Transfer Students

It’s time to make a change and take control. You’re the experienced lot who know they need something different, simultaneously more flexible and more invigorating. Hampshire just might be the right kind of different. Ready to take back control of your education? Start that application.

Whether you are transferring from a large university or another small institution, Hampshire College is dedicated to making your incoming transition as smooth as possible.

Transfer students are also now eligible for merit scholarships of up to $10,000. And you do not need to apply separately for these scholarships, but will be automatically considered with your application to Hampshire.

Hampshire College accepts transfer credits for liberal arts courses taken at a regionally accredited college or university if the courses are comparable in content, nature, and intensity to courses offered at Hampshire College. The courses must also have a grade of C or better, and cannot have been recorded as high school credit.

If you have any questions related to applying as a transfer student, contact Beth Szemela, associate dean of admissions and transfer coordinator.

Apply online via
THE COMMON APPLICATION

Application Deadlines

Transfer Student Admission Plan	Deadline	Notification
Domestic Transfer (spring 2017)	November 1, 2016	December 1, 2016
International Transfer (spring 2017)	November 1, 2016	November 10, 2016
Domestic Transfer (fall 2017)	March 15, 2017	April 15, 2017
International Transfer (fall 2017)	March 15, 2017	April 15, 2017

Required Application Materials

We do a holistic read of your application, meaning we look at everything. To apply, submit the following materials through the Common Application:

• Completed Common Application
• Writing Supplement *
• All college transcripts
• Transfer Mid-Term Report (if currently enrolled)
• Final high school transcript
• One academic evaluation

International Students Only
In addition to the above materials, you will need to submit:

• Certification of Finances, submit at least one of the following:
  • Certification of Finances Form
  • Letter of financial support
  • To students applying for financial aid, we will accept the CSS Profile
• TOEFL or IELTS score (Minimum TOEFL score of 91 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. Predicted grades for IB English A1 or A2, or for A-level English, will also be considered. You may request a TOEFL waiver from the international coordinator, Christina Rizleris, at INTLadmissions@hampshire.edu.)

*All international transfer students can direct any questions to Christina Rizleris, crizleris@gmail.com.

Optional Application Materials

Some optional application materials can be submitted through the Common Application. You will also have the opportunity, after applying, to submit additional optional materials such as photos, videos, PDFs, Word documents, and music files through your online application portal with Hampshire College.

• Tell us about a collaborative, group, or community-engaged activity that has been especially meaningful to you and why.
• Video/media supplement. This could be music, dance, film, animation, monologue, etc.
• Project sample: Submit an example of your independent or collaborative project work. This project can be creative, scientific, or otherwise showcase the type of work you've done.
• Additional letters of recommendation, up to three.

We also highly recommend an interview (must occur prior to the application completion deadline).

*Writing Supplement

We like to geek out here at Hampshire, and our essay questions give you a chance to do the same. So here's a sneak peek at the questions you'll find on the Common App. We can't wait to read what you come up with.

• Analytic Essay: Submit an academic paper of any length, written in English, that you've produced for a class in the past year. This should not be a personal or creative piece or poem. Suggested length, 3-10 pages.
   
• Describe a proposal for a hypothetical research project that explores the connections between two or three different disciplines (for example: math, creative writing, and psychology). Which academic disciplines would you draw from and how would you utilize Hampshire's unique curricular structure to realize and enhance your project? (300 word minimum)
   
• Proposed Program of Study: Please describe your academic interests and goals in one to three paragraphs. You might include the types of courses you wish to take (although a listing of course titles alone is insufficient) and any independent projects, internships, or field studies you envision yourself doing.The Proposed Program of Study is not a contract; it is intended to help determine whether Hampshire is an appropriate place for you to continue your academic studies.
   
• Students receive narrative evaluations at Hampshire instead of letter or number grades. At the end of each course, students also complete a self-evaluation reflecting on their goals and class performance. Write a self-evaluation of a favorite class or other learning activity in high school. What were your goals? Where did you succeed? What do you wish had gone differently? (300 word minimum)

After Submitting Your Application

Once we process your application, we will send an acknowledgment letter that includes a username and password for you to check the completeness of your admissions file online. Hampshire College has entered the 21st century and now releases decisions online. To make sure that you receive your decision, we recommend not opting out of email communications.

Articulation Agreements

Hampshire has negotiated articulation agreements with Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach Community College in Lake Worth, Florida. Students who earn the associate of arts degree at either institution will receive additional faculty assistance in setting up their concentration of study at Hampshire. Please submit the form on the last page of the pdf document below to the admissions office to take full advantage of the benefits of the articulation agreement.

• Articulation agreement with Holyoke Community College (pdf)  
• Articulation agreement with Palm Beach Community College (pdf)

How Hampshire Applies Transfer Credit

Transfer credit may be applied directly toward Division I expectations. Courses may also apply toward Division II, so long as they meet the same criteria to be accepted as transfer credit. Faculty advisors can guide students in planning a curriculum that takes advantage of as much prior college work as possible. The number of courses and learning activities necessary to complete Division II will be determined by the individual student's Division II committee. Each student's program is individually designed and rates of progress vary.

Residency

The minimum residency requirement for graduation is three semesters, regardless of how many credits are transferable. Students receiving financial aid should consult with the financial aid office regarding the number of semesters of financial aid eligibility.

How transfer credit is evaluated

We conduct a course-by-course evaluation of college work to determine how each transfer course fits into Division I, which requires that students take one course in four out of the five following areas: Arts, Design, and Media (ADM); Culture, Humanities, and Language (CHL); Mind, Brain, and Information (MBI); Physical and Biological Sciences (PBS); and Power, Community and Social Justice (PCSJ). To illustrate how transfer courses may be applied toward the Division I distribution requirement, the following list of subject areas is provided as a representative sample of the array of courses offered by each area:

Mind, Brain, and Information: Animal Behavior, Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Philosophy, Education, and Psychology

Arts, Design, and Media: Digital Design, Poetry, Creative Writing, Studio Arts, Literary Nonfiction, Theater, Playwriting, and Visual Media

Culture, Humanities, and Language: Architecture, Film, Video, Photography, Ecological Design, Philosophy, Art/Art History, Dance, Religion, and English

Physical and Biological Sciences: Agriculture, Chemistry, Ecology, Astronomy, Biology, Physics, Zoology, and Mathematics

Power, Community, and Social Justice: Anthropology, Peace Studies, Community Studies, Political Economy, Environmental Policy, Psychology, Feminist Studies, and Sociology

FAQ

Still have questions? Check out our FAQ page, or contact us at admissions@hampshire.edu.

Common App Support

Prospective Applicants can get Common App online support through the Applicant Help Center. From the Help Center, click the "Ask a Question" tab to contact our support team and access a comprehensive FAQ resource covering different aspects of the application process.

Counselors/Recommenders with Common App questions or suggestions can contact them through the Recommender Help Center. You can also receive real-time support through the new chat program available now from 12-4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.