Transferring Credits from Augustana College to Another School

If I attend Augustana College for a year or two, how easy is it to transfer those credits to another college later? Are there any common issues students face, or tips to ensure the credits transfer smoothly?

Transferring college credits can be contingent on several factors. The process typically depends on the policies of the receiving institution, compatibility of the courses with the new institution's curriculum, and the grades you achieved in your courses.

To successfully transfer credits, follow these steps:

1. Consult with Your Academic Advisor: It's important to start by discussing your transfer plans with an academic advisor at Augustana College as they're most familiar with their courses and could offer valuable advice. Make sure to have this discussion as early as possible to make the best choices about future courses.

2. Understand Your New School's Transfer Policy: Every institution maintains a unique transfer credit policy and process. Ideally, you should familiarize yourself with this before you decide to transfer. Most colleges and universities have information about their transfer credit policies on their website. Reach out to the admissions department of the college you wish to transfer to and inquire about these policies.

3. Documentation: Compile your course syllabuses, as the new institution may require them for a detailed evaluation of the credits you earned.

4. Keeping Good Grades: Often, colleges will only accept transfer credits if you've achieved a certain grade in a course (commonly a C or better).

5. Pre-Approval from New School: If possible and practical, get the courses pre-approved for transfer by the receiving institution. This precaution ensures that your credits will be accepted.

6. Using Transfer Networks: Some schools, especially within the same state or system, have transfer agreements or networks to facilitate the process. See if either of your institutions are part of such a network.

Common issues students may face while transferring credits include some schools not accepting credits from non-traditional coursework (like online classes), a lapse in time since the course was taken, and low grades in the class. To avoid these issues, stay on top of your coursework, maintain a high GPA, and thoroughly research and confirm transferability before taking any non-traditional classes.

Ultimately, the feasibility of transferring credits depends strictly on the school you're transferring to and their evaluation system. It's crucial to keep the lines of communication open and transparent with both your current and prospective institutions.