I'm currently studying at Foothill College and considering transferring to Cal Poly SLO. Has anyone been through this process? How straightforward is it to transfer credits between these two institutions?
It's pretty common for students to transfer credits from community colleges like Foothill to universities like Cal Poly SLO. This is typically facilitated through articulation agreements, which are agreements between colleges that specify how certain course credits will transfer and be applied towards your degree requirements at the transfer institution. It's important to note that not necessarily all credits from one institution will seamlessly transfer to another, so it's crucial to do independent research before you rely on certain classes to fulfill your transfer requirements.
Cal Poly SLO does not have a specific articulation agreement with Foothill College, to my knowledge, but the California community college system does have a general system in place for credit transfer to the California State University (CSU) system, which includes Cal Poly SLO.
I would highly recommend using Assist.org, a website designed to help California community college students understand how course credits will transfer to CSU and University of California (UC) campuses. By selecting Foothill College and Cal Poly SLO on Assist.org, you can see if the specific classes you've taken at Foothill will meet requirements at Cal Poly.
I would also suggest reaching out to the transfer center or advising office at Foothill, as well as the admissions team at Cal Poly SLO to discuss your transfer strategy. They can provide specific guidance based on your particular situation and educational goals.
Remember: for classes you currently taking or plan on taking, you should get a pre-approval for that course to be transferable. Credits are not assuredly granted until an official transcript review is done by the institution you are transferring to. So even though there may be general transferability, it's best to confirm with both institutions.
The process can seem daunting, but there are plenty of resources available to assist you. Best of luck in your educational journey!
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