Before a transfer student is ever admitted, registered, or connected with a program director, they often sit down with Enrollment Counselor Ian Pollock, and that conversation sets the tone for everything that follows. Ian’s approach is built on listening. He wants to understand what motivates a student, what their long-term goals look like, and how Carlow can help them get there.
What stands out in Ian’s work is how closely he collaborates across campus to give students a clear, honest picture of their path forward. If a student isn’t sure what program fits, he helps them explore options. If they need guidance or reassurance, he connects them with faculty who respond quickly and care deeply. For Ian, this is what a small university makes possible, and why so many transfer students say their experience at Carlow felt more supportive, personal, and promising than anywhere else they considered.
We sat down with Ian to learn more about how he supports transfer students, what makes Carlow’s process unique, and why he believes these one-on-one relationships matter so much.
Your own college experience seems to shape the way you work with transfer students. How so?
I went to a school with about 2,500 students, very similar in size to Carlow. My professors knew me, and I never felt like just a number. When I talk to transfer students, especially those coming from community colleges, I can speak from experience. They’re coming from small classes and personal relationships. Carlow lets them continue that. Sometimes I even joke with parents that our faculty will email or call if a student isn’t in class. But that’s part of what makes a place like this special.
What does building relationships with transfer students look like for you?
It really starts before they ever apply. If I meet a student at a fair, we might just be talking basics. But once the process starts — transcripts, goals, life plans — that’s when I really get to know who they are and what they want. A student might say they want nursing, but through conversation we realize they’re really driven by helping people, and a different path like psychology or social work might fit better. Carlow is small enough that I can quickly connect them with program directors who will talk with them directly. That one-on-one guidance makes a huge difference.
You mentioned your colleagues and faculty partners. How does that teamwork support students?
I don’t pretend to know everything, and that’s the best part of working here. I can lean on my team, and I know our faculty will respond quickly, often within a day. When I can rely on that, I can tell students confidently that they’ll experience the same thing. That’s not something you get everywhere.
How is the transfer process at Carlow different from other institutions?
The biggest difference is how hands-on it is from the start. Jess, our student success coordinator, gives students a sense of where they’d stand before they commit. That transparency matters. A student might learn they’d spend three years at another school but only two and a half at Carlow, maybe even two with a summer course. Once they’re admitted, Jess spends 45 minutes to an hour getting them fully registered and set up. By the time they step on campus, they’re not lost. They’re ready.
What changes do you see in students from the moment they arrive compared to when they graduate?
A lot of students come in unsure of the exact path they want. Nursing students often know where they want to end up, but not always which specialty or unit fits them. Our faculty do an incredible job building their confidence, especially through clinicals and NCLEX prep. We’ve had students with job offers before they even get their NCLEX results. That transformation is amazing to watch: they start hopeful, and they leave certain.
You talk a lot about connections. How do Carlow students get connected to the Pittsburgh community?
There are so many opportunities. Education majors do their practicum right here in our Early Learning Center or Campus Lab School. They’re literally learning alongside the next generation. Nursing students rotate through different hospital systems: UPMC, AHN, St. Clair. They get a wide range of experiences, and it often leads to jobs. I’ve met nurses who graduated from Carlow decades ago who are still known for being exceptional. That legacy carries real weight in local hospitals.
What keeps you excited about this work every day?
Every student I talk to has a different story. That keeps things interesting. But what really brings me joy is when a student reaches out and says this was their best transfer experience, or that our office helped them more than anyone else. That’s the Carlow way: genuinely helping them find their place and treating their goals like they matter. Because they do.
