A guide to the University of Kentucky for prospective transfer students
Each year we welcome hundreds of transfer students who started their college careers somewhere else. We’re glad you’re interested in joining the University of Kentucky, and we’re ready to help make your UK experience unforgettable. Just like you, we have big plans for the future – a future that includes becoming a Top 20 public research university. Explore our outstanding academic programs, unique student organizations, exhilarating collegiate athletics and undergraduate research opportunities that offer real world, hands-on experience. Come "see blue." with us!
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got questions? see answers.
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see your future.
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see exhilaration.
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see scholarships and financial aid.
10 see campus living. 12 see national rankings. 13 see application and admission process. 16 see involvement. 22 see the campus.
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President Lee T. Todd, Jr. and First Lady Patricia Brantley Todd are both UK transfer students, so they understand the unique challenges facing students who move to a new university. According to the Todds, transferring has a lot of benefits, especially for those coming from a smaller college to a larger university like UK. “Education is a process of removing intimidation levels,” President Todd says. “The transitions make you grow, and transferring to UK increased my confidence level; you’ve got to challenge yourself to get to the next step.”
President Lee T. Todd, Jr. & First Lady Patsy Todd University of Kentucky
“We try to use our own experience to make the transfer process better for everyone.”
Maxwell Place has been the home to every UK President since 1918.
frequently asked questions. How long does the transfer equivalency process take? From the time you are admitted to the University of Kentucky, your courses should be equated within three weeks. If your courses have not been equated within three weeks, please call the Transfer Equivalency Office at (859) 257-9532.
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What if I have courses on my transcript marked as NEEDEVAL, NEEDDESC or NEEDSYLL and it has been longer than three weeks? Every effort is made to update your record in a timely manner. Please contact the equivalency office for assistance. Are all of my transferred credits automatically applied toward my UK degree requirements? No. Your academic college will determine how your transfer credits will apply toward your UK degree requirements. Will all my credits be accepted by UK? Non-remedial courses at the 100-level or higher earned at a regionally accredited institution will be transferred to UK. Please note that no more than 67 hours earned at community colleges will count toward your UK degree.
I am a current UK student and would like to take a course at another institution and transfer it back to UK. How do I know if the credit will transfer? First, log on to our Web site at www.iris.uky.edu/ TransferEquivalency to determine if the course has already been equated to a UK course. If an equivalency exists, then, before enrolling at another institution, it is a good idea to speak to your academic adviser to ensure that the course will transfer and fulfill your UK degree requirements. If an equivalency does not exist you will need to file a Transient Student Form with your advising unit. If you decide to take the course at another institution, you must apply to that institution as a visiting student. Once you have completed the course, you must have that institution send an official transcript to UK so that the credit may be applied to your UK record. If the course you wish to take has not been equated to a UK course, send the full course title, course prefix and course number, along with the full name of the institution, to the equivalency office. The official course description will be evaluated by a UK faculty member so that an equivalency will be established prior to your enrollment in the course.
Use the Transfer Equivalency Database www.iris.uky.edu/TransferEquivalency to learn more about how your courses will transfer to the University of Kentucky.
see your future. Undergraduate Majors Accounting Agricultural Biotechnology Agricultural Economics Agriculture Animal Sciences Anthropology Architecture Art Education Art History Art Studio Arts Administration Biology Biosystems Engineering Career and Technical Education Chemical Engineering Chemistry Civil Engineering Classics Clinical Laboratory Sciences Clinical Leadership and Management Communication Communication Disorders Community Communications and Leadership Development
Computer Engineering Computer Science Decision Science and Information Systems Dietetics Early Elementary Education Economics Electrical Engineering English Equine Science and Management Family Science Finance Food Science Forestry French Gender and Women’s Studies Geography Geology German Health Promotion History Horticulture, Plant and Soil Sciences Hospitality Management and Tourism Human Nutrition
Integrated Strategic Communication Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Interior Design International Studies Journalism
Choose from more than 200 majors and degree programs in 17 academic or professional colleges.
