing student Jessica Joiner said. "We should go to more schools because a lot of people are unaware about the choices they have."