Transition to College
The spot for GeoFORCE Alumni currently pursuing their undergraduate & graduate degrees
After you’ve graduated from the program, we’re here for your next one, your college graduation!
Be Part of Our Alumni Orgs
Are you an alum currently living in Austin, Houston, or College Station? Do you want to meet other GeoFORCE alumni? Do you want more research, internship, and professional development opportunities?
Join our Alumni GroupMe!
College Application Checklist:
- Review the GeoFORCE Transition to College Resources!
- SAT/ACT Prep (updated Fall 2026)
- College Application Workshop
- College Essay Workshop
- FAFSA Workshop (for financial aid & scholarships!)
- Check for College Application Fee Waivers
- Before submitting a college application, please check if you are eligible for an application fee waiver! You may be eligible for an application fee waiver if you are eligible to receive free or reduced lunch, or if you received an SAT or ACT fee waiver. The application fee waiver for those applying to UT Austin is attached HERE.
- Ask for Letters of Recommendation
- GeoFORCE is happy to provide letters of recommendation for our students! To request a letter from us please fill out this form and contact us through email at geoforce@jsg.utexas.edu.
Transfer Student Checklist:
Looking at transferring to UT Austin? Here’s a spreadsheet with requirements listed for students looking to transfer to the Jackson School of Geosciences at UT Austin.
You can also find more information at the website here: https://eps.jsg.utexas.edu/undergraduate/admissions/
GeoFORCE Alumni Events
Want to meet other GeoFORCE Alumni, receive professional development assistance, and stay involved with GeoFORCE? Take a look at all of our upcoming events or the resources linked in our past events!
Fall 2027
Transition to College – College Essay Workshop
Do you need help with your essay for college applications? Stop by GeoFORCE’s College Essay Workshop to learn some helpful essay writing tips, and receive personalized feedback! Bring in your essay rough draft to receive the most help possible.
To get ready for the workshop think about:
What message do I want to share with the reviewers? What could be an interesting story that helps me share this message? What accomplishments do I want to highlight? How does this work with other essays/short answer questions I may also be submitting?
A list of college essay prompts & tips can be found here: https://www.commonapp.org/apply/essay-prompts?ref=prepexpertallaccess.com
October 1, Thursday
6 – 7pm
Virtual (Teams)
GeoFORCE Longhorns – Puzzles & PD #1
Hey GeoFORCE alumni at UT Austin! Stop by our first professional development event of the school year! At this session we will play Interview Bingo and winning students will receive a pink GeoFORCE shirt. Also at this session, we will hear from current biochem student Zenaida Rodriguez on the research she is doing.
Dinner & snacks will be provided!
October 8th, Thursday
5:30 – 7pm
JGB 4.102
Transition to College – College Application Office Hours
Are you applying to college and need assistance with the process? Stop by one of GeoFORCE’s College Application Office Hours to ask any questions you may have while applying!
These virtual sessions will allow students to come and ask the GeoFORCE team questions about their college application, how the process works, and get personalized assistance on aspects of their current applications. Note, students are expected to bring in their own questions/applications.
GeoFORCE Longhorns – Spooky Social
GeoFORCE Alumni are welcome to come to our Spooky Social! This event will be filled with spooky treats, eats, and 2 contests with prizes: a pumpkin painting contest & a costume contest!
Dinner & snacks will be provided!
October 29th, Thursday
5:30 – 7pm
JGB 4.102
GeoFORCE Longhorns – Puzzles & PD #2
Hey GeoFORCE alumni at UT Austin! Stop by our first professional development event of the school year! At this session we will play Resume Roulette and winning students will receive a pink GeoFORCE shirt. Also at this session, we will hear from a current GeoFORCE alum on the research they are doing.
Dinner & snacks will be provided!
November 5th, Thursday
5:30 – 7pm
JGB 4.102
GeoFORCE Longhorns – Friendsgiving Social
GeoFORCE Alumni at UT are welcome to come to our Friendsgiving Social! For this social we’ll be making “Thank You” cards for GeoFORCE alumni currently at other universities we are thankful to have met. This event will be potluck style – with GeoFORCE Coordinators providing the main course!
November 19th, Thursday
5:30 – 7pm
JGB 4.102
Transition to College – College Application Office Hours
Are you applying to college and need assistance with the process? Stop by one of GeoFORCE’s College Application Office Hours to ask any questions you may have while applying!
These virtual sessions will allow students to come and ask the GeoFORCE team questions about their college application, how the process works, and get personalized assistance on aspects of their current applications. Note, students are expected to bring in their own questions/applications.
Transition to College – FAFSA Workshop
During this virtual event we will go over financial aid and the step-by-step process of filling out the FAFSA! To do this, both students and parents need to create an FSA ID before the workshop. If you have a sibling who is attending/has attended college, your parents may already have an FSA ID. A step-by-step guide to creating an FSA ID can be found HERE. It should take 3-5 business days for FSA ID’s to be verified, so try to do them soon.
Before attending, please fill out THIS SURVEY and let us know what questions you have about financial aid & FAFSA!
December 2nd, Wednesday
6 – 7pm
Virtual (Teams)
GeoFORCE Longhorns – Winter Social
Take a break from studying and join us for a night of Gingerbread House decorating, sweet treats, and holiday cheer! Winners of our Gingerbread House Decorating competition will receive a little gift.
Dinner & snacks will be provided!