Kinesiology Landscape Architecture Linguistics Management
Marketing Materials Engineering Mathematical Economics Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles Middle School Education Mining Engineering Music Music Education Music Performance Natural Resource Conservation and Management Nursing Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Russian Studies Secondary Education Social Work Sociology Spanish Special Education – Learning and Behavior Disorders
Special Education – Moderate/Severe Disabilities Telecommunications Theatre Topical Major Professional Programs and Tracks Physician Assistant Pre-Dentistry Pre-Law Pre-Medicine Pre-Optometry Pre-Pharmacy Pre-Podiatry Pre-Veterinary Medicine Professional Colleges Dentistry Health Sciences Law Medicine Nursing Pharmacy Public Health
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Athletics are an exciting and important part of the student experience at UK. As a member of Big Blue Nation, you’ll be part of a powerhouse program in one of the country’s best conferences. Within the past few years, multiple UK teams have won conference championships, been ranked in the nation’s Top 25 or competed in the NCAA Tournament in their respective sports.
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With 22 varsity athletic teams, University of Kentucky athletics has a proud and storied tradition.
UK is best known for men’s basketball and its national championships. (After all, where else do fans camp out to get tickets to the first practice?) The team plays its games at Rupp
Arena, in front of 24,000 rabid fans. If you’ve never been to a game, it’s an atmosphere you have to experience. Fortunately, that’s easy to do. All UK students have access to affordable tickets through a student lottery system, and seats are just $5 – not that you’ll be sitting. Lately, UK fans have had a lot to cheer about. That's because the UK cheerleading squad has won an unprecedented 18 National Championships. Commonwealth Stadium, with 68,000 seats, is home to the Wildcat Football team. And while each game lasts a few hours, the tailgating and celebration last all day. Blue body paint is optional; screaming and cheering are not.
UK students enjoy cheering on the wildcats from the eRupption Zone in Rupp Arena!
scholarships and financial aid. Transfer Student Scholarships Transfer students currently enrolled full time at an accredited institution who will be transferring to the University of Kentucky for the fall semester may apply for academic scholarships. To be eligible, applicants must have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours and be enrolled full time at an accredited institution for the spring semester. A minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA is required.
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Please Note: Students transferring to a University of Kentucky Academic Medical Center professional program (those in the colleges of Health Sciences, Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy and Public Health) are not eligible for these scholarships and should contact their respective departments for scholarship information. Deadline: The postmark deadline to submit the Trustees Scholarship application and all supporting documents is May 15. Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered. Download the application at: www.uky.edu/ AcademicScholarships/files/TransferApp.pdf.
Tier 1: Currently enrolled Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) institution students that will earn their associate degree in arts or associate degree in science with a 3.5 cumulative GPA after the spring term and then transfer to UK for the fall term are eligible to compete for a limited number of two-year renewable awards which cover the difference between UK tuition and KCTCS tuition. A final transcript must be submitted along with the application documenting spring grades and the awarding of an associate degree in arts or associate degree in science. Tier 2: Currently enrolled KCTCS students with 48 hours after the spring semester (with at least 24 earned at KCTCS) and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3, that are not receiving the above award, are eligible to compete for a limited number of $4,000 scholarships, payable as $2,000 per year for up to two years. Tier 3: All other transfer students with a minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA, that are currently enrolled at an accredited institution and will have 24 hours by the end of the spring term, are eligible to compete for a limited number of $1,500 nonrenewable awards.
Departmental Scholarships. Several departments and colleges within the University administer their own departmental scholarship programs. Students who have chosen a major are encouraged to contact the department in their major area of study regarding scholarship opportunities. For information concerning need-based scholarships, contact the student financial aid office. Student Financial Aid. UK’s Office of Student Financial Aid awards more than $120 million annually in need-based financial aid to University of Kentucky students. Funding from federal, state and University financial aid programs is available to students who can demonstrate need for financial assistance. To be considered for need-based financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
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campus living. Housing. Campus living allows you to fully participate in the college experience! Most rooms are doubles, so you can expect to have a roommate. A small number of single (private), triple (3 students) and quadruple (4 students) rooms also are available. Each campus neighborhood offers students unique qualities for living and many choices for halls. These halls have different occupancy requirements, personalities, features, visitation policies and lease terms.
