Can someone explain how the transfer units work when moving from Orange Coast College to a four-year university? I'm trying to figure out what courses will transfer over smoothly.
When in terms of transferring from a community college like Orange Coast College (OCC) to a four-year university, it's essential to ensure that the classes you take are transferable and align with your intended major at the four-year university. Thankfully, many resources can help you figure this out!
The first stop should be your community college's transfer center or your academic advisor. They will have the most detailed insight into the transfer process for your particular school. They should be able to provide you with a course catalog that indicates which classes at your school are equivalent to classes at local four-year universities.
In California, community colleges like OCC have articulation agreements with local universities. These agreements explicitly layout which courses at the community college are equivalent to required courses at the four-year school. This information can typically be found on ASSIST, which is an online service that shows how course credits earned at public California community colleges can be applied when transferred to a four year university in California.
Furthermore, OCC has their own internal resources for transfer students. For instance, they might hold transfer workshops, offer guidance from transfer counselors, and provide access to CollegeSource Online, which has catalogs from universities all over the country.
If you're considering private or out-of-state colleges, I recommend reaching out to those colleges directly. Many of them have transfer admissions counselors who can guide you through what will and will not transfer.
Lastly, since requirements might be different for each university and major, it's best to pick your top choice schools and majors early. This way, you can ensure the courses you take will fulfill the requirements you need to transfer.
As an example, if you're majoring in Economics, at OCC you should focus on completing the associate degree for transfer (ADT) in Economics. This degree guarantees admission to a California State University (CSU) campus and aligns with lower-division general education and major preparation coursework.
Remember, the earlier you start planning your transfer, the smoother the process will be. It's never too early to begin organizing your transfer strategy!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.