What should I know about transferring college credits?

I'm planning a college transfer and I want to know how my current credits would transfer to another school. How do I make sure all my hard work counts at the next university?

The process of transferring college credits varies from institution to institution, but there are some general tips that can help ensure as many of your credits as possible transfer over.

1. Evaluate Your Transcript: The first step is to accurately understand your academic standing at your current institution. What courses have you taken? What grades did you receive? Are they lower-division or upper-division courses? This self-evaluation will prepare you for the conversations you need to have with academic advisors at both your current and prospective schools.

2. Accreditation: Generally, credits from an institution that is regionally accredited are more likely to transfer than those from a nationally accredited institution. So, check the accreditation of the college you are currently attending.

3. Articulation Agreements: Some schools have articulation agreements with other institutions (usually with community colleges), which are formal agreements that outline which credits will be transferable between the two institutions.

4. Meet with Both Academic Advisors: Speak with academic advisors at both your current school and prospective school. They are there to guide you through this process and have a deep understanding of the kind of credits their institution accepts.

5. Course Syllabi: Keep detailed course syllabi of the classes you have taken. Some schools may ask to see these so they can compare the content and learning outcomes with their own courses.

6. General Education vs. Major-Specific Credits: General education credits are more likely to transfer than credits for courses within your major. If you're changing majors, you might find that most of your credits transfer, but count as elective rather than major credits at the new school.

7. Transfer Evaluation: After you apply to the new school and send in your official transcript, the new school will typically do a transfer credit evaluation to determine which credits will transfer and how they will be applied to your degree plan.

Remember, each school has its own transfer credit policy, so it's really important to get an official transfer credit review from the school you're looking to attend. You should be aware though, there may be situations where not all credits can be transferred, and you may need to prepare for that scenario.

Good luck with your transfer process!