Your Next Steps as an Admitted Transfer Student

Your Next Steps as an Admitted Transfer Student Congratulations on being admitted! This is a huge accomplishment that deserves to be celebrated. With all of your previous work leading up to this, you may be unsure what to do next. Heres a guideline of the steps youll take on your way to campus next fall. 1. Complete your admitted student checklist. The most important step to becoming an Illini is ensuring youve completed everything on your Admitted Student Checklist. You can view your checklist by logging into myIllini (the place you applied) and clicking on your application for admission. Accepting Your Offer The very first step in your admitted checklist will be accepting or declining your offer of admission to Illinois. You have some time to do this, but sooner is always better than later. The sooner you accept, the sooner you can get started on most everything else.(Note, though, that you can apply for financial aid any timeâ€"and sooner is always better than later when it comes to that step, too!) Other Key Steps After accepting your offer, you can complete your housing application and sign up for new student registration. Youll also be able to view any registration homework or placement exams, which youll need to complete before registering for classes.In addition, you must send your final transcripts and any other requested documents our way. Last steps include setting up your tuition billing and receiving required immunizations. International transfers must complete the I-20 as well. And that’s it! Again, be sure to log in to yourmyIllini account. Here, you can look atyour Admitted Student Checklist to see specific requirements and due dates.Now, let’s get into the fun stuff! 2. Visit campus. We recommend that every student visit the university if they can. Whether its summer, spring, fall, or winter, the beauty of campus is sure to blow you awayâ€"and if it doesnt, the wind just might! We havevisits specifically for our transfer students. They include a presentation by one of our admissions counselors, a QA session with current students, and a guided tour of campus. We recommend signing up for a visit more than 5 days in advance, since this will usually allow for you to meet with an academic advisor in your college. The advisor can talk to you about the kinds of classes youll take once here. They can also cover the campus resources available to you and what you can do with your Illinois degree after graduation. When on campus, you can also tour our different housing options and even get a taste of Illinois cuisine! Feel free to visit one of our 7 dining halls, head to theIllini Union food court, or enjoy a campus restaurant or two. 3. Check out your housing options. University Housing In University Housing, two living communities are designated specifically for transfer students. These include the fourth floor ofScott and the first floor ofBousfield, located in Ikenberry Commons. Both halls have staff specifically trained in assisting students with potential challenges of adjusting to campus. Although these residence halls are tailored to the transfer experience, you can live in any of our 24 university halls! If you choose a space through University Housing, you have access to any of our dining halls, residence hall libraries, computer labs, and study rooms. Private Certified Housing Private Certified Housing is another first-year housing option with 11 different halls to choose from. The university approves but does not own these buildings. Options range from traditional-style residence halls to more apartment-like living experiences, giving you freedom in the type of housing you choose. Off-Campus Living If you transfer in with above 30 credit hours and have lived a full academic year at another institution, you also have the option of living off campus. This can present some great joys and a few downfalls. Being able to cook and eat whenever you want is a plus, but finding an apartment that fits all your needs can be tricky. It’s a good thing we have an office in place to help!Off-Campus Community Living is a great resource our students can utilize when choosing an apartment. Their tools can sort by location, size, amenities, and even whether or not you can bring your beloved dog, cat, or fish to campus with you. 4. Explore campus resources. University Resources Illinois has all sorts of resources to make your life easier. When you first get to campus,New Student Programs is focused on helping you with the transition. They host the Illini Transfer Ambassadors and GRIT Camp.Illini Transfer Ambassadors is a group of current transfer students on campus who help implement programs for new transfer students.GRIT (Guiding Resilient Illinois Transfer students) Camp is a free one-day program meant for transfer students to build a community and learn about the university. In addition, every department provides academic advisors you can meet with to discuss class schedules, adding or dropping classes, and checking your progress to graduation. McKinley Health Center is here for you when you get the flu or fall off your bike, and theCounseling Center is here for you when you just need a little extra support, emotionally or spiritually. In terms of career goals, even more specialized resources exist. TheLeadership Center can help you develop invaluable leadership skills and cultivate self-awareness, and theCareer Center can help you with resume reviews, cover letters, and practice interviews. The Career Center also provides guidance on prepping for career fairs, landing an internship, or scoring your dream job! Student Organizations On such a large campus, our students find thousands of ways to make their worlds just a little bit smaller! The first Sunday before classes start in the fall, we have an event called Quad Day. Here, many of our 1,800 registered student organizations (RSOs) all line up across the Quad and recruit new students. If youre transferring in in the spring, you can still check out the organizations through the RSO Involvement Fair. This event takes place in the Illini Union during the second week of classes. The amazing thing about RSOs is that engineering majors and English majors can join together in their love for Ultimate Frisbee or Harry Potter! Almost all of our RSOs are open to any major or year, and a few are even dedicated to helping transfer students adjust to life at Illinois. Branching out and experiencing new things is one of the best ways to make the transition easier. It will also help you create friendships during your first few months on campus. Other Fun Stuff If youre interested in more than RSOs, try taking advantage of other fun campus and community resources! Take a cycling class or try rock climbing throughcampus recreation. Explore thousands of years of history atSpurlock Museum and become an art connoisseur atKrannert Art Museum. Enjoy a noteworthy performance at theKrannert Center for Performing Arts. Storm the court at theState Farm Center. You’ll never stop finding things to do and see on our campus. 5. Accept your offer! Once you know Illinois is the right fit for you, come join us. Again, the sooner you accept your offer, the sooner you can register for classes, decide on housing, and buy everything orange and blue. We hope to see you and that orange and blue on campus soon! admitted transfer Illinois Admissions We're here for you as you prepare for college. Whether you're looking for guidance on the college search process or have questions about Illinois, we hope our blogs will help!