There are many factors that influence a college student’s decision to choose a two-year school compared to a four-year option. Tuition prices, SAT scores, class flexibility, and whether or not they have yet chosen a major are just some considerations that may influence a student’s higher education selection.
Whatever your plan may be, if you wish to attend a four-year school following two-year community college attendance, one of the biggest concerns you will face is which credits transfer and which do not.
The Nuts and Bolts of Transferring
The online college transfer process works pretty much like a regular college application. In both instances, you’ll be required to apply and send your academic transcripts. The only difference is that transferring community college students must add a list of college credits earned from their two-year school.
The most common complaint among transferring community college students is that fewer credits transfer to their four-year school than they initially assumed.
This discrepancy can happen for a multitude of reasons:
- A student wants to switch majors when entering their four-year school. Forbes indicates this occurs quite frequently.
- Schools may not have a specific articulation agreement in place.
- Grade requirements differ from school to school. Sometimes a C or better is needed to make a credit legitimate.
- There may simply be a limit on how many credits a certain college will accept.
If transferring is in your future, you should take a deep dive into your plans as early as possible. This should include the following:
- Check to see which credits are transferable to the four-year school(s) of your choice.
- Ensure that your current GPA, or the one you are going to work hard to keep, meets the present requirements of your choice of four-year school.
- Avial yourself of any articulation agreements—if they do indeed exist—between your two-year school and the four-year school to which you wish to transfer. (Articulation agreements include a formalized arrangement between two-year and four-year schools and lay out the specifics of student transfers—course equivalencies, specific degree requirements. Be cautioned; the specifics of articulation agreements, even if still in place when you transfer, can change from year to year.)
- Figure out tuition costs.
- Seek advice from counselors and mentors from both schools.
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What Credits Transfer?
There are always exceptions, but the credits that best transfer from two-year to four-year schools are general education (GE) courses like English Composition, basic Math, Sciences, and introductory Humanities/Social Science courses. This is why you will find many students shoring up on these courses. You know these required basic classes are required no matter what college you attend or what major you choose, and completing them at a two-year school will often save money. The cost of credits at a community college is often cheaper. Completing these courses early benefits the college student who plans to transfer to a four-year school, even before they earn their associate’s degree.
Other Credits That Transfer
We don’t just learn in a classroom.
Many of us are taught and use essential skills during on-the-job training or work before or even during college. This can range from vocational to technical training and beyond.
Sometimes we nearly take on careers when volunteering in our communities. Skills we learn during volunteer work can be transferred as college credit.
Even the sacrifices made by military personnel can be applied toward credits for a college degree. Brick and mortar schools like Regent University in Virginia Beach, Northwestern Health Science University, and the online University of Maryland Global Campus provide specific credit options for jobs and skills learned when an applicant was in active service.
And there are plenty of ways to earn certificates, credentials, or even take AP college courses—or dual enrollment—when not yet in college.
It is prudent to explore the specifics of how much of what was mentioned above will indeed transfer for the courses you are taking. Additionally, research the specific agreement between the institution you’re transferring credits from and the one you’re applying them to. There are, of course, plenty of websites dedicated to transferring students. Make use of them.
Where We Plan to Go and Where We End Up
As is true for many of us, we often come to find a wide chasm between our aspirations and actual, manageable results. We might start with the best intentions for the former, but find life keeping us from the latter. If transferring from your community college to a four-year school is in your plans, it’s best to strategize the best you can.
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