SchoolisHard

Colleges seem to be stuck in the Cold War, at least when it comes to transfer credit. “How the hell do the Tar Heels have this piece of intelligence? Not possible! They cannot be better than us…raise the requirements!” It’s so stupid.

Because of this cave-troll logic, a transfer’s outcome is sometimes a tremendous setback. Many students have some or all of their hard-earned credits changed from academic treasure to arcade tokens, or electives. Normally, electives are the courses you take to still be considered a full-time student, waste time, or explore new interests. You have a great time spending an hour or two each week getting gutter-balls or learning how to appreciate art. Electives are something else when you change colleges. Before a transfer, all of your credits matter. Afterwards, some credits become little more than participation ribbons. You must do everything in your power to avoid this.

For starters, you really need to think with your head and not your heart. Some students refuse to change their mind when it comes to their intended transfer schools. Even if you have had your eye on a certain place for years, if you are just going to be repeating everything you have already accomplished, it should be a no-go. Instead, think of all the criteria which made you choose your first university. Factors such as cost, location, and more all played a part. Your intended transfer school should undergo the same scrutiny, but also be reasonably generous with its credit transfer.

Before even filling out an application, do your research. Every college worth going to has a decent website, so let’s start there. You should be looking for the following:

What are the basic requirements for transfer?

Be sure to look for the minimum number of credit hours required for a transfer, as well as any academic deficiencies in the core curriculum you may need to take care of.

What kind of schedule does it have? (Full year, semester, trimester)

Transferring from a college with a different type of schedule is very difficult. A college which follows the same format is best.

Does the college allow you to submit credit for evaluation before applying?

Most colleges I have researched require you to apply and be accepted before you have a clue what kind of credit you will receive. Though not always possible, search for a college willing to do an evaluation beforehand.

Do they have credit equivalence tables? (Unfortunately, this is usually only applicable for in-state transfers.)

Some colleges who do not do credit evaluation prior to admission have a credit chart which displays the credit awarded for classes taken at nearby schools. This is especially useful if the college does not look at credit until you have been admitted.

Is advanced placement credit from your first university transferable?

If you were allowed to skip a few classes at your first university or you took a CLEP test, make sure that the credit will transfer. The general rule here is that you must pass the next course in the sequence before receiving credit for the one before it. (If you are exempt from English 101 you must pass English 102.)

When you have finally made a decision, the application process is relatively straightforward. Finish the transfer application, and make sure you get your official transcript mailed to your new university. If you do not yet have an associate’s degree, you may also have to submit your high school transcript. Once all of this is done, your new university should get in touch with you soon thereafter and hold your hand the rest of the way.

Don’t abandon ship just to starve on an island. Take your time and give a lot of thought to the transfer process.

Good luck!