How does transferring credits work at Penn State?

I'm planning to transfer to Penn State and want to understand how they handle transfer credits from other colleges. Is there a specific process or requirements I should be aware of?

Penn State operates on a credit evaluation system for transfer students. Transferred credits fall into one of three categories: direct equivalent credits, department evaluation credits, and general credits.

1. Direct Equivalent Credits: These are courses that Penn State offers, and they're judged to be the same as courses you've taken at your previous institution.

2. Department Evaluation Credits: If a course does not have a direct equivalent at Penn State, it might still be recognized as fulfilling a requirement in a specific department.

3. General Credits: These are credits granted for courses that Penn State doesn't offer but are still valued as part of your academic history.

Penn State relies on counselors and faculty members from various academic departments to determine if your credits are eligible for transfer.

It's important to note that only credits are transferred, not grades. That means that the grades you earned at your previous institution will not affect your GPA at Penn State. However, to be eligible for transfer, you must have earned a grade of C or higher in the course. Pass/fail courses can also be transferred if the equivalent of a C or higher was earned.

To have your credits evaluated, you'll need to send official transcripts from all previous institutions to Penn State as part of your application.

Remember that transferring credits isn't an exact science, so it's possible not all your credits will transfer, especially if you're changing your major or if your previous course of study was very different from the one you intend to pursue at Penn State.

Lastly, you should also know that Penn State sets a limit on the number of transferable credits. For instance, when transferring from a four-year institution, you can only transfer up to 91 credits.

This is a general overview, and specific departments may have additional requirements or procedures. Be sure to check Penn State's website or contact their Office of Undergraduate Admissions for the most accurate and up-to-date information.