Transfer Applicants
Welcome to RWU! Transfer students are an integral and influential part of our student body and we value the life and academic experience you bring to campus. Whether you are coming from a two-year or four-year school, from private or public, with a little or a lot of earned credit, we know that your needs will be different than entering first-year students. Regardless of the journey you have had so far, we'll make your transition into RWU as seamless and smooth as possible.
A simple admission process:
· We offer a free application
· We accept unofficial transcripts for the admission process.
· We give credit for pass/fail grades for spring 2020
· We have been, and will remain, test optional - no SATs required
· Our deadline for fall is rolling, but the sooner you apply the more we can work with you
What We Look For
Mikayla Barnwell
Class of 2018
Marine Biology Major
If you have earned a high school diploma or GED and have subsequently enrolled in and/or completed one or more college-level course(s), you will be considered as a transfer applicant to the university. The admission process for transfer students is competitive and personalized.
While we consider your pre-college experience as part of the admission process, our primary focus is on your college-level achievement. The admission committee assesses all submitted materials to ensure that your academic preparation and experiences lend to a successful career at Roger Williams.
Transfer students bring their own unique perspective to our campus and classrooms. Your own college experiences add to the fabric of the larger Roger Williams experience; therefore, we seek students who want to bring their talents and abilities to RWU and do more than just “earn a degree” or learn one specific major.
A Glimpse of You
So what do we look for? We are looking for a glimpse of you—the student and the person—through the application materials you choose to present. We are excited to hear your story through the materials you share with us.
Academic Preparation
We consider the grades you have earned, the rigor of your school and courses, your grade trend over the years (improving? declining?) along with understanding the course subjects that are your strengths and weaknesses.
Essay/Statement of Intent
The essay, which is embedded in the application, gives us an understanding of who you are and of your intent. While it gives us a chance to hear you in your own words, we also use the essay to assess your level of writing (i.e. grammar, spelling, and ability to communicate your thoughts).
Conduct & Performance
The Transfer College Report gives us insight and a look at your conduct and performance at your current institution.
Please note: RWU supports the right of students to exercise freedom of expression through peaceful protests and demonstrations. Our namesake, Roger Williams, fearlessly advocated for freedom of conscience, equality, and tolerance to help improve his community. Thus, our values embrace intellectual exchange, critical thinking, inclusiveness and innovation as a means of improving a free society.
Nonviolent activism that is reported as disciplinary action will not, in its own, disadvantage applicants in any way during our admission process.
Transfer Credit Information
For more detailed information about how we evaluate your transfer credit and how it can apply towards your RWU degree, click here!
Connect with us!
We want to get to know you and for you to get to know us, so we are offering a variety of visit experiences. Join us to see campus and to hear from staff, faculty and RWU students about their experiences. You can connect with us virtually and/or in-person! Check out our upcoming transfer virtual events.
Meet us!
Mary Bubar, Assistant Director of Admission, is our Coordinator of Transfer Admission and works exclusively with transfer students! Feel free to get in touch with her at any time mbubar@rwu.edu.
Deadlines
Transfer students may apply for either fall or spring semester and we encourage you to apply as early as you are able. By doing so, we can guide you through the rest of the scholarship and financial process, ensuring that you are able to receive full consideration for Roger Williams programs.
| Spring Semester | Fall Semester | |
|---|---|---|
| Suggested Application Deadline | Rolling | April 1 |
| Admission Decision Notification Date | Rolling | Rolling |
| Suggested Financial Aid Deadline | December 1 | February 1 |
Requirements
Application Checklist
- Your completed application which will include a statement of intent
- Transfer students may choose between the Transfer Common Application or the RWU Transfer Rapid App
- College transcripts for all applicable institutions
- Official Final high school transcript or equivalent (listing graduation date)
- A Transfer College Report to be completed by a college official who has access to your academic and disciplinary records
Note: Portfolio or audition (where applicable) required for the following majors: Architecture, Performing Arts (Dance & Theatre), Visual Arts.
The following materials are optional:
- Standardized Test Scores. Additional details can be found on the Test Optional Policy Page including policies specific to the School of Education.
- College Board SAT and TOEFL: 3729
- ACT: 3814
- Mid-semester grades from your current semester (required for students currently in their first semester of college, and may be requested upon application review)
- Letter(s) of recommendation
Major-Specific Requirements
Some programs require supplemental materials such as test scores, portfolios and auditions, or specific preparatory courses for admittance. Prospective applicants should review program requirements outlined below.
