Do community college electives transfer to universities?

I'm trying to figure out if the electives I take at my local community college can transfer over when I move to a university. Does anyone have experience with this? How do I make sure I choose electives that will transfer?

Many community college electives do indeed transfer to universities, but specifics can depend heavily on the institutions involved. Both community colleges and universities generally maintain a list of equivalent courses to guide students in making transfer decisions.

To ensure you choose electives that will transfer, you can:

1. Speak with your current community college advisor: Your advisor should be able to provide you with a list of courses that are known to transfer to other institutions. Moreover, they will likely be familiar with which universities previous students successfully transferred to and which courses were accepted.

2. Contact the prospective university: If you know which universities you are interested in, it's a good idea to reach out to their admissions or registrar's office directly. They can provide detailed information about their policies regarding transferred credits.

3. Check transfer agreements: Some community colleges have "articulation agreements" with universities—these are formal agreements that outline exactly which credits can be transferred from one institution to another. If your community college has such an agreement with the university you're interested in, it can serve as a useful road map.

4. Look for common and general topics: Courses that cover broad, general topics or that are common across many institutions are most likely to transfer. For example, intro-level courses in history, literature, or basic sciences typically have equivalents at a wide range of colleges.

Remember that even if a course can technically be transferred, it doesn't automatically mean that it will count towards a specific requirement at your new school. It's also possible that some courses may exceed the limit of transferable credits. It's always best to double-check with both institutions.