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North Neighborhood. Living on North campus brings students close to many classrooms, Memorial Coliseum, Rupp Arena, downtown Lexington, the UK Bookstore, the Singletary Center for the Arts and many eclectic shops located on South Limestone. Feeling hungry? North campus has many food choices including the Student Center Food Court. Central Neighborhood. Living on Central campus allows students to quickly access many classrooms, the William T. Young Library, the Singletary Center for the Arts, UK's Chandler Hospital, Kentucky Clinic and the Underground Fitness center (located in the lower level of Donovan Hall).
South Neighborhood. Students living on South campus benefit from being close to many facilities including the William T. Young Library, the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center, the Lancaster Aquatic Center, the Cliff Hagan Baseball Stadium, the Bernard M. Johnson Student Recreation Center and Commonwealth Stadium. These halls are closest to K-lot parking. Living Learning Communities (LLC). These housing communities bring college learning into the everyday lives of students by offering the opportunity to live with other students who share common interests. They have special programming in the residence hall and offer opportunities to interact with UK faculty who are affiliated with the LLC. Your housing application is linked to your admission to the University of Kentucky. The application requires a $50 deposit. Application and more information are available online at www.uky.edu/housing. For more information, contact the housing office at ukhousing@lsv.uky.edu or (859) 257-1866.
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Do my credits transfer? Will I feel out of place? Am I taking the right classes? Are there special scholarships for transfer students?
Dr. Ray Archer UK Transfer Adviser
“There are many great resources here; it’s up to you to take advantage of them.”
As a transfer student, you have a lot of questions. That’s where Ray Archer comes in. He’s our Transfer Adviser and also teaches UK 201, a class designed to help ease the transfer process. “Transfer students have been to college before and think they know what it’s all about or that it’s going to be the same, but when you come to a different university, it’s important to get acclimated to your new campus,” he says.
UK 201 – ACADEMIC ORIENTATION FOR TRANSFERS This course is designed to assist transfer students in adjusting to academic life at the University of Kentucky. Through lectures, discussions, exercises and out-of-class assignments, transfers will gain a better understanding of the challenges which they will encounter and, thus, will learn how to make effective use of the University’s resources. Considerable attention will be directed to career planning and to the choice of a major. Offered on a pass/ fail basis only. Lecture format, two hours per week for seven weeks.
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national rankings. 1st
College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology's clinical psychology program, Academic Analytics, Faculty Scholarly Activity Index, 2007
College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Hispanic Studies, Stony Brook Study of Faculty Productivity, 2008 College of Communications and Information Studies, Department of Communication, external grants, National Communication Association
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UK Libraries Book Endowment, largest among public universities, Virginia Polytechnic Institute Survey/Public College of Medicine, anatomy program, Academic Analytics, Faculty Scholarly Activity Index, 2007
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College of Agriculture, plant pathology program, Academic Analytics, Faculty Scholarly Activity Index, 2007
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College of Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences doctoral program, Academic Analytics, Faculty Scholarly Activity Index, 2007
Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, public finance and budgeting program, U.S.News & World Report, “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” 2008 College of Pharmacy (public and private institutions), U.S.News & World Report “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” 2009
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Gatton College of Business and Economics, School of Management’s decision science and information systems, the highest output-per-researcher published in leading IS journals during the five-year period from 2001-05, Association for Information Systems, Oct. 2006 College of Agriculture, plant sciences, Academic Analytics, Faculty Scholarly Activity Index, 2007
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College of Public Health, gerontology program, Academic Analytics, Faculty Scholarly Activity Index, 2007
College of Communications and Information Studies, Ph.D. program in applied communications, National Communication Association’s Doctoral Reputation Study, 2005
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College of Agriculture, plant physiology, Academic Analytics, Faculty Scholarly Activity Index, 2007
College of Arts and Sciences, Hispanic studies, Academic Analytics, Faculty Scholarly Activity Index, 2007
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College of Agriculture, entomology, Academic Analytics, Faculty Scholarly Activity Index, 2007
The University of Kentucky regularly is listed in many “top” or “best of ” categories by national publications or organizations.
transfer students. Transfer Students. The University of Kentucky categorizes transfer applicants by the following types:
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Transfer from another institution with 24 or more semester hours earned or in progress. - or Transfer with 23 or fewer hours of college work since high school graduation. Application Check List. Application Available online at: www.applyuk.com •
• $50
Non-refundable application processing fee payable by cash, check or money order made payable to the University of Kentucky. • Full-time UK employees who submit a copy of their UK ID card are not required to pay the application processing fee.
