How does college credit transfer work?

I'm a bit confused about how college credit transfer actually works. Can someone explain the general process and what factors determine if credits from my current college would be accepted by a new one?

Sure, happy to shed some light on that. Transferring college credits involves several steps and depends on various factors. At a high level, here's how it works:

1. Receive Transcript: The first step is to obtain your official transcripts from your current institution. This record lists the courses you've taken, grades you've achieved, and the number of credits earned. All this information is essential for the new institution to determine how your previous coursework aligns with their degree requirements.

2. Evaluation by New Institution: Once the new institution has your transcripts, they'll conduct an evaluation. They look at things like course content, grades received (usually a minimum grade, often C or higher, is required for transfer), and the accreditation status of the institution where you earned the credits.

3. Degree Requirements: Not all credits you've earned will necessarily apply towards your intended major at your new college. Different colleges have different requirements for their degrees. The appropriate department at the new institution will review your transcripts to decide which of your previously earned credits are applicable towards your selected degree.

4. Transfer Credit Limit: It's also important to remember that most colleges have a maximum number of credits that can be transferred. This might limit the number of credits that you can bring from your previous institution.

5. Final Decision: After the review process, the institution will make a decision on the credits that will be accepted. You should receive a detailed report or an equivalent transfer credit evaluation document showing which of your previous credits will be accepted and how they transfer (i.e., what requirement they satisfy at the new institution).

Every institution has its own policy when it comes to accepting transfer credits, so it's prudent to speak directly with the admissions or records office at your potential new institution to understand their procedure and requirements.

It's also beneficial to know ahead of time whether your current courses might be transferable, especially if you plan to transfer in the future. Websites like Transferology can be helpful for this, as you can enter your courses and see how they might transfer to other schools. Remember, though, that you should always double-check with the institutions involved because the website may not be 100% reliable or up-to-date.