Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Do Hobart and William Smith accept fall and spring transfer applicants?
HWS accepts both fall and spring transfer applications. To be considered for the fall you should complete your application by July 1. To be considered for the spring semester, you should complete your application by November 1.

How does Hobart and William Smith define a transfer student?
HWS defines a transfer student as any student who has matriculated at any post-secondary institution.

Do you require an interview?
While we do not typically require an interview, we do strongly encourage them. An interview can be an excellent way for the applicant to get to know HWS and for HWS to have a greater sense of the applicant’s goals, needs and ability to succeed.

Can a first-year college student apply as a transfer?
Yes, students may apply for transfer admission for either the spring semester of their first year, or plan to begin their studies at HWS in the fall semester. 

If I applied to Hobart and William Smith previously do I need to reapply?
Yes, as a transfer applicant you will need to submit the transfer application and all supporting documents. However, if you have applied previously as a transfer applicant, you will not need to reapply as you will simply need to submit a written request to reactivate your application.

What type (or what is the profile) of student are you looking for in a transfer applicant?
HWS is a very competitive institution and, as such, we are looking for students who have demonstrated success in their previous educational environments. Typically a successful applicant will have a minimum 2.7 GPA with a well-rounded curriculum. In addition, the more college-level course work a student has, the greater the emphasis will be put on the post-secondary work. If a student has less college experience, greater emphasis will be placed on the high school transcript.

How much credit can I transfer in?
Hobart and William Smith operates on a semester schedule with each student taking four courses per semester, with a total of 32 to graduate. As such, HWS will allow a student to transfer in a maximum of 16 courses. In addition, only courses of three or more credits in which a student has received at least a C- or better has been earned will be considered for transfer credit.

How will my credits transfer?
Once a student has enrolled, the Dean’s office, in cooperation with department chairs, will evaluate the transcript(s) to determine the student’s standing. Liberal arts courses whose content is relevant to the academic departments at HWS will typically transfer. If an applicant would like an earlier indication of course transferability they can contact the Registrar's Office for a preliminary review.

When will I know how many credits will transfer in?
Transfer credit evaluation happens automatically once a college-level transcript has been received by Admissions. Transfers are evaluated as soon as possible and typically before the student begins the program.

How is class standing determined?
Class standing is based on the number of courses completed. For courses taken at institutions that are on a semester-hour credit system, three or four semester hours are equivalent to one HWS credit.

0-6:  First-Year
7-15:  Sophomore
16-22:  Junior
23 and above: Senior

How many credits am I expected to take each semester?
All HWS students are required to be registered full time, taking three to five courses each semester. The standard course load is four courses a sememster. Transfer students are normally discouraged from taking an overload first semester. 

If I have completed my associate's, am I guaranteed junior standing?
Yes, however, depending on intended major and previous program of study, it may not be possible to complete a bachelor’s degree in two years.

How will I register for classes?
After having been admitted, students will be contacted by their advisor or dean to aid them in registration.

Who will be my advisor?
While your dean will serve as your initial contact person and will guide you through your transition to HWS, a faculty advisor will be assigned to you shortly after matriculation.

Can I meet with faculty or other offices while visiting campus?
We strongly encourage this type of interaction as it allows the applicant to get a stronger sense of what their academic as well as extra curricular life might be like.

Will I need to take a First-Year Seminar?
Normally students who have completed a full semester at another institution will not be required to take a First-Year Seminar. 

Can I live on campus?
Absolutely. In fact, HWS is a residential campus, and all traditional applicants should expect to live on campus.

Will I be housed with incoming first-year students?
No. You will be housed with other upperclass students. For housing questions, please call the Residential Education Office at (315) 781-3880.

When will I receive my campus housing assignment?
You should receive your housing assignment by mid-June or, for those matriculating later than mid-June, within two weeks of matriculation. Students who are admitted for the spring semester will learn about their housing assignment in early January.

Does HWS offer financial aid for transfer applicants?
Yes, we offer both need-based as well as merit-based aid for transfer applicants. For information, click here.

I am an international applicant. Can I apply as a transfer student?
Absolutely. HWS encourages applications from international students. To receive transfer credit for courses taken outside the U.S. a student must submit a course-by-course evaluation by an evaluation service that is a member of either the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE).

Does HWS offer an orientation program for transfer students?
Yes, HWS offers a transfer orientation each spring and fall. While the fall program is intertwined with the first-year program, the spring is usually conducted on a more individual basis.

I’ve already attended an orientation at my previous college. Why do I need to attend Orientation at Hobart and William Smith?
At Orientation, you will learn information specific to Hobart and William Smith. Since all transfer students are placed in the same Orientation group together, this will also be an opportunity to get to know other upperclass students; your Orientation leader will be a student who transferred to HWS him/herself. Your Orientation schedule will be somewhat different from the first-years’ schedule, taking into account the different needs of upperclass transfer students.