behrend.psu.edu/transfer

Important Information for Transfer Students

Penn State Behrend welcomes transfer students.

It’s not unusual for students to transfer to Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. As a four-year college of one of the country’s preeminent re-search institutions, we’re a popular destination for anyone seeking the opportunities of a large university within the student-centered environ-ment of a smaller college.

Penn State Behrend offers more than forty degrees. We also have minors, certificates, interdisciplinary degrees, 3+ 4 programs in health care, and many pathways to double-major combinations. (For a complete list of programs, visit behrend.psu.edu/majors.) Outside the classroom, you’ll find 115 clubs and organizations, fraternities and sororities, twenty-two NCAA Division III athletic teams, and a robust intramural recreation program.

Whether you’re coming from another Penn State campus or another state entirely, we can help ease your transition to Behrend. Here’s what you need to know.

Am I a transfer student?Transfer students hold a high school diploma or GED, and possibly even an associate degree from a community or junior college. They also have a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 after earning 18 or more credits at a regionally accredited col-lege or university. (College credits taken during high school are transferrable, but cannot be applied to the 18 credits needed to be considered a transfer student.)

If you’ve completed fewer than 18 college credits, you can ap-ply for admission to Penn State Behrend as a first-year student.

Will my credits transfer?If your credits were earned at a regionally accredited college or university, courses you earned a grade of C or better in will be considered for transfer. Some courses will transfer as exact Penn State course equivalents. Others will transfer as general credits. Your academic adviser will help you determine how your transfer credits fit within your Penn State Behrend major.

Penn State Behrend evaluates transfer credits after you have been offered admission. But if you’d like a sneak peek at how the credits you’ve earned might transfer, use the online Transfer Credit Tool at admissions.psu.edu/academics/credit/transfer. Input the institution you at-tended and the courses you took, and get an immediate idea of their transferability. (The Transfer Credit Tool shows only courses Penn State has already evaluated for transferability. If a course you took is not listed, we will formally review it as part of your application process and add it to the tool. )

For a complete list of programs, visitbehrend.psu.edu/majors

How to apply to Penn State BehrendTransfer students apply to Penn State Behrend using the online application at admissions.psu.edu/apply. (Money-saving hint: Visit campus before you apply and the $50 application fee will be waived! Schedule your visit at behrend.psu.edu/visit.)

Request that official transcripts from each high school and college you’ve attended be sent directly to Penn State Behrend’s Office of Admissions. You do not have to sendSAT or ACT scores.

Don’t forget about financial aidTransfer students enrolled in a degree program will be con-sidered for Penn State Behrend scholarships and are eligible to receive state and federal financial aid. We encourage you to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 prior to your summer or fall enrollment to ensure maximum aid consideration.

Coming from another Penn State campus?You can easily move to Penn State Behrend to finish your degree. This process starts in the Regis-trar’s Office of your current campus by filing a request to change campus. De-pending on your semester standing, you may also have to declare a major and begin the Entrance to Major process.

Here to helpPenn State Behrend wants to make your transfer experience as painless as possible. An admissions counselor who works exclusively with prospective adult and transfer students can answer your questions before your application; after accep-tance, Penn State Behrend’s Office of the Registrar (behrend.psu.edu/registrar) can help you with issues related to credits, coursework, and scheduling.

You’ll be assigned an academic adviser when you schedule your courses. If you want to speak with someone about ma-jors, internships, or career opportunities prior to that, contact the Academic and Career Planning Center, behrend.psu.edu/acpc. ACPC staff work closely with students in all stages of their education, from new-to-campus to ready-to-graduate.

Other Penn State Behrend offices that can be helpful to transfer students

• The Learning Resource Center, behrend.psu.edu/lrc• Housing & Foods Services, behrend.psu.edu/housing• Educational Equity and Diversity Programs, behrend.psu.edu/equity

Meet AaronAaron Sanner is Penn State Behrend’s admissions counselor for transfer and adult students. For more information about transferring to Penn State Behrend or to begin the transfer process, email Aaron at acs242@psu.edu, call 814-898-6312, or visit behrend.psu.edu/transfer.

Office of Admissions and Financial AidMetzgar Admissions and Alumni Center4701 College DriveErie, PA 16563

This publication is available in alternative media upon request. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. U.Ed. EBO 14-80

“When I graduated from high school, I knew I wanted to go to a big-name university. I enrolled at a huge

out-of-state campus, but from the minute I moved in something didn’t feel right. I didn’t like the large campus like I thought I would, and felt like I couldn’t make connections with other students or my faculty.

“If I didn’t look at other options, I knew I’d regret it, and my friends from high

school who had come to Behrend had nothing but positive things to

say. I still wanted a recognizable name, but not a big campus. I wanted to have an adviser I could turn to for advice on

classes and careers. I wanted smaller classes and professors I

could build relationships with for letters of reference and internship

opportunities.

“Greek life also attracted me. I wanted to be involved with something beyond my classes, and Alpha Sigma Alpha, the

sorority I joined, offers me that.

“The process was easy, and someone from the Registrar’s Office made sure

that all of my credits transferred. Behrend has met my every expectation and my only regret is not coming here at the start.”

—Alexandra Sebestyen Communication major Hermitage, Pennsylvania

“ I first attended a small private university. When I was showed my loan balance at the end of my freshman year, it was unset-tling. I realized that I could not afford to accumulate that much debt at a school that did not offer an outstanding business degree. I went looking for a college that offered me excellence at a reasonable price, but I also wanted to be somewhere I could settle in and have a vast array of extracurriculars to join.

“ Behrend has shown me that college isn’t about students attending class, making the grade, and moving on. It’s a place where you can define yourself. I’ve devel-oped a core group of friends I can count on, and the best part is that some of these friendships are with faculty and staff. My expectations have far been exceeded by Penn State Behrend—I will graduate con-fident, collected, and with an incredible support system.”

—Ian Connell Marketing major Waterford, Pennsylvania