It is becoming more common for students to use community college or other two-year colleges as a stepping stone before attending a university. Regardless of the reason, it can seem like a complicated process-- but Wichita State makes the transfer experience easy and enjoyable! One of the many reasons Shocker Nation has been the top transfer destination in Kansas since 2010.

After I graduated high school, I decided to attend Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) so I could continue to play the sport I loved - softball - for a couple more years. I remember being so excited to start college, but also anxious for when it was time for me to transfer to a university. Luckily, I was able to start my journey with Wichita State while I was in Kansas City that made the process a piece of cake.

Here are the top five ways that made my transition from community college to Wichita State so effortless:

This easy-to-use resource helped me build my schedule to see how the courses I was taking at my community college would transfer over to Wichita State. I was able to transfer with all my general education courses completed so I could focus on my major-specific courses once I got to Shocker Nation.

While the Transfer Gateway helped me see how my courses would transfer to Wichita State, I still was not sure what would be the best courses to take. Luckily, Wichita State offers dual advising, so I was able to develop a relationship with a Wichita State advisor while I was still in Kansas City. She helped me build my schedule in the most efficient way so that I was getting the most out of my classes, saving myself time and money. Being able to build a relationship with an advisor before I even came to Wichita State made the transition easy. Access the dual advising form today!

One of my main concerns about going to school in Wichita was that I would be just another student looking for a job. Turns out, that is not even close to how Wichita State operates. During my first week at Wichita State I was introduced to the Shocker Career Accelerator, where I was guaranteed that I was not just another number, but a student they cared about. The opportunities they showed me seemed endless, with internships on and off-campus, and part-time and full-time positions. Plus, they helped me create a resume and portfolio that led me to the full-time job I have now.

College can be expensive-- it is one of the reasons I chose to go to a community college first. But Wichita State offers Transfer Merit Scholarships for full-time students directly transferring from an institution. I received thousands of dollars just based on my GPA, no additional paperwork to fill out AND it was renewable for two years. This extra money made such a difference during college and after I graduated. Just make sure to apply for admission before February 1 to be considered!

It might seem silly that a Twitter account made a difference in my transition to Wichita State, but crazier things have happened, right? When I was looking at transferring, I came across a tweet discussing how Wichita State started awarding spring 2019 transfer scholarships in December and I ended up following the account that made me aware of deadlines and opportunities available to me. It is run by the university’s Associate Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Initiatives and Director of Admissions, Bobby Gandu. My only warning is beware his puns.

Overall, Wichita State has been the No. 1 transfer destination in Kansas for 11 straight years for good reason! Transferring can seem overwhelming, but it felt like Wichita State gave me the opportunity to breathe and enjoy my time at community college. I loved my time as a student at Wichita State-- and look at me now, I work here full-time! Be sure to apply today to get access to these resources to make your college experience the best it can be.