What are Oberlin College's transfer credit policies?

I'm considering transferring to Oberlin College and I'm curious about how they handle transfer credits. Do they accept most credits from other colleges, or are there restrictions? Trying to figure out how this might affect my graduation timeline.

Oberlin College has a specified policy regarding transfer credits from other institutions. Briefly, these key points might help clarify their process:

- Credits earned with a grade of C- or better from accredited colleges and universities typically transfer to Oberlin. However, it's important to note that grades do not transfer, only the credits do.

- The number of credits that transfer depends on the nature of the courses and how they align with Oberlin's curriculum. The relevant academic departments at Oberlin evaluate each course to determine whether it's equivalent to their courses or whether it fulfills any requirements.

- Transfer students must earn at least 16 of their total 32 required credits at Oberlin, which may affect your graduation timeline. This essentially means you must spend at least two full academic years in residence at Oberlin to graduate.

- Further, there are restrictions on applying transfer credits towards specific requirements. For example, only 4 full academic courses (not including PE or private readings) of transfer credit may count towards the general requirements.

- There's also a limit on major requirements that can be fulfilled by transfer credits. Generally, up to half the requirements can be met with transfer credits, with the balance needing to be completed at Oberlin. The exact percentage can vary by department.

It's essential to consult with the Registrar's Office at Oberlin or a departmental advisor for more definitive information on transfer credit policies. This will help you map out a potential academic plan and understand how your existing credits would fit into Oberlin's graduation requirements.