In a recent interview with The Pioneer, Sarah Hein, PSC Counselor and Transfer Coordinator, provided insight on the transfer process from PSC to a four-year university. To help students better understand their options, Prairie State College hosts a transfer fair every semester, highlighting dozens of four-year schools in Illinois. Student representatives and admission advisors fill the atrium with pamphlets, school swag, and passion for the respective schools.
PSC has various partnerships with colleges around Illinois, and these universities were also spotlighted at the fair. Governors State University, for example, offers Prairie State students the opportunity to maximize their time in community college via their Dual Degree Program (DDP). This program allows students to lock in tuition rates and transfer from PSC to GSU to complete their bachelor’s degree. DDP participants take classes and work with advisors from both schools. These students can also take advantage of competitive scholarship opportunities exclusive to DDP. Eighty PSC students have successfully competed for and received full tuition scholarships through participation in this program as of Spring 2022. It’s definitely worth checking out if you are a student at PSC who wants to stay local and further your education.
Prairie State has also partnered with Saint Xavier University, a private school just south of Chicago. Saint Xavier requires students to join their DDP (Dual Degree Program) before completing 45 credit hours. Students also must have at least a 2.75 GPA and be a full time student. Additionally, Northeastern Illinois University has a full tuition scholarship for active members of Phi Theta Kappa (an honor society) with at least a 3.5 GPA.
There are also plenty of outside scholarships that are helpful for local students. The Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is a highly selective, full-tuition opportunity for community college students that provides $55,000 to recipients for two to three years; it does not require U.S. citizenship. In the past, Prairie State had a couple students make it to the semi-finalist round. However, a PSC alumnus, Ricky Martinez, qualified for the full scholarship last year.
Another great scholarship is the Golden Apple Scholarship geared towards education majors. With this award, recipients will get a large scholarship that’s contingent on them teaching in Chicago Public Schools for five years after graduation.
Richard McCallum, a current PSC student, is in the process of starting a club dedicated to students looking to continue their education after Prairie State. He states that “The Prairie State Transfer Club is a student-led organization that aims to help students who want to transfer to four-year colleges and universities… Our goal is to make the transfer process easier and more accessible for everyone.” They’re currently looking for new members and appointed officers, so if interested, fill out this survey for more information on how to get involved!
If you’re interested in learning more about these scholarship opportunities or anything related to transferring to another university after Prairie State, be sure to contact Sarah Hein at, [email protected]. You can also see the list of upcoming university visits for the Spring 2024 semester.
