There are a lot of questions that may arise when considering transferring to another college or university. Very often, transfer students can easily find the information they need regarding the campus, majors, the mission and vision, visitations, etc. but may have trouble finding answers to specific questions regarding procedures for transferring.
We have compiled a list of questions we frequently hear regarding the process of transferring and have provided some information we think will be helpful. If you do not find the answer you need, or don't see your question here, please contact us by phone at 1.800.458.7144 ext. 3500 or by email at tradmit@rwu.edu
Thank you for your interest in Roger Williams University.
Applying for Admission
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Transfer of Credit and Degree Requirements
After the Offer of Admission
The process of applying for transfer admission is relatively straightforward and is explained in our Application Instructions. (You may also refer to the Quick Instructions.) Students must submit a completed Common Application with the application fee of $50.00, the application essay, transcripts from all colleges attended, high school transcript and SAT scores (if applicable), and one (optional) letter of recommendation.
Transcripts should be mailed directly from the registrar (for college transcripts) or guidance office (for high school students) to the Office of Undergraduate Admission at Roger Williams University. Students applying to the Architecture program or the Visual Arts Studies major must submit a portfolio. Students applying for admission to the Dance Performance Studies major must audition. (See Program-Specific Application Instructions for more information.)
The information on this webpage pertains to full-time, day-student enrollment. If you are interested in part-time enrollment, please visit the site of our University's Continuing Education division or call (401) 276-4800.
No, there is no minimum credit requirement to be considered as a transfer applicant. If you have completed at least one course after graduating from high school, you must apply as a transfer.
Students are required to provide transcripts from every college attended. Once a student has enrolled at a college or university (after graduating from high school), he or she is classified as a transfer applicant. Being a transfer applicant simply indicates that you are not enrolling at Roger Williams University as your first college or university.
There is no way to erase an academic history, but students often improve upon past performance to the degree that they garner admission. Also, transfer students' class levels range from Freshman to Senior depending on the number credits that are transferred. In short, to be reviewed for admission, one cannot start fresh; however, transfer students do not transfer grades. Thus, the GPA starts fresh.
If you are applying for enrollment in the Fall 2007 (September) semester, it is recommended that you apply by April 1, 2007. If you are applying for enrollment in the Spring 2007 (January) semester, it is recommended that you apply by November 1, 2006. After November 1 and April 1, applications may be accepted; however, they will be reviewed according to space availability.
We do not require or offer interviews for admission to the University; however, if you would like to talk with someone about the University or specific concerns you may have regarding transferring, we can arrange for a meeting. Please call or email our office to make an appointment. Students are encouraged to visit the University either by attending our events or by signing up for a tour.
Yes, we require, of all applicants, an essay of 250-500 words. Letters of recommendation are not required of transfer students, unless specifically requested. Sending a letter of recommendation is optional for transfers, but some students may be asked to submit one or more.
We generally look for a GPA of 2.5 or higher depending on the type and number of courses taken. (The average GPA of incoming transfer students is approximately 3.1.) If a student has attended more than one college, all transcripts will be factored into the decision. We will also consider the high school record and SAT scores of students who do not hold an associate degree or higher.
If you hold an associate degree or higher at the time you are making application (or if you will earn a degree before your enrollment at Roger Williams University commences) you will not need to submit high school transcripts and SAT scores. If you will not have a degree prior to enrolling, you must submit high school transcripts and SAT scores.
Typically, students receive notification within three weeks of the date the application is complete (all transcripts and support materials have been received). If you know your application has been complete for more than three weeks and have not received notification, you may contact our office at tradmit@rwu.edu to check the status. students are required to submit updated credentials when they become available. Even if an admission decision has not yet been made when new grades become available, the updated transcript should be sent to RWU.
We strive to keep students informed throughout the process, without being overbearing. Please contact the University whenever you feel an inordinate length of time has passed without receiving communication. If you haven't heard from us, it may be because we may have incorrect contact information on file. If that is the case, it would be critical that it be updated. We may also be awaiting updated information, which you are required to submit.
For example, if a term has ended or is nearing an end, we may hold your file to be reviewed after updated transcripts are received. Finally, after an extensive period of inactivity (lack of response) relating to your file, we may withdraw your application -which may easily be reinstated upon your request.
