Students enthusiastically
flocked to the transfer fair
held at Bucks on Sept. 29.
From 9:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m,
the cafeteria was packed
with students deciding
which school’s table caught
their interest. With so many
to choose from, the decision
of where to start was
probably the hardest.
Questions from, “do you
have my major?” to “how
much does tuition cost?”
floated throughout the
room as students searched
for more information.
College representatives
gave the students helpful
answers.
According to The New
York Times, 1 in 3 students
will transfer at some point,
making this fair especially
important for Bucks students.
The overwhelming
decision of what to do after
earning an associate’s
degree was made somewhat
easier by the fair’s
representatives.
Sixty-four schools
attended this year’s fall
transfer fair. Four of those
were out-of-state schools,
but most were local and
have transfer agreements
with Bucks.
“The fair is a good way
to help seek out information
students wouldn’t otherwise
have,” Holy Family
University representative
Jennifer Bona said.
Colleges explained
exactly what their programs
could offer students
and how they would benefit
the student. They were
able to give information
about accommodations,
tuition and any other basic
questions about the
schools.
Through making these
connections students now
have the opportunity to
contact the representatives
for interviews or to be
shown around the campuses.
They are able to have
them help them with
research into scholarships
and financial aid and
explain to them exactly
what requirements they
would need to move on to
their school.
Many of the schools
agreed they would take
general academic credits
such as college math,
English and science. With
other courses and electives
it would appear it depended
on the school although
the Cabrini representative
said that with majors such
as communications, the
Bucks credits that do not
transfer directly will transfer
as general electives.
Flipping through leaflets
and leaving their contact
information with the reps,
students took advantage of
the fair, talking to as many
schools as they could.
Also, some curiously
flocked toward the corner
of the out-of state universities
from New York City,
Delaware, the Carolinas,
New Jersey and Florida.
These schools, although
farther away and probably
more expensive with out-of
state tuition rates, gathered
a lot of attention.
The colleges were happy to
have the exposure,
“Students don’t know the
ins and outs of our programs,”
said John Gibson,
a Gwynedd Mercy College
representative.
Representatives were
ready for questions and
eager to help. If they did
not have information they
knew where to find it,
searching through leaflets
and books on the different
courses their schools
offered.
Every student appeared
to be looking for something
different. Some wanted
an in-state school which
they could commute to,
others wanted to be as far
away as possible, some
wanted to stay in-state but
had no preference as to
their distance from Bucks
County and others genuinely
did not know what they
wanted.
Still, with so much good
information and so many
people readily giving out
advice, it became much
more apparent which
options are open to transfer
students and what they
have to do attain their
goals.