Schools

PSC Prepares Students for Successful Transfer


Chicago Heights, IL–(ENEWSPF)– After spending the last two years at Prairie State College (PSC) completing her general education classes, Jasmine Davis is excited about transferring to Illinois State University this August. This is not Davis’ first experience as a transfer student. While she is following the steady flow of students who move from two-year colleges to four-year colleges, she was first a “reverse transfer” student. A reverse transfer student is one who leaves a four-year university to attend community college.

Right out of high school, Davis, of Park Forest, enrolled at Illinois State University. She earned good grades the first semester, but she didn’t do as well the second semester. Davis decided to transfer to PSC and get her priorities in order.

“At first I wasn’t excited about attending Prairie State College because I felt like I was backtracking,” said Davis. “After a few weeks, I realized that PSC was the best thing that happened to me because I got to begin a new chapter in my life.”

Davis sites excellent professors and support from the Counseling and Academic Advising staff as some of the reasons why she succeeded at PSC.

“I enjoyed the personal attention from my professors as opposed to the classes I took in the lecture hall at the university,” said Davis. “I was able to concentrate on my studies while attending classes close to home. Everything fell into place for me.”

Like Davis, Richard Harstead, of Flossmoor, is another example of a “reverse transfer” student. After high school, Harstead attended Eastern Illinois University. After a semester, he decided to transfer to PSC on a baseball scholarship.

“I came to PSC because I could complete all my general education classes and save money,” said Harstead. “I took the classes I needed to transfer while being an active member of the baseball team.”

This fall, Harstead is transferring to the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign to major in business. He also credits the faculty as a great reason to attend PSC.

According to Sarah Hein, PSC counselor/transfer coordinator, the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) makes the transfer process a smooth one. The IAI is a statewide transfer agreement. Through the IAI, PSC associate in arts, associate in science, and associate in arts in teaching graduates benefit from an agreement with over 100 colleges, universities, and community colleges. As part of this agreement, colleges and universities will transfer courses for those students as part of a group, rather than evaluating each on a course by course basis.

“PSC prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities,” said Hein. “All of the counselors and advisors are dedicated to help PSC students whether they are starting as first time college students or transferring from another institution on their journey to earn a bachelor’s degree.”

For more information on enrolling in classes for fall, visit the PSC Web site at prairiestate.edu. Fall classes begin Aug. 24.


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