Transfer Student Resources

Transfer Student Resources

Internally transferring into CNS from another college can be extremely stressful, and many students may find that they don't know where to begin with both the application itself and the prep work required from them beforehand. The purpose of this page is to list a few resources that will be useful to prospective transfer students. Click on the images above each resource description to be directed to the relevant webpage!

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Official Internal Transfer Webpage

You can find information on the application itself through the official CNS Internal Transfer webpage. You can check application requirements, sign up to for information sessions, and access the application. directly.

Degree Audit

Degree audits extremely useful for planning your schedule. The CNS admissions board CAN see whether or not you ran an audit. They want to know that you've made yourself aware of the degree requirements for your desired CNS major.

Suggested Arrangement of Courses

Your audit alone will give you an overview of the individual courses required and your completion status for any degree. However, you can also view a mock 4-year plan for any degree through the University Catalogs.

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University Writing Center

One of the most important parts of your application is your personal statement. You can make appointments at the University Writing Center to help plan, edit, and revise your internal transfer essay.

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Astronomy Career Guide

Take a look at the astronomy career guide to get an idea of what you can do with an astronomy degree after graduation. If your loved ones insist that an astronomy degree won't provide career options outside of academia, this webpage is especially helpful.

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Research Areas in the Department

Having research experience is a necessity if your goal is to apply to graduate school. You can explore the different research areas within the UT astronomy department and find contact information for the faculty members working in them.

Additional Advice

NEVER be Afraid to Send That Email

Want to take a class reserved for astronomy majors? Email. Interested in doing research with a faculty member? Email. Don't spam anyone's inbox, but an initial inquiry email will NEVER hurt.

Expand Your Research Horizons

Don't limit yourself to one sub-field. In fact, don't even limit yourself to the astronomy department. If none of your cold emails are getting responses, look for astro-adjacent opportunities in physics, engineering, and geoscience.

Connect With Your Interests

Frequently remind yourself why you're going through all of the effort involved with internal transfer. Read interesting papers and articles. Go to seminars and colloquia in your fields of interest. Click here for a complete list of scheduled astronomy department events.

Build Your Peer Network Now

Go to ASA, SPS, and GMiP meeting, and make friends! If you're able to take physics and astronomy classes, befriend your classmates and form study groups. Don't wait to officially change your major to form connections.