Transcripts Submit a complete official high school transcript including the date of graduation. An official transcript must also be submitted from each college or university attended even if no credit was earned.
All official transcripts should be sent to: Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 100 W. D. Funkhouser Building, Lexington, KY 40506. Requirements. Transfer applicants with 23 or fewer semester hours earned or in progress must also submit the following • Test Scores Official results for either the ACT or the SAT I must be submitted from respective testing agency. Student copies, high school report copies or scores from high school transcripts will not be accepted. How Courses Transfer. The University of Kentucky has over 400,000 established course equivalencies from institutions across the United States. Students transferring to the University of Kentucky may be required to provide course descriptions or course syllabi of all transfer work for advising and registration purposes.
If you have questions about the transfer of your credits, please refer to the following Web site www.uky.edu/Admission/transfer.htm or call our office toll-free at (866) 900-4658.
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UK encourages and supports undergraduate research, scholarship and creativity.
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Abdhija is a long way from India, but thanks to UK 201, a class for transfer students, she feels right at home.
Abdhija Joshi India Senior, Accounting
“UK gives you the opportunity to become a very successful individual."
“By taking the transfer class I became good friends with other students and faculty,” she says. “I found out that you have to make yourself available to everything on campus, and try to learn something new every day.” She started at Bluegrass Community and Technical College before coming to the University of Kentucky to study accounting. “I transferred here for the great programs in all majors, especially Gatton College of Business and Economics,” she says.
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see involvement. Getting Involved To make the most of your time at UK, you need to get involved. Fortunately, the University of Kentucky has nearly 400 student organizations, and at least one of them is undoubtedly something that you are passionate about or would enjoy.
Getting Started
How do you take the first step? Just come to the Center for Student Involvement (CSI), located in the student center, where staff members and the Peer Resource Team can help find an organization that's right for you.
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Center for Community Outreach (CCO). UK's CCO provides a wide variety of outlets for students to volunteer, give and educate others about issues and advocate for causes that are important to them. Here are some organizations that have volunteer opportunities through the CCO: DanceBlue. 24-hour no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon, raises money for UK’s Pediatric Oncology Clinic and the Golden Matrix Fund. Helping Hands. Volunteers help members of low-income families by volunteering around the community. PLAY. Placing Leaders Around Youth, focuses on mentoring and tutoring children. Young at Heart. Volunteers talk, play games and make crafts with the elderly in local nursing homes. Alternative Spring Break. Students travel to another state and perform service projects to have a more fulfilling Spring Break each year.
Student Activities Board (SAB). SAB provides students with a variety of programs and quality events that are not only entertaining but that are also insightful, interesting and informative. Here are a few of SAB’s committees: Campus Life. Help plan K Week events, Campus Ruckus and Student Center Spectacular, interactive game shows and events in the residence halls. Concerts. Hosts both chart topping and up-and-coming artists on campus and is responsible for hosting both large and small musical performances that cover all genres of music. Cultural Arts. Brings the arts community to campus by planning performances and gallery exhibits that feature the beauty of art – in all forms. Engaging Issues. Plans some of the most shocking, eye-opening and interesting showcases on earth as bestselling authors, activists, educators, experts and everyday people open up an unknown world of information and share true life stories. Multicultural Affairs. Promotes cultural awareness through performances, lectures and open discussions.
Student Government (SG). Working in Student Government is a great opportunity to shape you into a better leader, student and person. Wildcat Student Television on Channel 49. Wildcat Student TV is the on-campus television station run by students. Wildcat Student TV features top movie titles every month, opportunities for student organizations to advertise their events or programming and, most importantly, the opportunity for students to start and help out with student-produced shows. Center for Student Involvement (CSI). The CSI coordinates all of the student organizations on campus, and can help you find an organization that fits you. International Student Council (ISC). International Student Council is a comprehensive organization whose members are representatives from each international student organization at UK. ISC acts as a planning committee that brings the international and domestic student organizations together to collaboratively organize events on campus. Black Student Union (BSU). In 1966, a group of black students formed Orgena (which is “a Negro” spelled backwards) as a social and cultural outlet for African-American students at UK. The name Orgena was changed to the Black Student Union in 1968. BSU advanced the cause of equality at UK by working toward
the addition of African-American history courses in the curriculum; advocating for the recruitment of black athletes, students and faculty; and challenging faculty behavior toward black students. Greek Life With 24 fraternities and 18 sororities, there is a Greek organization for everyone who is interested. The Panhellenic Council governs the sororities; the Interfraternity Council (IFC) oversees UK’s fraternities; and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) guides UK’s historically African-American fraternities and sororities. Intramurals For over 75 years‚ intramurals have been a staple of campus life at the University of Kentucky. From mainstream sports to inner tube water polo, you’ll find an amazing selection of intramurals at UK.
