I'm considering transferring from Clark College and want to understand how their transfer equivalencies are set up. How do I know which classes will count when I transfer to another school?
When it comes to transferring credits, each institution has its own specific policies for what they'll accept. Generally, a school will have a transfer equivalency system where they've pre-mapped courses from many other colleges to align with theirs. Credits from accredited institutions are more likely to transfer, but specifics can depend on things like the grade earned and how recently the course was taken.
Here are some steps students often take to understand their transfer credit situation:
1. Course Catalog: Start by looking at Clark College's course catalog and finding the courses you've taken. Pay attention to the course descriptions and learning objectives.
2. Transfer Advisor: Connect with a transfer or academic advisor at Clark College who can guide you through the process. They can often provide estimates on how many and which credits will likely transfer, based on past students who've transferred.
3. Receiving Institution: Ideally, contact the school you're interested in transferring to, ideally their admissions office or transfer credit evaluator. They can give you more specific guidance on their policy and possibly a preliminary review of your transcripts.
4. Transfer Equivalency Database: Check if the school you're interested in has a "transfer equivalency database" or something similar on their website. This is where they log how they've transferred credits from various schools in the past, and can give you a good idea of how your credits would be transferred.
5. Further Evaluation: If a course hasn't been transferred from Clark College to your prospective school before, the receiving institution might require a syllabus or course description for further evaluation.
Remember, though, that transferring credits doesn't always mean that those credits will count towards your intended degree. Sometimes, credits will transfer but only as electives or general credit that doesn't progress you towards your degree. It's crucial to understand not only if your credits will transfer, but how they'll count towards your degree plan at your new institution.
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