Transfer Credit

GOOD AFTERNOON! :-D

Today's topic at hand is about transfer credit. There are not many students who are able to go to one school straight through for their whole degree. Whatever the reason that stops you from finishing, that doesn't mean that those credits are void and you have to start all over. Here are some good tips and things to know about transfer credit. (First will be about undergraduate second will be about graduate)

UNDERGRADUATE:
What courses can transfer?
Any course that was taken at a regionally accredited school that you received above a C- is eligible for transfer. One thing that discounts it from transfer is if it is below a 100 level course, like a 096 course or something like that.

How are credits evaluated for transfer?
After a course has qualified based on the above requirements, then it is reviewed to see if there is a place in the degree plan for it. This is where it gets tricky. This is a GREAT question for your enrollment counselor. Ask them for an unofficial evaluation of your credits BEFORE you apply or commit anything to the school. Make them give you a copy of this evaluation. Remember this is unofficial but it's a good jumping off point. Even before you enroll in classes you can get your official evaluation completed so you know exactly what will or won't transfer before you start. Losing credits is not fun. You want to get credit for all the hard work you've done in the past. And not to count the money you've already spent on your education.

How schools try to trick you:
Some schools out there will either 'fluff' up your unofficial evaluation, or never commit to a number of transfer credits. Then they convince you to start in school without giving you a number and once you're already committed to pay for the class, then they tell you. Most times they do this when they know you aren't going to like what they have to say. It's a nasty trick that gets pulled. So if it ever happens to you, complain your way up the school and shout it from the rooftops. Schools that aren't being honest and fair to students need to be recognized for that so others don't fall victim to it too.

How many can transfer?
To be a regionally accredited school, you have to complete your last 30 credits 'in residency'. So that means you can transfer in up to that amount. At my school our undergraduate degrees are 128 credits so you can transfer in up to 98 credits. And some students do. The theory behind this is that you could go to a community college and take all but your last semester of classes, transfer into Princeton and walk away with a degree from one of the top schools in the nation without ever having really gone to the school. 30 credits at most schools ends up being about 1 year.

GRADUATE:
What courses can transfer?
At the graduate level, it is similar to the undergraduate. Any course that you took from a regionally accredited school that is a 500 or 600 level course and received a C- or better is eligible to be looked at for transfer. Some schools are very strict with this and will only allow B's or better to transfer or may only allow 600 level courses. This is a decision made by the school.

How are credits evaluated for transfer?
At the graduate level it is very difficult to transfer credits. Mostly because the degree is so much shorter. In order to accept transfer credit the course has to line up as close to 100% as possible. So if you took a class at one school called 601 Marketing Principals and you want to transfer it in to 650 Marketing Principals at the new school- chances look good. I had a student try to transfer a 600 level Law course in for our Legal and Ethical Environment of Business course and she was denied because the course she took only covered half of the material that our class covered. Most times you will be required to get a copy of the syllabus from the course you took and it is reviewed by a dean or faculty member.

How schools try to trick you:
At the graduate level, they don't do as much trickery with transfer credit. But really it's the same potential option as above. An enrollment counselor could tell you it's fine and then once you apply and you're in class you could find out otherwise. If you are looking to transfer credit ALWAYS find out before you start your classes.

How many can transfer?
At the graduate level, regionally accreditation only allows for up to 9 credits for transfer but most schools have a more strict policy than that. In my years of higher education I have never seen someone receive 9 transfer credits. Most times you are looking at 3 or 6 credits at the maximum.

CONCLUSION:
As with all of my posts, the more knowledge you have and the more questions you ask when getting started the better. Students who end up (pardon my language) getting screwed, tend to be students who either didn't ask questions or didn't go with their heart when something didn't seem right. If you don't like the answer you received, you always have the right to ask for a manager or supervisor for clarification. But try and find out the most you can before you commit any money to a school.