Transfer Students

1. What are you looking for in a transfer student?
2. What do you require of transfer applicants?
3. As a transfer student, when would I need to apply for admission?
4. Is financial aid available for transfer students?
5. What type of scholarship opportunities are available for transfer students?
6. Are transfer students required to live on campus?
7. How do I find out if my credits transfer to Puget Sound?
8. Is there an orientation program available for transfer students?
9. Do I need an interview? What if I cannot visit campus?

1. What are you looking for in a transfer student?

Puget Sound values students who demonstrate intellectual independence and curiosity, manage their time well and commit to excellence both in and outside the classroom. We review your entire college program, including the courses you have taken, the grades you have received in them, and your extracurricular, work, and community activities. Furthermore, we will evaluate your ability to write.

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2. What do you require of transfer students?

All applicants must complete a formal Application for Transfer Admission, submit official transcripts from each college/university previously attended, submit a $40 non-refundable application fee, submit an essay or copy of a graded paper, and forward a complete Transfer College Clearance Form.

Official scores of any non-traditional work (Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam scores) must also be submitted with the application materials. High school transcripts and results of a pre-college exam must also be submitted if you have completed less than one year of college at the time of application or you were enrolled in college-level courses while in high school.

The Admission Committee will only consider applicants who have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and have an honorable dismissal from previously attended institutions.

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3. As a transfer student, when would I need to apply for admission?

Transfer students may begin their academic work at the beginning of any term. Transfer students are encouraged to apply for admission by March 1 for fall term and November 1 for spring term. Applications received after the preferred deadlines will be accepted on a space available basis. We will mail our admission decision as soon as possible after all necessary documents have been received.

Each accepted transfer student will receive the Letter of Acceptance and an Official Transfer Evaluation indicating the total number of units transferring to the University, the cumulative transfer grade point average and specifying which courses fulfill University core requirements.

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4. Is financial aid available for transfer students?

The University actively joins in partnership with students and families to help finance a Puget Sound education. About two-thirds of the students enrolled at Puget Sound receive need-based assistance. In 2007-08, the average need-based financial aid package for transfer students was about $24,000 (a combination of scholarships, grants, loans and student employment awards). With a 2007-08 estimated fixed cost of $40,325, a typical family with financial need will need to contribute about $16,000 of their own resources.

Nearly half of admitted transfer students receive scholarships based on merit or other talents. Merit scholarships range from $3,000 to more than $12,000 each. The amount of financial aid students receive depends on many factors, including their documented financial need and their academic record. For need-based financial aid consideration, Puget Sound requires submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

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5. What type of scholarship opportunities are available for transfer students?

All prospective transfers who apply for admission by the priority deadline are automatically considered for a number of merit and special academic scholarships. These include $12,000 Trustee Scholarships, $9,000 President's Scholarships, and $3,000 Dean's Scholarships.

Puget Sound also sponsors a variety of other scholarships. There are, for example, scholarships for performance excellence in music, theatre, art and forensics and academic excellence in mathematics, science, business and leadership.

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6. Are transfer students required to live on campus?

Housing is available for transfer students, but none of our students are required to live on campus.

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7. How do I find out if my credits transfer to Puget Sound? 

It is our goal to maximize the retention of credit while maintaining the strong standard of a Puget Sound degree.  To assist you in developing your transfer plan, we offer unofficial credit evaluations to all students considering transferring to Puget Sound.  Send an official or unofficial transcript to the Office of Admission and we will provide you with an evaluation.  Please contact the transfer counselor if you have additional questions regarding your credit evaluation.

Students planning their courses for an upcoming term may contact the Admission Office for suggestions of courses that may be recognized at Puget Sound.  Washington State community college students may access our online advising manual which clearly lists courses we accept from those institutions as well as which courses meet the requirements for our core curriculum. 

Students may transfer a maximum of 16 units.  One Puget Sound unit is equal to six quarter credits or four semester credits, allowing students to transfer 96 quarter credits or 64 semester credits.

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8. Is there an orientation program available to transfer students?

Yes. Fall transfer students participate in new student orientation and are introduced to Puget Sound through our distinctive and award-winning orientation program. Passages and Perspectives is a five-day introduction to academic life, the beauty of the Northwest wilderness and the campus community.

Passages, a wilderness adventure experience, introduces students to the beauty of the Northwest and its culture. Through backpacking trips, canoe expeditions and base-camp activities, new friendships develop while students extend personal limits and overcome anxiety about college life. For some, the Northwest is home. Others experience, for the first time, the way our natural setting brings people together.

Perspectives introduces students to the responsibilities and privileges of the Puget Sound campus community. During this part of orientation, students acquaint themselves with the campus and the surrounding neighborhood through workshops, outings and community service options.

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9. Do I need an interview? What if I cannot visit campus?

We do not require that students have an interview, but it is recommended. Interviews allow the Admission staff to get to know your interests beyond what a paper application can tell us. Visiting Puget Sound in person is the best way to get a feel for the campus and the community, and we would love for you to visit campus and have an interview. If visiting campus is not possible, we do travel to many areas of the country and could arrange to meet with you in your home state. To find out if we will be traveling to your area, please go to our Puget Sound On the Road travel page.

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