One month after Madison Barber started college at a private university in Philadelphia, she knew she wanted to transfer. At Christmas break, the Marietta woman filled out an application to the University of North Georgia for the fall 2017 semester.
"The reason I chose UNG is people had amazing things to say," said Barber, who noted her father began his collegiate career as a cadet at UNG. "Everyone I talked to who had even heard about UNG said it is a wonderful school."
Barber is not alone. She is one of 519 students who transferred from another university to UNG this semester. More than 1,100 students internally transferred from UNG's associate degree program to the bachelor's degree program in the 2016-17 academic year, said Dr. Janet Marling, executive director of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students and an associate professor of education at UNG.
"Transfer students, both internal and external, add tremendous value to the institution," Marling said. "Research conducted by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center indicates that 56 percent of students transferring from a two-year institution earn a bachelor's degree within four years. That number increases to 72 percent for those students transferring with an associate degree."
According to a report published Sept. 13, 2017, by the Government Accountability Office, about 35 percent of students transferred from one college to another between 2004 and 2009. In the report, the GAO discovered transfer students had some difficulty transitioning from one campus to another.
UNG has transfer specialists to help usher students through the process and transition them into their new surroundings.
For more information about transferring, contact Prior at [email protected] or 678-717-2229 or Samples at [email protected] or 706-867-4459.
