<p>Is work experience relevant or a part of any transfer application? What I'm asking is, does it help if you have a couple years experience in the area you will be studying when it comes to admissions.</p>
<p>I would say it probably does, espicially if you its at a big name company. The importance varies from college to college though</p>
<p>Work experience helps on the application but it certaintly doesn’t make up for the GPA. I actually have 1 year working in my field of major (business) at Bank of America.</p>
<p>It completely depends on the school. Schools like UCLA definitely look at it, because they like to see applicants who have experience outside of sheltered classrooms and in the real world (support for this is on their transfer webpage). From what I’ve gathered it seems like many schools view it as a solid EC, but it will rarely have a huge effect on your application. Like a previous poster said, it’s not a substitute for your GPA.</p>
<p>On a side note, if you’re considering whether or not to have a job during college, I would highly recommend it! As long as your grades aren’t affected of course. I honestly look down on the kids who have never held a job and are graduating seniors from undergrad, as it’s an experience that builds responsibility like a classroom can’t. Not that I look down on people at all when hanging out of course, just that I think that people who both work a legitimate job and maintain good grades understand more of the world and the way they have to act in it (i.e. that it’s not centered around them, and that they do have responsibilities to other people).</p>
<p>It’s about priorities though- grades should ALWAYS come first :)</p>
<p>I sure hope work experience counts for something. While my GPA is good, I think work experience is the only thing that could offset my <2.5 HS GPA, ha.</p>
<p>I am attempting to transfer into a Hospitality Management program. My GPA is well, average, but I’ve worked at a Disney Resort for almost 5 years.</p>
<p>Zandergag,
First of all, congrats on working at a Disney Resort for almost 5 Years! I don’t know how those people stay so happy all of the time.
Normally, I would say that work experience adds to your application, no matter what because, like ECs, it shows you have life experience other than school. Like SanDiegoStateGuy said, it completely depends on the school.
However, for you, specifically, this is a GREAT thing to have on your application. Hospitality Management is a very specific major and work experience in the field is a big advantage over those who do not have it. This isn’t to get your hopes up, as many in the field DO have work experience, but yes it is revelant and yes it helps if you have experience.
However, there is no promising that they will look over your average GPA because of the work experience. What colleges are looking for is someone who can balance the work of a job and the work of a student - and do equally well at both (despite how daunting that can seem lol). </p>
<p>Good luck with your HM program and please let us know how it goes?</p>
<p>Any chance you can get me some free Disney passes? 
Just kidding. I wish you the best!</p>