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Many students use a community college or another two-year college as a stepping stone to a four-year institution and a bachelor's degree. If you want to take this path, here's what you should do:
Ask Questions About the 4-Year vs. Community College ExperienceBecause each college has its requirements, the most important thing you can do to make the transfer process run smoothly is to plan early. Get help from these resources:
The last resource is one of the most important. Transfer advisers at four-year colleges are there to support the transition. They can assist you in many ways, such as answering pivotal questions and helping you determine which courses are most relevant to your plans. When you take advantage of these resources, ask these questions:
Transferring Colleges: How Does It Work?The first step is to go through the application process. After spending time at your two-year college, you must apply to the four-year institution as a transfer student. This admissions process works differently for transfers than for new students. What happens after you apply for a transfer? Your four-year college will look at the courses you took and the grades you earned at your two-year college and decide how much credit to give you. Each class is worth a certain number of credits, often three, and students need to earn enough credits, usually 120, to graduate. Here are more transfer facts:
You can learn more about transferring to a four-year college, such as information about individual college requirements and application deadlines, by checking out College Search. FAQs
When can you apply to transfer colleges?Application cycles typically open anywhere from six to nine months before the start of the term. That said, every four-year college is different. As a result, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the application deadline dates of the college you're looking to enter. Read more
When is the earliest you can transfer between colleges?How early can you transfer from one institution to another? While students typically complete two years of core studies before the transition, there’s no concrete timeline. Some schools may require that you have at least a year of college before applying for a transfer. However, you don't always need to complete two years of college to transfer successfully. For example, students who earned college credit in high school may timeline to enter university as a junior. Read more
When can you transfer from community college to a university?If you're following a structured program, the transfer will occur after two years of college, allowing you to enter the university as a junior. Exceptions do apply. The primary qualification is the number of credits you earn. Students can complete the required courses, earn their associate degree before or after two years, and transfer when ready. Read more Find the right college for you.Can I transfer to a UC with an associate's degree?The Associate of Arts (AA) degree is not a factor whatsoever in UC transfer consideration. Some students may elect to get an AA degree for personal or professional reasons in addition to meeting transfer requirements, if desired.
Can you skip your associate's degree and go straight to bachelor's?An associate degree is not a prerequisite to earn a bachelor's degree, you can skip an associate degree and go straight to a bachelor's degree. However, one option you may want to consider is earning your associate degree at a community college prior to transferring to a four-year university.
What qualifies as a transfer student?A transfer student is a college student who has completed 12 or more credit hours at one school, then later drops enrollment before finishing their degree at another school.
How do you transition from an associate to a bachelor's degree?For colleges that accept all credits from an associate degree, you will typically only need to complete two additional years of full-time coursework to fulfill the requirements for a bachelor's degree.
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