If you had applied for admission within the last year, you may re-apply by requesting that your file be reactivated; the Office of Undergraduate Admission keeps all applications and credentials on file for one year. If it has been more than one year since you last applied for admission, you will need to submit a new Application for Undergraduate Admission, as well as all supporting documents.
The following dates apply for Fall 2007 and Spring 2007 enrollment: The CSS Profile should be filed by January 1, 2007. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) should be filed by February 1, 2007.
No, you need not have been offered admission to apply for federal and state financial aid. In fact, the processes of applying for admission and applying for financial aid overlap and can take place simultaneously. Because the deadline for financial aid precedes our suggested application-filing dates, it is more likely that one will apply for financial aid before applying for admission. However, financial aid award letters from Roger Williams University are given only to students who have been offered admission.
All transfer applicants are considered for Transfer Merit Scholarships as part of the application review process. There is not a separate application for merit scholarships. However, if you wish to apply for the Honors Program, a separate application is required.
If you have been offered admission, filed all required financial aid forms, and provided any additional information requested by the Office of Student Financial Aid and Financial Planning, you should receive your award letter shortly after being offered admission -- or after the first mailing of award letters (typically in March).
We award scholarships to students who either hold an associate degree (where required) at the time of applying or to students whose transcripts indicate progress sufficient to complete a degree before enrolling. If a student is expected to earn a degree, we will award it based on that expectation. All scholarship recipients are asked to sign an agreement indicating that scholarship monies are applied to a student's account only if the degree has been completed.
Tuition and Fees for the current school year are listed on our website and in virtually every admission publication we have. For most students, the actual cost of attendance is lower than the published Tuition and Fees; Financial Aid and merit scholarships can reduce the overall costs.
When possible, we try to provide students with credit evaluations within three weeks of mailing the offer of admission. If additional information is needed by our office (official transcripts, course descriptions, etc.) to complete the evaluation, it may take several weeks to be completed. We recommend that you provide the University with course descriptions, particularly if you are transferring from a four-year college.
This is a brief and concise explanation of the Core Curriculum. The Core is explained more thoroughly at many of our on-campus events, including Orientation. Our Core consists of four components: Skills Courses, Interdisciplinary Core, Core Concentration, and Senior Seminar. Students may transfer courses (if determined to be equivalent) to meet the requirements of the Skills Courses (Expository Writing, Math in the Modern World -your major may require a different math, and one of the Critical Writing offerings.) Students may not transfer courses to meet requirements of the Interdisciplinary Core, but one to all five of these courses may be waived based on the total numbers of credits you bring to the University. (Please refer to Core Curriculum for Transfers for a complete listing.) Students may transfer courses (if determined to be equivalent) to meet some of the requirements of the Core Concentration. All students must complete the Senior Seminar at Roger Williams University. Some majors also require Introduction to Speech Communication.
All new students are required to attend Orientation before registering for classes for the first time. (Students register for classes while attending Orientation.) Orientation programs will be scheduled throughout the summer for students matriculating in the Fall. Students enrolling in the Spring will attend orientation in January. A complete list of Orientation programs and dates are included the Accepted Student Welcome Packet that is sent to every accepted student.
Transfer applicants are required to submit course descriptions for all courses they have taken at any college/university. These course descriptions are used to evaluate the courses for possible transfer credit; evaluation of transfer credit occurs after the offer of admission has been made.
The preferable formats for the submission of course descriptions as follows: they may be photocopied from a course catalog or other resource, copied from another document and pasted into a Word file, or the complete syllabus of the course may be sent. Please remember, the more detailed the description is, the better we will be able to understand the course content. If using one of the previously mentioned methods of submitting course descriptions is not possible, you may submit the complete course catalog.
Tuition and Housing deposits are refundable up to May 1 for Fall Enrollment and December 1 for Spring Enrollment. Requests for a refund must be made in writing to the Office of Undergraduate Admission, and must be postmarked by May 1 or December 1, respectively. Tuition and Housing deposits submitted after May 1 or December 1 are not refundable.
A student may defer, or postpone, admission to Roger Williams University for a period of one or two semesters, but the student may only defer once. Students may defer only if an offer of admission has been made and a tuition deposit has been submitted. Request for deferrals must be made in writing no later than September 1 (of the original start term) for Fall and January 15 (of the original start term) for Spring. The letter of request (or email) must include an explanation of why the request is being made, the students name, social security number, new intended start term, and must be accompanied by a $200 tuition deposit (if not already submitted).