subject: Transfer College Credits: How To Make The Move From Community College To University [print this page] When you make the move from a community college to a four-year university, youll need to transfer college credits. Many colleges make the transfer process easy and straight-forward. To further streamline transferring credits earned, community colleges establish partnerships with public and private universities.
Knowing you can easily transfer college credits to a university opens the doors to many educational opportunities. For example, you can choose the convenience and affordability of a community college for a good portion of your degree requirements. You can also take online courses to provide the maximum flexibility, especially if youre a working adult or stay-at-home parent.
Learn the Process Ahead of Time
If you know your goal is a four-year degree, its important to understand how your school will transfer college credits. Community colleges will have advisors to help you with your educational goals. In addition to counseling about coursework and different programs, your advisor can help you through the process of transferring college credits to a four-year university.Your credits will transfer whether you complete your coursework in the classroom, online or a combination of both.
The process for you to transfer college credits may vary depending on the university you choose and the partnership your community college has in place. Because requirements and procedures may differ, youll want to meet with your advisor early in your education so you can plan accordingly. Your advisor will recommend the most convenient way for you to transfer college credits.
In addition, by developing a relationship with an advisor when you start your community college education, youll know what types of programs each university partner offers. Youll also need to find out the number of transfer credits accepted, tuitions costs, financial aid programs, the application process, applicable deadlines and more.
How to Apply to a University
With the help of your advisor, you can start to develop a plan for completing your four-year degree. After learning all you can about your selected university and how to transfer college credits from your community college, you should contact the admissions office. By doing so, you can add to the information from your advisor and what you collected from your own research.
Youll also need to know where to send transcripts from your community college. And, make sure you find out if special entrance exams or letters of recommendation are required.
You should apply to the university of your choice before you complete your community college education. A recommended time frame would be one or two semesters prior to finishing your community college program requirements.
Special Programs to Transfer College Credits
If your community college has partnerships with several universities, you may be able to transfer your whole associate degree credits without any loss. This is referred to as block transfers. This type of transfer depends on the associate degree you earned and your future university major.
Your community college advisor and the university admissions office will be able to tell you for sure how you can transfer credits. You should find out before you take a course if it will transfer. However, if you attend an accredited school and work with an advisor, chances are higher youll be able to transfer credits with few, if any, issues. Keep in mind the university will make the final determination on eligible credit transfers.
If you do have problems when you go to transfer college credits, check to see if your community college has a Transfer Student Ombudsperson (TSO). This resource will help you work through any issues.
