Tips on Transferring Colleges without Losing Credits

When you picture a typical college experience, you might imagine spending your entire student tenure at one school. This has long been regarded as the ‘ideal’ approach, but it can be highly unrealistic for many students.

Whether you have a specific degree program in mind or simply prefer a different campus culture, you may one day decide that you’re ready to move on.

When this time arrives, the big decision isn’t necessarily whether to stay put but rather which school can best meet your needs moving forward. This can be a difficult decision, as there are so many factors at play.

In this guide, we’ll help you make the most of the transfer process while navigating complex policies. With our guidance, you can plan for a bright future.

How to Select a New School to Transfer

No transfer will be successful unless you choose the right school. You may intuitively know which college you want to attend, but you’ll still want to do your research:

Investigate Transfer Policies at Your Current School

First, you need to know what, exactly, leaving your current school will look like. This means being open and honest with your advisor about why you want to transfer. Once informed, your advisor can put you in touch with relevant admissions or registrar staff members. Consider implications for financial aid, as assistance provided directly by your current school will not be available at your next college.

Investigate Transfer Policies at Your New School

Now that you have a basic feel for how transferring away from your current college might proceed, you need more details on what your experience will be like as you transfer to a new institution. Don’t be afraid to ask admissions staff questions like the following as you conduct research online or chat with the admissions team:

• Does your school have any policies about expiring credits?
• Could I receive additional credit for work experience?
• What does a ‘typical’ transfer process look like for incoming students?
• Are there any articulation agreements that could impact the process?
• Do I need to earn a certain number of credits from this school to get my associate or bachelor’s degree?

Find the Degree You Want to Pursue

Your decision may ultimately come down to a specific degree program. If you have a specific career path in mind but need to gain the appropriate skills or credentials first, you’ll almost certainly opt for the college that helps you take the next step on your professional trajectory.

Not all students enjoy such clarity while transferring. For example, the act of transferring might open new possibilities that were unavailable at your previous school, enabling you to explore exciting options that would have otherwise been out of reach. On the other hand, too many compelling options may leave you floundering when you should be making progress toward graduation.

By now, you should at least have some idea of which subjects or degree programs appeal to you — and which are best avoided. If possible, select a school with at least a few programs you find intriguing — and that you realistically think you could complete.

How to Transfer Your College Credits

Once you’ve made your big decision, it’s time to move forward with the actual credit transfer process. This is more than just a series of administrative tasks; you’ll need to do your research, so you understand exactly how course equivalencies work. You may be surprised at just how complicated this can be, particularly if your previous college uses a different calendar.

Feeling overwhelmed already? You’re certainly not alone. With a little guidance, however, you may realize that transferring isn’t as difficult as you originally assumed. These simple steps should help you get the transfer process off to a solid start.

Request an Unofficial Transcript

The unofficial transcript is a frequently underutilized tool that provides detailed insight into your academic history — or at least, as it’s reflected in your college’s official records. Accessing this resource should be easy, but attention to detail will be necessary as you determine whether anything about your coursework or GPA could be misrepresented.

Compare Course Equivalencies

Some classes look remarkably similar between colleges and should transfer easily — but in some situations, a class you completed at your previous school may bear little resemblance to courses available at your new college. These equivalencies could play a huge role in determining which school you ultimately attend and how long it takes to earn your associate or bachelor’s degree.

Remember that strict limits may be placed on college credits earned in high school via Advanced Placement (AP) or the American Council on Education (ACE). Other factors may also be considered, such as the age of the credits or how the previous college is accredited.

Talk to an Admissions Advisor or Counselor

While a wealth of information should be available online, nothing compares to chatting with an actual human being. The admissions advisor at your new college should be well-versed in all things transferring. This individual could be an invaluable resource, especially as you take steps toward getting foundational or general education credits transferred.

Talk to a Faculty or Department Advisor

Admissions advisors can point you in the right direction, but it’s also worth your while to chat with a department advisor if you hope to enter a specific degree program. You’ll quickly gain a sense of which steps you still need to take to ensure a smooth and stress-free transfer. If nothing else, you can establish a strong relationship with influential faculty members early on, as they’ll play an important role in shaping the remainder of your college experience.

Apply and Send Your Official Transcripts

By now, you should feel confident about what, exactly, the transfer process will look like. Next, it’s time to actually obtain admission into your school of choice.

You can take solace in knowing that most colleges are far more willing to take a chance on transfer students than they are on recent high school graduates. Assuming you’ve maintained a decent grade point average, you could have a better shot at getting into your dream school than high school students applying before their freshman year.

As a transfer student, a core part of the application process involves sending your official transcripts. This should feel familiar now that you’ve dealt with the unofficial version. The main distinction is that you’ll need to pay a fee to order a certified record from a transcript office or ordering service. Your transcript may be available in paper or PDF format; confirm which option your new school prefers.

Follow Up and Schedule a Meeting with Admissions

As a transfer student, your efforts don’t end with submitting an application. Follow up to ensure that the application and transcripts were received and are being processed.

Depending on your situation, it may also be helpful to meet with an admissions staff member. If you’re ultimately not granted admission, this person can provide insight into why you’ve been passed by — and what it might take to get accepted down the road.

Admissions representatives remain just as helpful after you’re admitted to your dream school. They can be an ongoing source of information on entering specific programs within your college.

Things to Watch Out for When Transferring Schools

Many students are pleased to discover that the transfer process goes far more smoothly than anticipated. In some cases, however, unexpected complications may arise. Be wary of these issues, which can throw the transfer process off track:

Credit Expiration Policies

If you plan to transfer after a break from college, be aware that some credits may be surprisingly difficult to transfer by the time you reach your new school. Technically speaking, credits don’t expire — but those earned recently will nearly always be easier to transfer than credits for courses that may have changed substantially or no longer exist.

Course Equivalencies Vary by School

If you plan on applying to multiple schools, beware: you may feel confident that your credits will transfer seamlessly at one college, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be as lucky at another school.

Some colleges require a close match and will reject anything that isn’t similar enough. Others may allow you to apply certain credits toward your general education. If applying to several schools, make your life easier by trying for colleges with similar course equivalencies and transfer policies.

Current Credits Accreditation Level

Did your previous school maintain proper standards? A governing body will ideally have confirmed this via accreditation. Your future college may want to confirm that you attended an accredited institution that has properly prepared you for the challenges that lie ahead. Confirm the accreditation status of both your current and future colleges before you proceed with the transfer.

Quarter Vs. Semesters

Some of the biggest transfer complications arise when you move from a school on the quarter system to one that uses semesters or trimesters. Typically, colleges will use multipliers to reveal the relevant number of credit hours based on these differing systems.

Depending on your previous school’s approach, it may feel a bit like you’re gaining or losing credits. In reality, however, each school has a different total number of credits required — so your credits are never really lost, just converted.

Credits for Life Experience May Vary

Working students often take comfort in knowing that, should they transfer, their experience in the workforce may be rewarded. This isn’t the case at all colleges, however. Some claim to honor life experience but don’t necessarily deliver on this promise. Discuss this in detail with admissions and faculty advisors, who can provide an honest assessment of your potential to gain this unique form of credit.

Start Your Journey Today

As a famously transfer-friendly college, Bryant & Stratton provides a world of opportunities when you’re ready to take the next step in your academic and professional journey. Whether you’re looking to earn your associate degree or your bachelor’s, you’ll be impressed by the many career-driven programs we offer. We’ve built a strong community of transfer students and are excited for you to learn what our programs are all about. Request information today to learn more.