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For Megan, music is much more than a hobby – it’s a way of life. And it’s why she transferred to the University of Kentucky from a university in Georgia. Her advice for transfer students? “When you’re coming in to college as an upper classman, it can be more difficult to meet people. But if you seek out other transfer students, it’s much easier,” she says. “My first year I was in New North, a living learning residence hall, which made it easy to make connections on campus. Just get involved in as many organizations as you possibly can.”
Megan Lineberry St. Augustine, Florida Junior, Violin Performance
“UK has a really good music program; the orchestra is nationally renown and they do a lot of touring; I want to be a part of that.”
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Graduation is an exciting day at UK. The main commencement ceremony is held in Rupp Arena, home of the Wildcats.
At UK, we "see blue." in everything we do. That means we are committed to educating some of the brightest young people in the country while exploring the boundaries of research aimed at solving the world's challenges in art, medicine, business and education. And we are committed to those issues on a beautiful, 700-acre campus in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass Region, widely considered among the most picturesque areas of the country.
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cky "se Even though Cecilio is the first one in his family to attend college, his education plans include more than a bachelor’s degree.
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Cecilio Reyes Lexington, Kentucky Second year, Pharmacy
“There’s so much diversity here, and everyone seems to get along; you can always find someone to relate to.”
“I transferred here from a small private college because the University of Kentucky has one of the top five pharmacy programs in the nation,” he says. "It’s a big campus but feels like its own little community.” How did UK 201 help him make the transition from small school to a large university? “It got me involved on campus and showed me where everything is,” he says.
see the campus. What’s the best way to decide if UK is right for you? Sample the student experience and discover all that UK has to offer by touring the 700-acre campus.
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Plan your individual campus visit through the UK Visitor Center, which includes a one-hour information session followed by a 90 minute walking tour. You should allow approximately three hours for your visit. Students interested in transferring to UK are encouraged to attend a UK Transfer Day, hosted on the third Wednesday of each month at the UK Visitor Center. Transfer Days include a general information session covering scholarship opportunities, financial aid, housing and course equivalencies and an optional campus tour. To schedule a Transfer Day
visit contact the transfer office at (859) 257-7265 or by email at UKTransfer@uky.edu. With a UK student as your tour guide, you’ll see the main academic area of campus, a residence hall, the Johnson Recreation Center and the William T. Young Library. Schedule Your Visit. Campus visits through the Visitor Center are geared towards prospective students and their families. We welcome visitors of all ages. Like to meet with a particular academic department, academic adviser or observe a class during your visit? Contact the Visitor Center at least one to two weeks in advance. To schedule your visit, call the Visitor Center at (859) 257-3595 or visit the Web site at www.uky.edu/VisitorCenter.
Visitor Center Hours. Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Select Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. All times are EST. Please note that the Visitor Center is only open on select Saturdays during the academic year and closed on all University holidays. If you can’t make it to campus for an official visit, then check out UK’s self-guided tour. See the Web site for additional information www.uky.edu/VisitorCenter.
Transportation. Lexington is home to Blue Grass Airport, which services daily domestic flights to and from dozens of major cities. It is a convenient commute from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and the Louisville International Airport to Lexington. For directions, information on lodging or transportation to campus, visit the Visitor Center Web site at www.uky.edu/VisitorCenter. Thank you for your interest in the University of Kentucky! We look forward to "seeing blue" with you on campus soon!
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The William T. Young Library is the cornerstone of UK's library system. It boasts the largest book endowment of any public university.
www.applyuk.com Office of Undergraduate Admission and University Registrar 100 W.D. Funkhouser Building Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0054 (866) 900-GO UK (4658) www.uky.edu
An Equal Opportunity University