What should I know about classes transferring between colleges?

I'm curious about how my college courses transfer if I decide to switch schools. What factors do colleges consider to approve transferred classes? Is there anything I can do to improve the chances of my classes being accepted?

Transferring credits between colleges can be a bit complex as different institutions have their own set of rules and standards.

Typically, four main factors influence whether a course gets transferred:

1. Accreditation: Schools generally accept credits from institutions that are regionally accredited, as they maintain a specific level of academic standards in their coursework.

2. Similarity of course: The course you'd like to transfer should have comparable curriculum to a course at your new school. The closer the match, the better the chance of having the credits transferred.

3. Grade received: Often, colleges require you to have received a minimum grade in a course (frequently a C or better) for it to be considered transferable.

4. Maximum transferable credits: Many schools have a maximum number of credits that you can transfer, which might be a percentage of the total degree credits.

To improve your chances of your credits being transferred, here are a few strategies:

a. Research in advance: If you know you might switch colleges, look for schools having articulation agreements with your current school. These agreements simplify the transfer process and generally guarantee that specific classes or even entire degrees will be accepted.

b. Save syllabi and coursework: Colleges might require to see course syllabi or coursework to evaluate comparability.

c. Communicate with advisors: Talk to academic advisors at your current and prospective colleges. They can guide you on which credits are more likely to transfer.

Make sure to request an official transcript from your current institution, as your new college is likely to require it during the transfer application process.