Understanding college courses transfer equivalencies

I'm planning to transfer to a new college and want to make sure my courses count towards my degree. How do I find out their equivalencies at the new school? Is there an easy way to check this before transferring?

That's a great question and it's very important to check course equivalencies before transferring to make sure you're on track for your intended degree. Here's how you can go about it:

1. Course Equivalency Tools: Some colleges have course equivalency tools on their websites. These online tools allow you to input the name of the school where the original credit was earned and the course code to see if it has a direct equivalent at the school you're interested in. Make sure to check the transfer college's website or reach out to their registrar's office to see if they have such a tool.

2. Articulation Agreements: Look for articulation agreements between your present institution and the college you're intending to join. Articulation agreements are formal agreements between two colleges that outline how credits from certain courses can transfer. They can often be found on either college's website.

3. Speak to Advisors: Speaking with an academic advisor or a transfer admissions counselor can be very helpful in these situations. They can guide you through the complex process of transferring and ensure that your credits will apply to your intended degree at the new college. It might be good to have a list of the courses you've taken along with course descriptions at hand for this conversation.

4. Transcripts Evaluation: A more official way to check for equivalencies is to request a transcripts evaluation from the prospective college. This is usually done after you've been accepted, but some schools might do this before you apply if you ask.

Remember, even if a course transfers, it is not guaranteed to fulfill specific degree requirements at your new school. Therefore, always cross-verify if the course credits can be used towards your intended major or if they just count as elective credits. Also, be sure to keep syllabi and course descriptions from your classes, as these can be useful if there are questions about specific course content.