Transferring college credits to UT Austin?

I'm considering a transfer to UT Austin and need to know more about their college credit transfer process. What steps should I take to maximize the credits that will count toward my degree?

Firstly, note that at UT Austin, credits are transferred on a course-by-course basis and the courses have to be similar to what is offered at the university to be eligible for transfer. Before starting the process, I recommend getting a comprehensive list of all your completed coursework from your current institution.

To determine how many of your current credits are likely to be transferable to UT Austin, use an online mechanism called the Automated Transfer Equivalency (ATE) system provided by UT. The ATE houses all previously evaluated transfer courses from many schools and can let you know whether and how a course might transfer.

Note that UT Austin may accept some of your credits as elective credits, even if they don’t correspond exactly to a course in their catalog. While these elective credits might not count toward specific degree requirements, they can be used to meet the minimum credit hours needed for graduation.

With this in mind, be prepared for the possibility that not every credit may transfer over. If a course isn't listed in the ATE, you can contact the Office of Admissions for an unofficial evaluation.

To maximize the credits that count towards your degree, meet with an advisor at your current institution to discuss which courses you might take before transferring, to ensure they are equivalent to courses at UT Austin and will move you forward in your desired degree program. Be aware that the final decision on credit transfers is made by the relevant department at UT Austin, so it can be helpful to also speak with an admissions adviser at UT Austin for guidance.

After you've been accepted to the school, you'll need to send official transcripts to UT Austin, and they'll conduct an official evaluation of your transfer credits. It's a good practice to keep syllabi and coursework from your classes, as you might need them during the credit evaluation process. Each college within UT Austin will review your transferred courses to determine how they apply to your chosen degree program.

In the end, transferring credits can be a delicate process, and the best approach is to gather as much information as possible before making final decisions on classes and transfers.