Transferring to a university can feel complicated. ACC joined forces with Texas State University (TXST) to create the Bats to Cats program to ease your stress and create a simple, affordable option. 

Bats to Cats provides a clear path from ACC to your bachelor’s degree that includes built-in support, like:

  • Personalized advising 
  • Assured scholarships  
  • A plan that ensures their ACC credits count toward their bachelor’s degree 

For many students, it also means saving money—up to $19,000 in tuition and fees—while staying close to home and on track toward their goals.

If you’re thinking about transferring, this Bats to Cats is worth knowing about. We sat down with an ACC Academic Advisor to learn more about the program and the perks. 

Q&A with Academic Advisor Kamryn Leary

Kamryn Leary has been an ACC Academic Advisor at the Northridge Campus since October 2023. She says that the most rewarding part of her job is getting to talk to students to learn about the mark they want to leave on this world and helping them get there and achieve their goals.

Q: How do you describe the Bats to Cats program to students?
A: Transferring to another school can be a daunting process—not knowing where to start, when to fill out the application, how to order transcripts, or what to do about financial aid. I tell them it’s like transferring to another school, but much easier. ACC and Transfer Services do a lot of the heavy lifting. Students fill out a declaration form, and then they are guided through the transfer process by a dedicated person from ACC. Normally, if you apply directly to a university, you have to navigate a lot of it by yourself. With Bats to Cats, students get hands-on help from start to finish. If this had been around when I was going through school, this is something I would have pursued, or at least looked into.

Q: What are the biggest selling points for the students you speak with?
A: Definitely the financial benefits! College is expensive, and Bats to Cats offers assured scholarships. Eligible students receive a $1,000 award if they transfer to the San Marcos campus, and a $2,000 award if they take classes at the Round Rock Campus. A lot of students love that it’s close by, so they might not have to move. On top of the money and the guidance, they also get perks like free tickets to select Texas State athletic events and access to special mixer events to build their TXST community while still at ACC.

Q: Who is a good candidate for the program, and when should they start looking into it? A: Anyone who is interested in Texas State or is unsure of where they want to go but knows they want to transfer. Not every major is eligible, but most students I speak to have a specific program pathway available. 

It’s never too early to talk about transferring! Even Early College High School students can start looking into it. There are transfer declaration deadlines, usually about six months in advance. Transfer Services recommends that students complete their associate degree at ACC first because it is the most cost-effective route, and then transfer through the program.

Q: Can you share an experience helping a student through the process?
A: I worked with a student who was overwhelmed by the prospect of changing her major from Biology to Business Administration. She had heard about the Bats to Cats program, so we pulled up the Bats to Cats program pathway sheet together. It really helped break down the process—showing exactly what classes she needed and what previous credits would apply. Being able to visualize her plan on Self-Service helped calm her down. Instead of the unknown, she could clearly see her path laid out before her.

Want to learn more? 

There are several opportunities to learn more.

Familiarize yourself with the program pathways, declaration forms, and eligibility requirements on the Bats to Cats web page. 

For specific questions, reach out to an advisor or email the ACC Bats to Cats team at [email protected].