Can Brookdale Community College credits transfer to a 4-year college?

I'm attending Brookdale Community College and want to eventually transfer to a 4-year college. How smooth is the transfer process, and do their credits generally transfer well?

The transfer process from a community college to a 4-year institution can generally be fairly smooth, particularly if there's an established articulation agreement in place. Articulation agreements are formal agreements between two colleges or universities documenting the transfer policies for a specific academic program or degree.

Brookdale Community College has articulation agreements with many universities, which ensures a seamless transfer of credits. Moreover, Brookdale also participates in the New Jersey state-wide transfer agreement, which provides a smooth transition to the 4-year public institutions in New Jersey.

However, it's crucial to remember that the transferability of credits often depends on a variety of factors, such as the specific programs/majors you're considering, the grades you earned in your courses, and how closely the courses at Brookdale align with the requirements at the 4-year institution.

I recommend you plan early for a transfer. Meet with an academic advisor at Brookdale to discuss your transfer plans, and possibly reach out to the admissions office of the 4-year college you plan to transfer to later. They can provide additional information on transfer policies and perhaps start a conversation about your academic plans and how your Brookdale coursework would fit into this.

Remember, while credits transfer, grades do not. When you transfer, your GPA is reset and you start from scratch at your new institution. Just because a class transfers doesn't mean it will fulfill a specific requirement. Some programs might require you take specific courses at their institution.

In summary, the transfer process from Brookdale Community College to a 4-year institution is usually quite smooth, but planning and continuous communication with both your current advisor and potential transfer institution are key to ensuring you're on the best path.