Each semester, thousands of students come to the University, but only after spending time at another four-year university or community college.
Brenda Hawkins, a nursing junior, is one of those students. Hawkins attended Northwestern State University before transferring to the University in fall 2001.
Hawkins said she began college as a biology major but changed schools because LSU had better chemistry tutors, and she could talk to her professors.
According to the Office of Budget and Planning, there were 1,104 new transfer undergraduate students enrolled last semester.
Regmon Chaney, coordinator of transfer recruitment, said students who want to transfer from a community college or a four-year institution must meet the same admissions requirements as incoming freshmen, except they must have a 2.5 grade point average.
“It is very similar to the freshman process,” Chaney said. “There are more students in the fall than in the spring.”
When students decide to transfer to another University, they must send their transcripts to the University in addition to filling out an application.
Chaney said the University generally will accept any credits from a Louisiana college, but if the course does not transfer into a specific University course, the student can receive general credit.
If a course does not transfer into University credit, the admissions office must look at each course to determine if the student can receive credit. To determine if a course from an out-of-state university will transfer, the office must look at the school’s catalog and read each description, Chaney said.
Chaney also said if a course does not transfer into a University course, the student can meet with an adviser at orientation.
Hawkins said she had no problems with her credits transferring because she still was taking entry-level classes.
Chaney said he encourages students to meet and talk with a counselor before transferring to or from another school.
Phuong Tran, a biology freshman, said she liked the counselors at LSU because they care more than counselors at her other university.
“[Here] they e-mail you to let you know what is going on,” Tran said.
Tran said the only problem she encountered when transferring was a delayed response from the admissions office informing her she was accepted.
Laura Bergeron, a communications studies sophomore, said she did not have any problems when she transferred schools. However, she still is waiting for a couple classes to transfer.
“I had to get my transcripts sent from [Southeastern Louisiana University],” Bergeron said. “You have to make an effort to get the transcripts sent — you can’t be lazy.”
Chaney said the fewer credits a student has, the more credits will be transferred into a student’s major.
Will Lafleur, a former graphic design student, said when he decided to transfer from the University to a school in Winter Park, Fla., he did not transfer his credits because he wanted to start over.
Lafleur said he chose to go to a different college because it has a computer science program that he prefers over the University’s.
“I always thought about leaving for a better teaching environment and to get a degree quicker,” Lafleur said.
Jeff Martin, a mass communication freshman, also is thinking about leaving the University to attend a historically black college or university.
“The learning environment is not good for me here,” Martin said. “Sometimes I am the only black student in a class, and that doesn’t work for me.”
Martin said a historically black school would provide a better learning environment, although the school would not have the privilege of receiving all of the state money that goes into the University.
Hawkins said she has not encountered the same problems as Martin, but rather recognizes a lot of diversity.
“I like the diversity here,” Hawkins said. “I can learn more about other people and cultures.”