The third week of October is National Transfer Student Week. Here at Northern Essex, two transfer fairs will help students learn more about transfer opportunities. Representatives from more than 30 local colleges and universities will be on hand to answer students’ questions and provide information on program offerings, transfer requirements, financial aid, scholarships, and more.

“We bring colleges and universities to students so they can plan and connect with a person from their desired transfer college university,” says Michelle Sunday, NECC director of transfer, articulation, and academic center advising. “We suggest students bring an unofficial copy of their transcript so they can get specific and accurate information and, in some cases, on-the-spot admissions.”

The first transfer fair will take place on the Haverhill Campus, Wednesday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the 1st and 2nd floor lobby of the C (Spurk) Building.

The second fair will take place Tuesday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the Lawrence Campus, in the 1st floor atrium of the L (Dimitry) Building.

Students who attend the fairs will be able to enter a raffle for a gift card giveaway. More information can be found here.

Transferring from NECC

Each year, hundreds of students transfer NECC credits to four-year colleges and universities. UMass Lowell (UML) is the most popular transfer destination. As such, NECC recently entered into a new joint admissions agreement with UML. Upon acceptance to NECC, students who opted into joint admissions on their application will also be conditionally accepted to UML.

“By making this process of applying to college and earning an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree affordable, we’re opening the doors wider for the communities we serve,” remarked NECC President Lane Glenn at the agreement signing event this past spring. “We’re better preparing a workforce for the Commonwealth. And it’s a workforce that the Commonwealth desperately needs.”

Upon completion of their associate degree, joint admissions students will have priority registration at UML, they will get priority for Merit Scholarships, and they will be exempt from UMass’s Core Curriculum. UML will also waive the application fee.

NECC has a similar agreement with Salem State University (SSU), another popular choice for students transferring from NECC. This summer, NECC, North Shore Community College (NSCC), and SSU formed the Transfer Connections Partnership, which builds on years of collaboration among the institutions to increase access to quality, affordable higher education. Salem State University will grant $3,000 scholarships to students transferring to the university within a year of receiving their associate degree from NSCC or NECC. Students enrolling at one of the community colleges can also apply for joint admission to Salem State, guaranteeing their admission to the university upon completing an associate degree.

In addition to specific joint admissions agreements, the state offers three MassTransfer pathways between community colleges and any of the University of Massachusetts schools. Learn more about MassTransfer here.