How do Macalester College transfer credits work?

I'm thinking about transferring to Macalester College, and I'm curious about how they handle transfer credits. How many credits can I bring with me, and are there any specific requirements or restrictions?

Macalester College does have a policy that facilitates credit transfer from students coming from an accredited institution. They assess all credits on a course-by-course basis to determine if they are transferable.

As per the college's policy, the maximum number of credits that can be transferred is 60 semester credits (which equates to two years of full-time study). Hence, transfer students need to complete at least 64 credits (equivalent to about two years of study) at Macalester to satisfy their residency requirement.

However, the following restrictions apply:

1. Credits for “remedial” or “developmental” courses, vocational courses, or credit-by-examination (like CLEP) do not transfer.

2. Certain courses such as orientation courses, or institutional-specific courses (like ones focused on the culture or history of your previous college) may not be transferable.

3. Also, the grades you earned must be a C- or better, as Macalester does not accept credits from courses where the student earned a grade lower than a C-.

Keep in mind, however, that just because a credit gets transferred doesn’t mean it will automatically fulfill a major requirement or general education requirement. The departments at Macalester reserve the right to approve what courses will satisfy their major or minor requirements.

The best way to confirm how your credits will transfer is to reach out to Macalester's Registrar's Office. Providing them with your transcripts and course descriptions/syllabi will allow them to provide the most accurate evaluation of your credits.