Do you lose credits when you transfer colleges?

If I decide to transfer colleges, will I lose any credits I've already earned? I'm really concerned about having to retake courses and would love to know how this typically works.

When you transfer colleges, the credits you've already earned may or may not transfer, depending on the specific schools and programs involved. Typically, basic or general courses are more likely to transfer, while specialized or program-specific courses may not. Here are some general points to consider:

1. Universities establish their own credit transfer policies: Universities themselves decide what courses they will accept for transfer credits. As such, it varies from one institution to another.

2. Accreditation matters: In general, credits are more easily transferred between institutions that are regionally accredited. Transferring credits between regionally and nationally accredited institutions can be more challenging.

3. Course similarity: Even if the previous school and potential new school are both regionally accredited, a class from the old school must be equivalent to a course at the new school to count for credit. For example, a calculus course at one college needs to cover the same material as the calculus course at the second college.

4. Grade minimums: Often, only courses with a grade of C (or sometimes higher) will be considered for transfer.

5. Major requirements: Sometimes, certain required courses for a major have to be taken directly through the institution granting the degree.

6. Expiration date: Some courses in fast-changing fields might have an "expiration date." For example, schools might not accept science or computer courses that were taken more than a few years ago.

To ensure you do not lose your credits, it's advisable to connect with academic advisors at both your current institution and the one you hope to transfer to, who can guide you through the process by reviewing your transcripts and advising on your best course of action. Keep in mind that in addition to transcripts, you may also need to submit course syllabi or other course materials, so it’s a good idea to keep these on hand. Remember, plans can change so the earlier you start planning for this process, the more probable it is that your credits will seamlessly transfer to your new program.