How do transfer credits work at Fort Lewis College?

I'm planning on transferring to Fort Lewis College and I want to understand how transfer credits are handled there. Do they accept a lot of credits from community colleges? Any advice on maximizing my credit transfer would be great!

Transfer credits are handled quite seamlessly at Fort Lewis College. The school accepts transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions, so if you've taken courses at a community college, it's highly likely that many of your credits will transfer successfully.

A couple of key points to consider:

1. Course Level: Lower-division courses (100 or 200 level) from your community college generally transfer as lower-division at Fort Lewis College. Upper-division courses (300 or 400 level) also usually transfer as is.

2. Course Grade: You need to have achieved a grade of 'C-' or better for your credits to be eligible for transfer.

3. Maximum Transfer Credits: Fort Lewis College allows a maximum of 90 transferable semester credits. You also need to ensure that at least 30 credits are earned from Fort Lewis College itself to meet the residence requirement for graduation.

4. Liberal Arts Core: If you've completed your Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at a Colorado community college, you can get all of your Liberal Arts Core requirement at Fort Lewis College waived. This does not include Essential Learning Capstone or other specific degree requirements though.

In terms of maximizing your credit transfer, here are some suggestions:

- Consider completing an Associate Degree: Fort Lewis College recognizes the value in the completion of an associate degree. As mentioned, if you complete an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science at a Colorado community college, you can have your Liberal Arts Core alleviated.

- Plan ahead: Connect with both your community college advisor and a Fort Lewis College transfer coordinator as early as possible. They can help ensure that you select courses that will both count towards your specific degree program at Fort Lewis College and are likely to transfer.

- Use transfer guides: Fort Lewis College offers transfer guides for several Colorado community colleges which can directly translate community college courses to Fort Lewis courses. This can give you a sense of which of your courses will transfer and count toward your intended major.

Remember, every college and every major can have different transfer credit policies, so keeping in contact with your advisors is vital to making the most of your community college coursework.