When transferring colleges, do I have to transfer all my credits?

I'm thinking about transferring schools, but I’m not sure if transferring all my credits is a must. Is it possible to leave some behind, and if so, what might be the implications?

Yes, typically when you transfer colleges, all of your transcript - which includes all the credits you've earned so far - also gets sent to the new college. However, keep in mind that transferring all your credits doesn't necessarily mean that all those credits will be accepted or applied toward your degree at the new institution. Each college has its own policy on transferring credits, which is based on course compatibility, accreditation of the previous institution, and grades received.

Transferring all credits allows the new college to have a complete academic record of the student. But if you don't want certain credits to apply to your new degree program, you might have a bit of flexibility depending on the school's policy. That might be beneficial if you want to retake certain courses, or if the inclusion of those courses would affect your GPA negatively.

Leaving some credits behind could prolong the time to complete your degree, depending on how many courses aren't accepted and how they align with your degree requirements at the new school. It could also potentially impact financial aid if not enough credits are transferred.

It's important to talk this out with an academic advisor at the new institution to understand how your credits would transfer, and how that would impact your academic plan, financial aid, and pathway to graduation. Be sure to get a tentative evaluation of your transcript from the intended transfer school before making a decision- most schools offer this service to prospective transfer students.