Frequently Asked Questions
|
 |
Am I eligible for the DDP?
You are eligible for the DDP if:
- You are a full-time student at SSC.
- You have successfully completed a minimum of 12 and maximum of 45 credit hours and you are in good academic standing—that is, you are not on academic probation.
Back to top When should I apply?
The best time to apply is during your second semester at SSC. This will maximize your benefits from the DDP program. You must apply by the time you have completed 45 credit hours.
Back to top
How do I enroll?
It’s easy to enroll in the DDP—and it’s free! Your counselor at SSC has the application form. You can also get the form from either SSC or GSU’s website (SSC DDP Application).
After you complete the simple, one-page form, turn it in to the Counseling Department at SSC. After verifying your eligibility, SSC will send your application to GSU. Kristy Goodwin, Interim Director of the DDP, will let you know when you have been accepted.
Why should I enroll in the DDP?
If you enroll in the DDP, complete your associate degree at SSC and transfer to GSU, you will be able to take advantage of a number of program benefits, including the following:
- Guaranteed Admission to GSU
- Guaranteed Tuition Plan
- Invitation to compete for GSU Promise Scholarships (if eligible)
- Special Advising
- ...and more
Read on to learn more about each of these.
Back to top
Will I be guaranteed admission to GSU?
Yes! If you are enrolled in the DDP, you will be guaranteed admission to GSU after you graduate from SSC. However, some GSU baccalaureate programs have special admission requirements. Admission to these programs is not guaranteed.
Back to top
Will I be able to afford to attend GSU?
GSU's high quality degree programs are an excellent value! The undergraduate tuition at GSU is the lowest of any public university in Chicagoland, and it is much lower than the tuition at private universities.
Back to top
What is the GSU Guaranteed Tuition Plan?
The GSU Guaranteed Tuition Plan for students in the DDP will allow you to lock in the GSU tuition rate for four years from the date you enroll in the DDP. Many four-year universities have guaranteed tuition plans, but don’t allow community college transfer students to participate.
The GSU Guaranteed Tuition Plan is specifically designed for SSC students in the DDP. This plan will save you hundreds of dollars in tuition if you complete your bachelor’s degree at GSU. The sooner you enroll the greater the savings.
Back to top
What is the GSU Promise Scholarship?
Beginning in 2012, GSU will award 50 GSU Promise Scholarships to Pell-eligible students. Only students who enrolled in the DDP before earning 31 credit hours will be eligible to apply. These scholarships cover tuition, fees, books, and required course materials.
What if you are not Pell-eligible or have earned over 30 credit hours?
All DDP students will also be informed early about the many other transfer scholarships at GSU, including:
- DDP Honors
- Phi Theta Kappa
- Latino Achievement
- Discipline-Specific Scholarships (e.g., business and education)
Back to top
What kind of special advising will be available to me?
You will have academic advisors at both SSC and GSU, who will assist you with transfer advice, course selection, and personalized academic plannning to complete both your associate and bachelor's degrees in a minimum number of terms—and without loss of credit.
We want to be sure you are on the right track, so working with your GSU advisor is a requirement of the DDP.
Back to top
How long will it take to earn my associate and bachelor’s degrees?
The DDP is designed to enable students to complete both an associate and bachelor's degree within four years. Depending on the DDP enrollment tern, you will have two to four academic semesters (plus summers) to complete your associate degree at SSC.
The semester after you graduate, you will enroll at GSU and you will have four more semesters (plus summers) to complete your bachelor’s degree.
Back to top
Does it matter what associate degree program I am in at SSC?
No. Full-time students in all degree programs—including A.A.S. degrees—are eligible to enroll in the DDP.
Many universities do not accept the A.A.S. degree in transfer, but GSU has a number of degree programs that are specifically designed for AAS students who want to complete their bachelor’s degree:
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Business and Applied Science
- Community Health
- Health Administration
- Criminal Justice
- Nursing
- Psychology
Your GSU advisor will work with you one-on-one to help you choose the program that best fits your academic and career goals.
Back to top
If I am in a selective admission program, can I still enroll in the DDP?
Yes. If you are in a nursing program or another selective admission program, there is a special provision for you. You will be invited to enroll in the DDP during the second semester of enrollment in that selective program. You are exempt from the 12-45 credit hour rule.
Back to top
I don’t know yet where I want to transfer. Should I still enroll in the DDP?
You're not alone—most community college students haven’t decided where they want to transfer. You have everything to gain—and nothing to lose—by enrolling in the DDP. Your enrollment in the DDP will not limit your transfer options in any way.
If you decide to transfer to another university, no problem. But if you do decide to transfer to GSU, you will have many advantages that won’t be available to non-DDP students.
Remember, the DDP will provide you with an excellent opportunity, but it does not carry any obligation for you to transfer to GSU.
Back to top
Why do I have to finish my associate degree before I transfer?
The completion of the associate degree is an important milestone in your path to a bachelor's degree. Life happens. If something delays or precludes the completion of your bachelor’s degree, your resume will still show you successfully achieved an associate degree.
Students who complete only two years at a four-year university leave with no credential, but at SSC you have the opportunity to complete a degree. We want to encourage you to take advantage of earning that important degree.
Studies show that students who complete an associate degree before transfer are more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree, and they do so in a shorter period of time. If you complete an A.A. or A.S., you will also have completed the General Education Core Curriculum, which means you won’t have to redo your general education requirements when you transfer to any IAI university in Illinois, including GSU.
Back to top
Will my credits transfer to GSU?
Yes. Your GSU and SSC advisor will work with you while you are a student at SSC to ensure your academic plan enables you to graduate with your associate degree and transfer all of your credits to GSU. If you follow your advisors' advice, you will not lose any credits when you transfer.
Back to top
What is the DDP Peer Mentor Program? What are the benefits?
Peer mentoring within the Dual Degree Program will help ease students' transition from community college to university life. Mentors will be experienced DDP students selected from partner community college campuses who will help newer DDP students adjust to the demands of higher education while building a social network. Students will participate in fun social activities, specialized workshops, and community service.
Back to top
Will I have a chance to get involved in student activities at GSU?
Absolutely. GSU is an upper division university, which means it does not offer freshman and sophomore classes. It also means that, as a transfer student, you will not be competing with students who have already been at the university for two years.
All students at GSU are transfer students. You will fit in easily and successfully at a high quality institution that has specialized in serving transfer students for decades. So if you want to write for the newspaper, get involved in student government, or join a club, you will have many opportunities to participate and be a leader. While you're still enrolled at SSC, you will learn about Student Life and be invited to participate in activities at GSU.
Back to top
What bachelor’s degree programs are available at GSU?
Your GSU advisor will help you learn about all the options at GSU. You can also look online to find information about these undergraduate programs.
Back to top
I'm used to small classes. What will my experience be like if I transfer to GSU?
Much the same. The average class size at GSU is only 14 students. Professors are as accessible as they are at SSC.
Back to top
How will my financial aid awards (Pell and MAP) be affected?
Financial aid advisors at GSU will ensure that your aid will smoothly transition to GSU after you graduate from SSC.
Back to top
What if I still have questions? Whom should I contact?
Jenaia Harris, Transfer Specialist, at (708) 235-7536 or jharris2@govst.edu Your SSC counselor can answer your questions about the DDP at SSC also.
For additional information regarding GSU, feel free to contact Kristy Goodwin, Interim Director of the DDP, at 708.534.4493, or dualdegree@govst.edu.
Back to top
