Considering your pathway into higher education? Wondering, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 best? Finish an associate鈥檚 degree, then transfer? Or to transfer credits from a community college to finish my bachelor鈥檚 elsewhere? What鈥檚 the best way to transfer credits?鈥�
These are complex questions, without set-in-stone answers. Luckily, it鈥檚 also a common line of inquiry from prospective transfer students: Will an associate’s degree transfer to any college? So you鈥檙e in good company.
Below, we鈥檒l unpack how to transfer colleges with an associate鈥檚 degree, whether associate degree programs are a good investment for your chosen career, and how to start the process if you鈥檙e ready to make a move.
Understanding how an associate鈥檚 degree transfers
Firstly, you won鈥檛 technically be transferring your degree. If you have completed an associate鈥檚 degree, then that鈥檚 it. You鈥檝e completed it. You won鈥檛 be getting another associate鈥檚 from your new school (even if they offer a similar program).
You will be transferring credits from the completed degree to count toward your new bachelor鈥檚 program, so you don鈥檛 start from square one or repeat any courses you鈥檝e already completed within this new degree.
Further, when you transfer with an associate鈥檚 degree, there is no universal guarantee that all the degree鈥檚 credits will transfer to every institution, as transfer policies vary by college, accreditation, state agreements, and the student’s specific program of study.
Yet, many community colleges have programs with local four-year colleges that make the transfer process easier for students. These articulation agreements often outline exactly which credits will transfer (more on this below).
Be prepared to do some in-depth communicating when sorting out which of your credits transfer to your new institution, as each situation is unique. If you鈥檙e at a community college, check with your guidance counselor to see what transfer programs you might be eligible for.
How to transfer colleges: Factors that influence transferability
This process may be tricky, perhaps. But far from impossible. If you鈥檙e ready to relay your associate鈥檚 degree into a full-fledged bachelor鈥檚 program, several factors influence transferability of your credits, so you can anticipate how much credit you鈥檙e likely to receive.
Institutional accreditation
First up, it matters if your associate鈥檚 degree comes from an institution with appropriate accreditation. This helps your new school trust your previous school鈥檚 credits, since a third, unbiased party has verified the course material and quality of education.
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Transfer articulation agreements
To that end, some schools have already sorted out detailed agreements with each other, outlining which courses transfer and into what corresponding credits. These agreements are called articulation agreements, and can save transfer students a lot of headaches when wondering what they鈥檒l get credit for.
Earned grades
Another element that comes into play is the grade you received in each class. Strong grades make it easier to transfer credits and demonstrate that you鈥檙e a capable, committed student. The good news is that schools often look for progress and consistency rather than perfection, so an upward trend in your grades can work in your favor if you didn鈥檛 get off to a great start.
Schools offer equivalent credit for concepts you鈥檝e fully grasped, so you鈥檙e not behind when taking upper-level specialized courses in your new degree. If you barely passed the first time, you may have to retake the class at your new school to make sure you鈥檙e up to speed. This isn鈥檛 a punishment, but a benchmark that helps you succeed in later coursework.
General education requirements vs. major-specific course requirements
Schools tend to transfer general education requirements more readily than major-specific coursework. Again, this varies from school to school, but transferring with an associate鈥檚 degree typically means your general education requirements will be met and you鈥檒l begin your bachelor鈥檚 focused on major-specific coursework.
Transferring an associate鈥檚 degree vs. transferring credits
Remember, you鈥檙e not transferring the degree, per se; you鈥檒l be transferring individual credits from that degree toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree. However, some degrees transfer more fully than others.
For example, some associate鈥檚 degrees are designed to flow easily into a bachelor鈥檚 degree of the same concentration. An Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) transfers fairly simply into a Bachelor of Arts or Science (BA or BS), respectively. But if you鈥檝e completed an Associate of Arts and decide to shift gears a bit into a Bachelor of Science 鈥� perhaps your work experience has led you in a new direction 鈥� there may be more courses you need to take to make up the difference.
In terms of maximizing transfer credits, completing an associate鈥檚 degree is the best way to ensure you鈥檒l be able to do so. It signifies to your new school that you completed something fully and are prepared to do so again at their institution.
Other strategies to increase your number of transfer college credits include:
- Researching transfer policies early
- Working with academic advisors
- Requesting transcript evaluations
Whether you鈥檙e transferring a few credits because your first school wasn鈥檛 the right fit, or transferring with an associate鈥檚 degree to pursue your bachelor鈥檚 for the first time, changing schools doesn鈥檛 have to be difficult.
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越南直播 makes the transfer process simple. With easy-to-find deadlines and helpful advisors, transferring is seamless. From credit evaluations to personalized advising, 越南直播 is committed to helping transfer students reach their academic goals.
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