Transferring To ASU .. ?
Jessica Unterreiner
Transferring from Mesa Community College to Arizona State University may seem intimidating, but there are numerous resources and helpful programs that are available for students.
One of these valuable programs is the Maricopa to ASU Pathways Program (MAPP). The MAPP program applies to 125 of the 250 bachelor’s degrees offered at ASU.
“(MAPP is) a prescribed sequence of coursework that students can complete at a Maricopa community college that meets all of the lower division course requirements for ASU degree programs,” Kelly Robles, the director of community college relations at ASU, said.
The advantage of completing MAPP is that students are ensured that courses taken at MCC will count for credit towards their intended degree at ASU. Also, if a certain grade point average is met, students are guaranteed acceptance to their program of study at ASU. A full list of available degrees that are MAPP-compatible can be viewed at www.transfer.asu.edu/communitycollege/AZ/mesa/mapp/all.
The Maricopa-ASU RN-BSN Pathway Program is available to students who plan to get an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing (AAS) before transferring to ASU to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Specific requirements for this program are on www.transfer.asu.edu/communitycollege/AZ/mesa/rn-bsn. This is the only program that allows 75 credits to be transferred from MCC to ASU.
Laura DiVenti, 34, took advantage of the Maricopa-ASU RN to BSN Program and is currently seeking her Bachelor of Science in Nursing as an online student at ASU. Laura found ASU staff to be helpful.
“I contacted an academic advisor and she walked me through everything. If I had any questions, I could call the nursing department any time,” she said.
Laura found ASU administration to be very supportive even before she had applied to the BSN program at ASU. Laura described her interaction with the administration at ASU as “smoother and much easier” in comparison to that of MCC.
Another program available to students at MCC is the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) to Bachelor in Applied Science (BAS). Students who would like to find out more information about requirements and areas of study available should visit www.transfer.asu.edu/communitycollege/AZ/mesa/aas-bas.
Earning an associate degree prior to attending ASU is a great way to transition between a community college and university. Samantha Salazar, 22, who now attends ASU and works on her degree in family and human development with a minor in wellness foundations, earned her Associate in General Education at MCC before transferring to ASU. “Talk to an advisor … don’t try to do it on your own,” she said.
If a student’s intended major is not offered by MAPP or other programs, a helpful resource is the course equivalency guide that can be found at www.aztransfer.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Admin_CEG.woa/wa/ByInst?inst=MCC.
This guide shows exactly how each course offered at MCC will transfer to ASU, but just because a course transfers as credit to ASU does not mean it is applicable towards specific major requirements. Students should also note that 64 credits is the maximum amount of credits that can be transferred for credit between a Maricopa Community College and ASU. To earn credit for a specific course, a student must earn a grade of “C” or better.
If a student is undecided, a great way to begin the process is to follow Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC). This is a 35-credit program of lower division general education courses that are applicable to many ASU degree programs.
www.webapp4.asu.edu/ugapp/mainmenulogic is the place to go to apply for ASU. Students can apply up to 13 months prior to the semester they plan on starting at ASU. Applications are still accepted a few weeks prior to the start of the fall semester.
“But in terms of financial aid and getting the classes you want, the earlier the better,” Robles said. “As soon as a student knows they are going to transfer to ASU, we suggest they apply.”
The deadline for applications for the spring semester is Dec. 1, and Apr. 1 is the deadline for the summer term as well as the priority deadline for the fall semester.
In addition to the online application, students will need to submit an application fee, which is $50 for Arizona residents and $65 for non-residents, as well as an official transcripts sent from MCC.
“Once the student is admitted to the university, they would meet with their academic advisor in their major and that person would review their classes … and see how the classes count towards their degree,” Robles said.
If a student has any questions, they can visit www.mesacc.edu/students/transfer/ or contact academic advising at MCC at 480-461-7222. For more specific information regarding transferring to ASU from MCC, students should visit www.transfer.asu.edu/communitycollege/AZ/mesa or contact Lucas Lawson, MCC’s transfer specialist at www.transfer.asu.edu/contactform.
