How does the Ohio College Course Transfer Guide work?

I'm from Ohio and looking into colleges here. I've heard about an Ohio College Course Transfer Guide. Can anyone explain how this helps with transferring credits between schools in Ohio?

The Ohio Credit Transfer Tool is a system that aims to facilitate credit transfer among the many public and private colleges and universities in Ohio. Here's a quick breakdown of how it works:

1. Course Equivalency: The key aspect of the guide is its 'Ohio Transfer 36' which indicates courses that are universally accepted by all colleges and universities in Ohio. When you complete an OTM course at one university, it can transfer to any other institution in the state.

2. Transfer Assurance Guides (TAGs): These guides provide pathways for students to follow specific pre-majors, ensuring that their credits will not only transfer, but will apply towards a particular degree.

3. Career-Technical Credit Transfer – (CT)²: This component of the guide provides transition pathways from technical schools or career centers to colleges, allowing you to translate your technical education or associate's degree into a bachelor's program.

4. Military Transfer Assurance Guides (MTAGs): These guides ensure that military training, experience, and coursework are recognized and given appropriate college credit.

The transfer guide is an excellent tool because it maximizes your credit transfer, ensuring that you don't waste time or money retaking classes you've actually already finished. It lets you know exactly how every course you take will transfer to another school, greatly simplifying transfer planning.

To use it, you'll need to refer to the guide as you plan your course schedule, making sure to select courses that are part of the OTM, TAGs, (CT)², or MTAGs, as these are the courses that will transfer seamlessly among Ohio institutions.

Keep in mind, you'll still need to meet the admission requirements for the school to which you're transferring in order to utilize these benefits. Always consult with academic advisors at both your current and prospective institutions to ensure you're on the right track.