You've made the decision to transfer to another college or university. Maybe you've completed your associate's degree and are going on for a bachelor's degree. Perhaps you are moving to another area of the state or the country. Whatever the reason, doing a bit of homework (pun intended) before you make the big move can make the transition go much more smoothly. Here are some important things to consider.
If possible, visit the new college in person to check it out, to meet with academic advisors and financial aid staff, and to talk with other students to get a feel for the college culture and what non-academic activities and resources are available. At a 4-year institution, it's also a good idea to visit the department offices of your major and talk to a professor or two just to introduce yourself. It's never too early to make a good impression.
If the structure of the classes (semesters, quarters, trimesters, and so on) differs between your new and old college, be prepared. The length of a class makes a vast difference in the pace, depth, and scope of the information presented.
Make sure you know exactly how your transferred classes will be credited at your new college. Transferring classes among colleges and universities can be a tricky and messy thing. Each institution has its own standards for what criteria each class must meet, and a class that satisfied a requirement at your old college may not be deemed adequate at your new college. It is vital that you meet with academic advisors or transfer center personnel at both colleges to see how your classes will transfer.
Realistically, you should expect to lose some credits, retake a class or two, and take some campus-specific classes at your new college. One common reason to lose credits for a class is your old college offered a specific class at the lower division level and the new college requires it to be take at the upper division level. Another sticking point is when a science class did not require a lab at the old college, but the version at the new college does require a lab. In those two cases, you will most likely have to retake the class. Your academic advisor at the new college will be able to advise you whether it is worth filing an appeal to try to have the old classes count at your new school. Many universities have lower and upper division core courses that everyone who graduates must take. An example of this is the upper division writing requirement classes at many California State University campuses.
Some community colleges and universities have classes that are guaranteed to transfer. It is also becoming more common for these institutions to have transfer agreements to assure most, if not all, of the community college classes taken by a student transfer to the university at full credit value. Academic advisors at your old and new college can help you with this. If you are a California student, ASSIST is a wonderful online service that can help you get a better idea of what classes will transfer among public universities and community colleges.
