Moody College of Communication offers a total of seven majors: advertising, public relations, journalism, radio-television-film, communication studies, communication and leadership and speech, language and hearing sciences. With such variety, some Moody students, myself included, find themselves wondering if they chose the right major. For those who decide to make the switch, they must go through the internal transfer process.
The internal transfer application is open every fall and spring semester. As I navigate the application myself, I have found it valuable to speak to peers who have successfully completed the process and seek to share their advice with the greater Moody student body through this compilation of their best transfer tips. Before beginning the process, students’ must first decide their newly intended major and their justification for switching.
“The biggest tip is to talk to your academic advisors first, even if you know which major you want to do,” said Romi Kahana, a sophomore advertising major.
Talking with advisors allows students to better understand the transfer process, grasp the requirements and qual ties of each major track and clarify any initial questions or concerns they might have. I also recommend that we use our greatest Moody resource: each other! Speaking to classmates in their intended major may give students a more detailed, behind-the-scenes perspective on what classes and workloads will look like.
The internal transfer application includes several sections, with the “Activities and Resume” and “Moody College of Communication” sections being the most time-consuming.
In the “Activities and Resume” section, students should upload their resume and list all of their college experience, activities and achievements. The application also asks students to upload their resume. For freshmen like myself without much experience building a college resume, this section can be challenging.\
“When people ask, ‘How can I start building up my resume?’ I tell them to join organizations,” Kahana said.
The “Moody College of Communication” section is more writing-focused, and requires a “Personal Statement” essay. Students should allocate their time wisely while writing the essay as it is considered one of the major comp nents of the application.
“Spend a good amount of time reflecting on your journey so far and do not rush it. Treat it like if you’re applying to UT again,” said Augustin Escobedo, a senior advertising major.
Writing the essay will also require students to think back to the beginning of the process and explain their reasoning for choosing and interest in their intended major.
“Have a specific goal of why that major would help you and why that major is going to help your career after you graduate. Then get specific details about the program,” said Ruby Ramirez, a junior advertising major.
To augment this essay, many transfer students recommend completing the extra essay within the “Additional Information Response” section, although it is not required. The more details students provide, the better the admi ssion committee can see who they really are and their intentions with a specific major.
“I think it always looks good to have more work on the application,” Kahana said.
Crafting a strong application with impressive academics and extracurriculars can be stressful, so it’s important for students to prioritize their mental health throughout the process.
“I would go back and stress less about the grades that I got. While grades are obviously important, they don’t reflect who you are and don’t reflect your character or your ability to succeed in life,” Ramirez said.
The internal transfer application may seem intimidating at first, but leaning on the students who have come out on the other side can help to ease some nerves nerves and prepare students for this new and exciting journey.