Bellevue College hosted admissions representatives from over twenty universities for the Spring Transfer Fair on the 26th of April. The event included multiple universities from in state, such as University of Washington and Seattle Pacific University, and from out of state, like Northern Arizona University and Portland State University. The fair was held in the L building lobby from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
While Bellevue College does offer some four-year degrees, many students are looking for a more traditional university experience or a broader range of options. These students will often turn to the prospect of a transfer.
Thanks to the Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA), an agreement between Bellevue College and most of the four-year universities located in the state of Washington, BC students have the advantage of being able to complete the Associate Transfer Degree, assuring that all of the credits received as part of the Associate degree will transfer to their university of choice. This is important because many universities have different criteria for which credits will transfer and which won’t.
Erin, a Running Start student, stated, “My time at BC has been fantastic. But I am really looking forward to the traditional university experience. It’s cool to be getting my Associate Degree, so I can finish my Bachelors in two years, it saves a ton of money!”
BC regularly hosts individual University Admissions representatives on campus who are available for appointment. If you missed the Transfer fair and have unanswered questions, it is highly recommended that you make an appointment with a representative from the school you are interested in so that you can be as informed as possible before making the transition.
Those who haven’t completed the Associates degree will especially want to check with perspective schools on how their current credits will transfer. Talking with college representatives is also an excellent way to get a feel for what type of students the school is looking for, what clubs and added activities are available, and what the general vibe of campus life at that particular school is like.
Anna, a Bellevue College student transferring to Western Washington University said, “I think that these fares are really helpful to students looking to transfer […] Bellevue College does a really good job of encouraging students to peruse their education; even if it is at a different school.”
And Transfer Fairs aren’t necessarily just for transfer students. For students participating in the running start program at Bellevue College, Transfer fairs are a great place to gather information and insight on what you may be looking for in a university.
The admissions representatives are there to answer questions and give you as much information as they can. David, a running start student noted that, “The people here (the admissions representatives) are really helpful and willing to go out of their way to answer questions… when they don’t know the answer they can usually put you in contact with someone who does.”
Ultimately, the more information you have, the easier it will be to not only decide where you want to go, but to also determine the best way to achieve your goals.