Transferring College Credits

C redit transfer or transfer credit are terms universities and colleges use for the process of granting a student credit for courses or educational experiences undertaken at a different institution. Transfer credit isn't official until an academic officer of the university or college offers a written confirmation that they've accepted and applied the award on the transcript meeting the degree prerequisite. Transfer credit isn't definite when you transfer from one academic institution to another. Here's what to expect. Tips for Transferring Credits Pre-research Some pre-planning is necessary if you know you're going to transfer credits. Make sure you talk to the counselors at the institution you will be attending regarding your intentions and listen to their recommendation. If you have an institution in mind, start by examining the transfer policy and contact them directly. They might not provide specific answers regarding course equivalencies, but it's a good starting point. Transferable Courses General Courses These classes are necessary as prerequisites for virtually any kind of degree. Since any institution is likely to offer them, you can transfer them from one institution to the next. Nevertheless, you must be careful because not all general courses are equal. Courses particular to your major Ultimately, how your courses relate to your selected degree can play a huge role when it comes to credit transfer. You might find that the institution you transfer into will grant you credit for the undertaken courses. However, if they can't apply the credits to your degree program, they can't help you graduate. Courses to Avoid Those from a non-accredited Program Accredited institutions won't consider programs from non-accredited ones. You're better off avoiding non-accredited institutions altogether. Remember, accreditations aren't equal. While some institutions have regional accreditation, others have national. Therefore, many for-profit college credits aren't transferable to public and private colleges where the standards of for-profit programs are considered less rigorous. Out-of-state Courses You won't necessarily have problems when you transfer credits from one state to another. However, you have a higher risk because numerous colleges in a similar state have deals that make the process of transferring simpler. Institutions in different states probably lack such deals. Moreover, they probably won't be familiar with the program and institution you were in previously. Other Tips for Credit Transfer Submit everything The transcript is the most significant thing your new institution requires to determine the credits you can keep. You won't obtain a credit in the absence of a transcript. Stick to one major Changing the major midstream will affect you when it comes to obtaining credit for your courses. Any of your previous classes that aren't related to your new major aren't transferrable or will merely transfer as electives. If you're thinking of transferring credits but don't know where to start, consider this guide.