A portfolio of two and/or three-dimensional work demonstrating evidence of an applicant’s creative potential is required for all applicants for admission to the B.S. in Architecture program. The intent of the portfolio requirement is twofold—to offer applicants some idea of activities you will be engaged in as an architecture student, and to allow the school to begin to estimate your emerging potential at this earliest stage of your architectural education. Consistent with the mission of our program, Roger Williams University is interested in and celebrates the variety of expression that applicants demonstrate. Applicants come from a variety of backgrounds, and we appreciate this variety as a basis for beginning the study architecture at the college level.
The portfolio should consist of 8-12 examples of the applicant’s work, each piece clearly labeled. Your work should be submitted through SlideRoom at this address:
Your work portfolio should be submitted through one of the following:
- SlideRoom at this address: https://rwu.slideroom.com/#/Login
- Email to admit@rwu.edu with the subject line ‘Portfolio’
- Mail in a simple 8-1/2” x 11” binder to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Roger Williams University
One Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809.
The portfolio should contain reproductions of two and three-dimensional work recently executed in high school art course work, independent works by the applicant, or summer programs in Art or Architecture that you may have completed. High quality black + white copies and color copies as relevant to the work are acceptable.
Candidates applying to these programs should demonstrate achievement and career potential in areas of dance or theatre. Theatre program applicants should be prepared to audition during the freshman year. Dance Performance Studies applicants are required to submit an audition video prior to their application being reviewed. In order to complete the application process a student interested in Dance Performance Studies must have auditioned.
Video Audition Portfolio Checklist:
The following video excerpts may be clips of you working in a studio, or dancing in any other setting, but please ensure that you are the only subject in the video. There is no dress code or genre restrictions. Videos may be posted to a shared YouTube or Vimeo channel:
2-3 Minutes of Clips that Highlight Your Skills In:
Stability / Balance
Mobility / Locomotion
Gestural Clarity of Limbs and Spine
Ease of Weight Shift – Direction / Level Changes
Anatomically Sound Alignment Throughout
2-3 Minute Solo:
Performed by you, but may be choreographed by yourself or someone else.
Other Optional Materials:
Dance Resume and Cover Letter
Cover Letter: This can take the form of an informal introduction letter. The purpose is to help us understand your interests as a dancer, scholar, and future professional. If you are interested in double-majoring or minoring in another program let us know! We will have several Accepted Student Q&A Sessions in the Spring; these letters will help us advise you more effectively then.
Please feel free to contact Professor Cathy Nicoli at cnicoli@rwu.edu if you have further questions!
A portfolio of two and/or three-dimensional work demonstrating evidence of an applicant’s creative potential is required for all applicants for admission to the B.A. or BFA in Visual Art Studies program.
The intent of the portfolio requirement is to allow the school to begin to estimate your emerging potential at this earliest stage of your arts education. Consistent with the mission of our program, Roger Williams University is interested in and celebrates the variety of expression that applicants demonstrate. Applicants come from a variety of backgrounds, and we appreciate this variety as a basis for beginning the study of Visual Arts at the college level.
Applicants must submit a portfolio of 10 to 20 recent artworks in photographic form with the application for admission. Applicants may submit color prints or digital reproductions on CD. Digital images need to be in a universally readable format such as JPG or PDF documents. All work should be labeled with the applicant’s name, the size of the original and the medium. Admission portfolios will not be returned. Portfolios for Visual Arts may be submitted through Slideroom.
Apply
Transfer students applying for spring (February) or fall (September) may choose between the Transfer Common Application or the RWU Transfer Rapid App. Review the “What We Look For” section for useful information on how to prepare all the necessary materials needed for admission and the “Deadlines” section for information on when to apply.
Transfer Common Application RWU Transfer Rapid Application
Financial Aid
Merit Awards
All students applying for admission will automatically be reviewed for various university-managed merit scholarships. If students are looking for federal or state grants, loan opportunities and student employment on campus, the FAFSA form must be completed. Visit the Financial Aid section of our website for details and timelines of the need-based aid process.
Merit scholarships for transfer students are based primarily on academic performance in college. Transfer merit awards range from $7,500 to approximately $22,500 and students who are admitted and qualify for a merit award will be notified at the time of admission.
Financial Aid Contact
Questions about financial aid? Please contact Gina Rigby, our Transfer Financial Aid Counselor at grigby@rwu.edu with any questions