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Transfer Student Guide

This transfer guide is designed to address the many questions that transfer students have when considering McDaniel, from applying and admission to orientation and everything in between.

You want a college like McDaniel. Let us show you why.

When you consider transferring from college or university to another, you have very clear ideas about what your next experience should hold. 
You want to graduate from a college that offers the academic stimulation of small, liberal arts classes and a challenging curriculum in your field of interest, and you want to know how long it will take you to graduate. You want close relationships with your professors and opportunities for research, internships and study abroad. You want to know what it will cost, and what you can do with your degree when you finish. And most of all, you want the satisfaction of knowing you can be part of a community that will hold a part of your heart forever.

Transfer Student Admissions Financial Aid for Transfer Students
Contact your Admissions Counselor
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It Starts with a Commitment.

Your journey begins with the McDaniel Commitment. It’s our guarantee that you’ll be on a path to success from the moment you set foot on campus. Through the Commitment, you’ll have access to a team of mentors who will help you develop a completely tailored and personalized experience. From the very beginning, and at other key points throughout your journey here, the McDaniel Commitment will help keep you on track toward your goals.

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 Your Experience

Your McDaniel experience is exactly that: an experience. On and off the Hill, you’ll find opportunities to make your education more dynamic and engaging by applying what you’ve learned to the real world. You might do research with your professors, take an internship in your field, or study on another continent. At McDaniel, you’ll have no constraints on what, where, or how you learn.

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 Your Career

With the one-on-one guidance of your faculty mentors and advisors, you’ll focus on the practical knowledge and career skills that will prepare you to succeed in a professional environment. And as you build your step-by-step plan for life after the Hill, you’ll have everything you need to become who you’ve always wanted to be.

Your McDaniel Experience Could Look Like ...

Transfer students at McDaniel are highly involved, active members of the community, who don't miss out on any opportunities available to McDaniel students. Read about the experiences of a few recent graduates who transferred to McDaniel, in their own words:

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Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics Major Dalton A. Pearl Class of 2024

"I want everyone to remember that you can succeed, whatever your goals are, no matter who doubts you. ’Cause no one would’ve thought the wrestling country boy would graduate with three STEM degrees and go on to pursue a doctorate."

A student smiles to the side while walking with a backpack on their shoulder.

Environmental Studies - Policy and Management Major Lauren Portis Class of 2024

"As an incoming junior transfer, it was hard to enter uncharted territory, and facing doubt regarding where I was headed made me question everything, but then there was the immediate support I received as I arrived, my first day of class where my professors cared about who I was, and again I felt that I had found my home away from home; and I could do everything."

A student in a striped sweater sits in front of a window with a a laptop covered in stickers.

Social Work Major Amber Chenoweth Class of 2024

"When I took my first step on the Hill, I was: In my 30s, transferring from Carroll Community College and looking to establish my future career as a social worker. I came to McDaniel with vast experiences to share with my cohort and ready to act as a mentor in both the professional and personal aspects of college life."

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It comes together with a plan. The McDaniel Plan

After you commit, you begin building your McDaniel Plan: the foundation of your education, which gives you the power to learn what you want and how you want, with countless ways to customize your experience. Build your education around your interests, talents, and passions in a way that’s truly all your own.

McDaniel College has adopted a block transfer policy. If you enter McDaniel with an Associate of Arts (A.A.), an Associate of Science (A.S.), or an Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.), you will have met all McDaniel general education requirements (our McDaniel Plan). You'll be able to jump right into your major program requirements!

The McDaniel Plan
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Transfer students may apply for either fall or spring semester admission. Everything you need to know to transfer to McDaniel

Application deadlines:

  • March 1 or July 15 for fall enrollment
  • December 1 for spring enrollment

To transfer to McDaniel College, students should:

  • Submit The Common Application for Transfer Students or the McDaniel Application for Transfer Students along with an optional personal essay.
  • Have college transcripts sent from all colleges you have attended.
  • Once your application is complete and all accompanying credentials have been received by the appropriate transfer deadline, your application will be reviewed and a decision made within three weeks.
  • If you are planning to be a residential student, Criminal History Self-Disclosure and Conduct History Release forms will be required.
Transfer Admissions McDaniel Application for Transfer Students Common Application for Transfer Students

Will my prior college coursework credits transfer to McDaniel? Check out the Transfer Evaluation System

 

Understanding how your prior college coursework credit will transfer to your new institution is a key piece of information when making the decision to transfer. The Transfer Evaluation System will provide you guidance on how courses from other colleges/universities will be accepted for transfer credit at McDaniel College.

Transfer Evaluation System

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must meet the following requirements to graduate from McDaniel College with a Bachelor of Arts:

  • Completion of at least 128 credit hours. The 128 credit hours are distributed among the requirements for Integrated Study in the Liberal Arts, the major, at least one January Term course, and electives.
  • Completion of all requirements of the McDaniel Plan for Integrated Study in the Liberal Arts.
  • Completion of at least one of the academic majors, including the Capstone experience, offered by the College with an overall 2.00 GPA in the major.
  • A cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 (“C”) or above in all work taken at the College.
  • Completion of the last 32 hours, not including the semester in education, in residence at the College.

Courses taken at the Budapest campus, in affiliated study abroad programs, the U.N. Semester, the Washington Semester, and other approved programs count as courses taken in residence. Students must meet the following requirements to graduate from McDaniel College with a Bachelor of Arts degree:

Transfer students bring a variety of life experiences to McDaniel that greatly enrich our academic and residential community. Our Admissions Committee evaluates transfer applications separately from first-year applications to recognize your unique attributes. You will also have a dedicated transfer admissions counselor to work with. 

THE FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIP PROCESS

McDaniel College enrolls a diverse student body, with students from all socio-economic backgrounds. For need-based financial-aid consideration, complete and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) no later than March 1 for fall semester or January 1 for spring semester. 

McDaniel offers merit scholarships to academically talented transfer students. Unlimited awards range from $18,000 to $27,000 per year based on college GPA. Members of Phi Theta Kappa, who provide a copy of their PTK certificate at the point of application, are eligible for an additional $2,000 per year on top of the merit scholarship awarded.

Learn about Financial Aid for Transfer Students

Did you know?

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78%

of private college graduates save time and money by earning their degrees within four years, compared to 40% of public university graduates.

89%

of liberal arts college graduates reported finding a mentor while in college, compared to 66% for public flagship universities.

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60%

of liberal arts college graduates said they felt “better prepared” for life after college than students who attended other colleges, compared to 34% who attended public flagship universities.

80%

of employers think all students should acquire broad knowledge in the liberal arts.

Campus Fall 2022

THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Prior to making your final decision, we hope that you will plan a visit to the McDaniel campus. We understand that every transfer student comes from their own unique experience at another school so having the opportunity to come to campus and meet our community is critical in your transfer decision. Spend the morning or afternoon on our hilltop campus and meet the people who make McDaniel special. These visits are offered throughout the academic year (September-April), with the exception of January Term and fall, winter and spring breaks. 

Once you have determined that McDaniel is the right place to complete your college degree, you will submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit of $500. At that time, you’ll receive the details about the steps necessary to complete your enrollment.

Visit McDaniel Ready to Deposit?

Additional Resources

Quicklinks for Students Student Life at McDaniel Commuter Student Resources Living in Westminster Dining and Meal Plans Internships and Campus Employment Health and Wellness SASS (Student Accessibility & Support Services)
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Unlock your Visit Incentive Grant. 

Visit campus before you complete your application to qualify for the $4,000 Visit Incentive Grant ($1,000 per year) for up to four years.
 

Schedule your visit now
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Westminster, MD, 21157
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