Will my college courses transfer over?

I'm planning to switch colleges and want to make sure my completed courses will transfer. What's the best way to verify this? Should I talk to an advisor at my current college or my prospective college?

As with many aspects of college transfer processes, whether your college courses will transfer can vary widely depending on several factors, such as the specific institutions involved, the course itself, how closely it aligns with the curriculum of your prospective program, and the grading you received in the course.

The best steps to verify if your courses will transfer are as follows:

1. Speak to an Academic Advisor at Your Current College: They will be able to provide specific insights and might be aware of established transfer agreements (also referred to as articulation agreements) with other colleges that ensure certain courses will be recognized.

2. Contact the Admissions Office at Your Prospective College: Each college sets its transfer policy, and they will be able to give you the clearest answer. Provide detailed information about the courses you have taken, including course descriptions and syllabi if you have them, to provide them the needed basis to determine whether the courses are equivalent to any at their institution.

3. Check the Prospective College's Transfer Credit Policies: Many colleges have guidelines or resources online that explain their transfer credit policies, such as lists of transferable courses or transfer credit databases you can use as a reference.

Remember, just because credits transfer does not mean they will all count toward your specific degree program requirements. Your prospective college will consider which, if any, of the transferred credits satisfy requirements for your intended degree. In some cases, transferred credits may only be eligible as elective credits.

Lastly, the earlier you start this conversation with both institutions, the better prepared you will be to make decisions that align with your educational goals.