Thinking about transferring to the University of Montana? Transferring schools during college is a big move, but it's doable! I'm Joe Bentle, a junior at UM and I transferred to the University of Montana in 2022. Changing schools can be stressful, but I had a good experience transferring to UM. Read on to learn more about my experience transferring to UM.
I chose to transfer to UM for many different reasons. I attended Harper College in my home state of Illinios to earn my associate’s degree (actually, I got two: one in arts and one in science) and I always knew I’d transfer to a four-year school. As my time at Harper came to close, I started looking for a university where I could obtain my bachelor's degree.
I had a childhood friend who was attending UM and her experience going to school here sounded like something I might like as well. I visited in the summer of 2021 and loved the entire vibe of the campus, which felt very homey. Coming from the Chicago area, I loved the beautiful mountains, but the inclusive culture of Missoula and UM was also a big selling point for me.
The academic opportunities at UM also aligned with my interests. UM’s College of Business offers a marketing program that will prepare me for the career I am looking for. UM also has a fantastic art program, which is one of my other interests. I'm pursuing a minor in art in addition to my marketing degree.
All of these factors made transferring to UM an easy choice for me to make.
Here are more reasons to consider transferring to UM:
Attending UM is affordable! There are lots of different scholarship options available to transfer students, such as the University of Montana Academic Achievement Scholarship and Western Undergraduate Exchange program scholarship. When you submit your application to UM, you'll automatically be considered for hundreds of scholarship opportunities based on your area of study.
Part of the reason I chose to transfer to UM was because of its location. Missoula is surrounded by mountains, the UM campus is beautiful, it's only about a 10-minute walk to downtown Missoula and the neighborhoods surrounding campus make it feel like home.
I am majoring in Business: Marketing and minoring in Art. After graduation, I want to work abroad in the United Kingdom and UM’s study aboard opportunities will give me the chance to get a feel for living overseas before I graduate. Next fall, I will go abroad to study at either Aberystwyth University in Wales or University College Cork in Ireland.
Transferring to UM was super easy. The University of Montana and my first college worked together to make sure my credits would transfer. I was given the right information to help me transfer as easily as possible, like a clear checklist of things that I needed to submit such as immunizations, transcripts, etc. Everyone who helped me was very nice and knowledgeable. I felt very welcomed at UM as a transfer student.
There are a bunch of different housing at UM for transfer students. There is on-campus housing in eight residence halls, including Pantzer Hall, which offers four-person suites for students with more than 30 credits.
UM Housing also offers off-campus apartment living at Lewis and Clark Village on the South Campus, which is about one mile from the UM campus. Students with 60 or more earned credits are eligible to live in Lewis and Clark Village. Students with 24-59 earned credits and a 2.5 GPA or higher are also eligible.
If you have more than 30 credits, you are eligible to live off-campus if you choose. For my first semester, I found an apartment with roommates through ROAM Student Living, which is not affiliated with UM. Next year, I plan to move into an off-campus apartment with friends I met this semester.
If you don’t have a car, don’t worry! I left my car at home and I've had no problem getting to campus and around town. UM’s free UDASH bus service runs from campus to Lewis and Clark Village and other stops nearby. The city of Missoula also operates a free transit service called Mountain Line that operates seven days a week.
Transferring may seem scary at first, but people at UM are very friendly. People here will strike up a conversation with you out of nowhere. Coming from a big city, that was a little surprising at first but I've come to really appreciate how outgoing people are here.
Getting involved is important, and there are a lot of ways to do that. Joining student clubs, going to sporting events (hockey games are my favorite), attending study groups for your classes, and getting an on-campus job are some great ways to make friends and meet different people.
I made most of my friends through study groups and at my on-campus job. UM is very inclusive and makes everyone feel welcomed.
I just completed my first semester at UM, and I feel excited to continue the rest of my college career at UM. I had my worries about being a transfer student, but once I arrived everyone was super welcoming and supportive and I had no issues!
If you are interested in learning more about transferring to UM, fill out this form to request more information, then email UM's transfer student admissions counselors at admiss@umontana.edu and get started today.