Transfer Days is a unique and valuable opportunity for area colleges to network with MATC students directly. Recently, the Oak Creek, West Allis and Downtown Milwaukee campuses were visited by a myriad of different higher education institutions.
Their goal was to provide students interested in transferring with information and consultation regarding what can be a confusing process.
The event allows colleges to establish personal connections with students and assist them through the transfer process.  Felipe Rodriguez, from the UW-Milwaukee School of Education explains, “We want to make sure students have the right information and that they are better advised on their coursework for transferring.”
Transfer Days offer the chance for enrollment specialists from other schools to create relationships with MATC students and address concerns that may not otherwise be addressed. Cassandra Donahoe, Ottawa University community relations manager, values Transfer Days for the ability to enlighten students on issues they may not already be anticipating. “It gives us a chance to talk to students face to face. A lot of times they have questions that they might not know they have until they have somebody in front of them,” said Donahoe.
Getting the word out about a school’s location is important as well. “We get a lot of transfer students from MATC, so it’s important for us to come down here and connect with people, remind them who we are and where we’re located at. That we’re not just in Iowa, that we’re here in Milwaukee,” states Melissa Harrell Robinson, admissions adviser from Upper Iowa University.  “They hear Iowa and they go, ‘Oh, I don’t want to go Iowa,’ and we’re like ‘Oh, we’re not necessarily in Iowa, we’re in other places too,” said Robinson.
The opportunity to educate students on what individual schools have to offer is appreciated by both the students and colleges. Leanne Kostrewa, regional learning consultant, voiced how this impacts the Transfer Days goal of her university. “Herzing offers 55 programs but it’s not always the right fit so it’s important to find out what a student needs.”
It’s a sentiment mirrored by Anya Chesebro, human services student, who has long had her sights set on one school in particular but appreciated the wide array of options presented. “It’s nice to have them all in one place. I’ve always wanted to go to UW-Madison.  It’s been a dream since I was little. It was very valuable to talk to them but it was also very valuable to talk to other schools to find what might end up being a better option in the long run,” said Chesebro.
The connections made at Transfer Days last beyond just this initial meeting. UWM’s Rodriguez realizes the importance of a familiar face during the arduous academic journey, “Once they do transfer, they know somebody. They know Felipe.”
Check out page 2 for the calendar of events to find the next transfer day. The office of admission has set up special dates for individualized consultations for students who are ready to transfer.