Learning the tricks of transient

     Some people spend their summers chilling out and taking a break from school. But the summer is a perfect time to get ahead by being a transient student.
    “A lot of times, students will go home and want to take a class,”  Stacey Milner, transfer articulation specialist, said.
Approximately 40 people attended a program Wednesday in the MSU Lounge about how to go transient to another school. The program was sponsored by the Transfer Student Association.
     “We wanted to get our name out, and do something beneficial for the students,” said senior Nicole Carmolingo, president of TSA.
     To become a transient student, it is important to go through the proper process.
     First, plan ahead. Research the school, and see if they are offering the class needed, and make sure the credits will transfer. Make an appointment to talk to an advisor to discuss your plans. Apply to the other school. To complete the process, students must be in good standing academically.
     Second, Do the paperwork. Fill out a transient student permission form, which is available online or from the registrar’s office. Get the form signed by your advisor and department chair, and turn it into Admissions or the registrar’s office. Without this form, GCSU is not required to accept the credits.
     Third, manage your hours. While taking an upper level class somewhere else can be beneficial, students have to be careful. To graduate from GCSU, 21 of the last 30 credit hours must be completed here.
     Fourth, meet the deadline. Deadlines to apply vary from school to school. Most schools’ deadlines for the summer sessions are in early April.
     Fifth, get money. The HOPE scholarship will pay for tuition at another school in Georgia. However, at a private college, students must be enrolled at least half-time for HOPE to pay for its portion of the tuition. GCSU scholarships, such as athletic scholarships, can also be applied at another school.
     Finally, Make the grade. Make sure the grades from the other school are sent to GCSU. Transcripts are not always sent automatically.
     Milner estimated that nearly half of GCSU students choose to go transient over the summer. Some popular schools are Georgia Perimeter College, Georgia Military College, Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University.
     “I’m from (Kennesaw), and I want to be able to work,” said junior liberal studies major Katie Strach, who plans to take classes at KSU.
     Being a transient student is a way for students to be at home and still be able to take classes. This also enables them to work part-time for some extra money and to see old friends. Studying at another school helps students to fulfill core requirements and other classes.
     “The benefit is being able to stay on target, and for some, it’s an opportunity to catch up or get ahead,” said Milner.
Studying abroad is another form of being a transient student. Some students want to study abroad with a program that is not affiliated with GCSU. To do this, follow the steps for study abroad applications with the other school. Financial aid can still be applied.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 15 2008. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry