Ruby Churchill
Photo by Bobby Rutledge
The transfer process at Simpson University.
The journey of becoming a Red Hawk by transferring can be akin to deciphering hieroglyphics underwater. The process is undeniably worth the adventure.
Simpson University opens the door to an immersive experience. The supportive community nurtures your intellectual growth and encourages you to explore your faith.
The smaller class sizes create an intimate learning environment. Meanwhile, campus life is so vibrant it makes disco balls jealous. There is never a dull moment with student organizations, events, and sports.
The transfer process is not as complicated as rocket science but is more intricate than assembling IKEA furniture. To submit an application, you will share academic information. They want to ensure you did not learn calculus from a fortune cookie. There will also be an opportunity to showcase your background and flex your faith muscles.
The next step is sending transcripts for evaluation of credits. You would not want to accidentally be put in the underwater basket weaving class if you have already taken it. Admissions counselor Marjorie Kennedy explained that there are a few things students should know before transferring.
“They should know which program they want to transfer too…and they need to send transcripts from all colleges and universities they’ve attended. That’s really critical,” Kennedy said.
Upon admission, the university meticulously evaluates student transcripts to determine which credits can be seamlessly transferred. For students concerned about their credits, Kennedy has some recommendations.
“They can always email our transfer email, its transfer@simpsonu.edu, and they can always check things class by class,” Kennedy said.
The transfer process is a character-building obstacle course with room for improvements. Some students have trouble getting their classes transferred as a result.
For the program I chose, I could not get all my credits transferred. I therefore have three heavy semesters ahead of me, one of which is above sixteen credits. Over the summer, I have three additional classes. I also worked to get a certification in IGETC, only for it not to be accepted. It was a time-consuming struggle to figure out my schedule, but my academic counselor worked tirelessly to help. I genuinely appreciate how friendly and helpful the staff at this university are.
Abby Kang, a pre-nursing student, had positive and negative experiences as well.
“The transfer process was really easy in terms of getting into the school. Everyone was really accessible, that’s the benefit of it being a small school. You can get into contact easily and ask whatever questions you have” Kang said.
When it comes to credits, Kang states she had a difficult time
“In terms of transferring credits, I did have to advocate for myself a lot...there were some obstacles and bumps along the way. I’m actually still in the process of getting credits transferred because they never gave me my course evaluation, so I was in classes I didn’t need to be taking,” Kang said.
The university could simplify the transition by creating articulation agreements with more schools. This allows students to research which classes will transfer ahead of time. It is like having a treasure map for credits—X marks the class.
The IGETC and CSU Breadth patterns are certificates that show students have completed certain general education requirements. If they were accepted, this would make the transfer process smoother than a buttered penguin slide. Other courses such as Bible classes could still be added to schedules to ensure students meet the specific requirements of Simpson.
Get ready for the adventure of transferring, future Red Hawks—where education meets excitement.