Ashland University welcomed 43 new transfer students this semester. So far during the 2012-2013 academic year, the school has witnessed a rise in the number of individuals interested in transferring and continuing their education at AU.

The number for transfer students mid-year increased by eight people, as only 35 people came at the same time last year.

Director of Admissions, W.C. Vance, indicated that it is not surprising for the high number of individuals that transfer halfway through the school year.

“It is extremely common, especially for the first semester,” Vance said.

After the first semester, freshmen may decide that their initial college does not meet their needs or provide them with the experience they are looking for in a school.

For people that selected a larger school, they may desire the individual attention offered by a smaller university like AU.

Others may have transferred so they could be near their home or family.

Another potential reason might be the nationally recognized programs and variety of courses at AU.

Although the university witnessed an increase in transfer students entering the College of Education at the beginning of the year, not one major took dominance for the transfer students this semester. Vance indicated that this semester’s transfers have diverse majors and the numbers have risen for other programs as well.

He also said that these individuals came from a variety of schools, ranging from two year and four year schools to public and private institutions.

“It is a mix. There is not one school that really stood out,” Vance said.

Although some individuals came in with more credit hours, the majority have sophomore standing.

The university hopes that this upward trend will continue and more people will consider transferring to Ashland.

These students will have a positive effect on AU’s budget and ultimately bring in more revenue for AU.

Currently, the university is projecting 112 new transfers that will attend AU next fall. In autumn 2011, AU received 94 transfer students and 117 at the start of the 2012-2013 school year.