How do you transfer between community colleges?

I'm considering switching community colleges and I'm curious about how unit transfers work. Can anyone explain the process and any potential hurdles I should be aware of when moving to a different community college?

Switching between community colleges typically involves a series of steps:

1. Investigation: Before you start the process, you’ll want to investigate the curriculum and specific courses offered at your prospective destination college. In particular, find out if both colleges have an articulation agreement, which means there's a formal agreement detailing what courses are transferrable between the two institutions. Many colleges have this information publicly available or you can contact their registrar office.

2. Application: Apply for admission at the destination community college and pay any necessary application fees. Remember to note on your application that you're a transfer student.

3. Transcript: Request official copies of your transcript from your current college to be sent to the new school. You may have to pay a small fee for this service. Make sure you also have your high school transcripts, as some colleges may want to see these.

4. Evaluation: Once your new school receives your transcripts, they'll evaluate the courses you've taken and determine how many of your credits they'll accept.

5. Enrollment: After your application is accepted and your transcripts are evaluated, you can select your courses and register for the upcoming term. An academic adviser will often be available to guide you in course selection.

Potential hurdles you should be aware of include a possible loss of credits during the transfer process. Some of your credits might not transfer if your new college doesn't offer an equivalent course or doesn't recognize the course taken at your previous community college. Additionally, there might be a limit on how many credits can be transferred.

To prepare for this and ensure as smooth a transfer as possible, familiarize yourself with both the current and prospective colleges' course catalogues to see how the courses align. Also, meet with an academic advisor at both colleges to discuss your specific situation and get assistance mapping out your best pathway.

Lastly, keep in mind that different states have different laws governing credit transfer between public community colleges. If you are transferring to another state, additional complications could arise. Be sure to research the policies of both the state you're leaving and the state you're moving to.