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Frequently
Asked Questions
Credits/Requirements
Q: How do I find out the prerequisites for specific
programs and majors?
A: The best way is
to speak directly with an academic advisor from the department/program
through which you want to pursue a degree.
Q: What
requirements must be met in order to be accepted as a student in
WSU's Business program?
A: As
with most majors at WSU, students do not certify until they have
met certain lower division (freshman & sophomore) requirements
and have a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average. For the
College of Business requirements, please click
here.
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Q: What if I need to take additional lower-division
courses?
A: The rule is that
students transferring into a WSU distance degree completion program
can bring in up to 90 quarter or 60 semester credit hours of transfer
work. In some cases, with adviser approval, students can transfer
up to 13 more semester hours of credit from an accredited two-year
institution.
Q: How
many credits can I actually transfer to WSU?
A: Up to 90 quarter/60
semester hours of credit from a 2 year institution and up to 90
semester hours from an accredited four-year institution.
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Q: What if I am just a few credits short of a transfer degree?
What are my options?
A: You can either complete
the transfer degree at your local community college or transfer
directly to WSU. If you have 27 transferable semester credits
with a GPA of 2.0 or better, you are currently admissible as a
transfer student. In most cases, the student benefits from completing
the Direct Transfer Degree.
Admissions
Q: I have a technical degree (or certificate).
What are the next steps for continuing my education?
A: It depends on what
your educational goals are. If you wish to seek an academic degree,
some of the courses taken as part of your technical degree may
be transferable, but many will not. The best idea is to talk about
your educational background with an admissions counselor at the
institution you think you want to attend.
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Finances and Financial Aid
Q: How can I get financial aid to help pay for
college?
A: To receive financial
aid, you first must apply by submitting a Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. The FAFSA may be filed
on the internet at the www.fafsa.ed.gov
or by completing and mailing the paper application. We strongly
encourage students to file on the Internet if possible for faster
and more accurate results. When filed the completed FAFSA is sent
to the federal processing center. The results are forwarded to
the colleges indicated on the form. Application is free, and you
may choose up to six colleges to receive your FAFSA results.
Q:
What is the difference between a grant, a scholarship and a loan?
A: Financial aid falls
into two categories, aid that must be repaid and aid that does
not need to be repaid. Grants, such as the Federal Pell Grant
or Washington State Need Grant, are free assistance from the government
that does not need to be repaid. Loans are financial aid that
must be repaid, typically six months after you leave school or
drop below half-time enrollment. To receive any grants or Stafford
Loans you must complete a FAFSA. Scholarships are similar to grants,
as they do not need to be repaid. Many scholarships may not require
you to complete a FAFSA to eligible. Remember that you may need
to obtain application material directly from the donor of the
scholarship.
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Q: I am transferring to a 4-year school. Will
I be eligible for more financial aid since tuition rates are higher
than community colleges?
A: Since the costs
associated with attending a 4-year school are typically higher,
you may be eligible for additional financial aid. If you are already
receiving the annual maximum amounts of Federal and State financial
aid, you may need to pursue additional financial aid through a
Private Educational Loan. If you have any questions about determining
your annual maximum amounts, please contact the Office of Student
Financial Aid, 509-335-9711.
Q:
How do I find out about scholarships?
A: The best place to
find out about scholarships is through the Office of Scholarships
Services, click here
for more information.
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Q: Am I eligible for financial aid if I am only
attending school part time?
A: In order to receive
your full financial aid package you must be enrolled full-time
(12 credit hours per term for undergraduates, 10 credit hours
for graduates). Part time students may also receive aid, but your
award amount will be adjusted based on the number of credits for
which you enroll. If you will enroll less than full-time, you
must notify the Financial Aid Office (in writing) of your expected
enrollment before the beginning of each term. Aid will be adjusted
only once per term for enrollment changes. Most aid programs will
not approve aid for less than half-time (6 credits per term undergraduate,
5 credits graduate) enrollment.
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Q: If tuition goes up will my financial aid be
adjusted?
A: If tuition goes
up, your financial aid may be adjusted to cover the additional
costs. If you are already receiving the annual maximum amounts
of Federal and State financial aid, you may need to pursue additional
financial aid through a Private Educational Loan. If you have
any questions about determining your annual maximum amounts, please
contact the Office of Student Financial Aid, 509-335-9711.
Distance
Education
Q: How much interaction do distance students have
with professors and other students?
A: The amount of interaction
varies depending on the method of delivery. Flexible enrollment
classes have feedback from instructors and no interaction with
other students. Semester based classes will have interaction with
both faculty and students.
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Careers
Q: What should I do if I'm having trouble deciding on a major?
A: Look at the information
available on the DDP website outlining the degree programs available
and the classes offered. Next make an appointment with the ASWSU-DDP
Career Counselor or by calling the DDP toll free line at 800-222-4978
and asking to be transferred to Career Services. (509-335-2546)
and ask to set up a telephone appointment with the DDP Career
Counselor. Expect to spend several sessions discussing a variety
of topics including your interests, skills, values, and prior
experiences. It is also possible to take some career inventory
tests that could also assist you with this decision in conjunction
with discussions with your career counselor. If you have a goal
in mind and are uncertain how to achieve that goal, it may also
help to talk with several professionals in that field and find
out what skills and training are most important to the work they
do.
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Q: I don't know what I want to do. Are there resources that
can help me learn about various careers?
A: Knowing what you
want to do can be difficult for some students for a large variety
of reasons. Some of these might include, but are not limited to,
not knowing your likes and dislikes, feeling constrained by the
options you believe are available to you, not knowing what is
expected of you in different career areas, and others. If you
want to learn more about careers, then the Career
Services website and the
Occupational Outlook Handbook are good places to start. The
Occupational Outlook Handbook is also a good place to find information
about what agencies provide accreditation of academic programs
for specific careers. If you have other reason, an appointment
with the DDP career counselor can be helpful.
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