Transfer Student Eligibility Requirements in USA | Transfer Credit FAQs

The world is evolving dynamically and the academic world is at a greater pace than that. The academics have changed tremendously in last few decades - may it be the count of syllabus - content of the syllabus and the way this syllabus was and is being taught - everything has changed from grass root level. The facilities - comfort level being provided by today's academics is far better than the traditional academics.

Credit hours and transfer credits are also a gift of modern academics to students of 21st century. For an easily understandable version - it is a unit to measure the counts towards a degree or completion of a program. Every degree or program has its own set of rules for credit hours…bachelors degree may need 100 - 120 credit hours whereas some other school may need 90-110 and so on.

Now with so many number of programs - offering varied syllabus from various institutions tend to tempt students to either switch over the institute - program in the race to learn more. A transcript needs to be provided to the transferee college to ascertain the course taken - grade and other attributes - from all the institutions attended till the time of admission. This is done to transfer and add up academic achievement done till time of admission in form of and known as transfer of credit hours; from one institute to the other institute - a receiving institute.

For the benefit of students intending to transfer credit hours - college credit - high school credit - Doctoral credit - university credit - credit hours from a different state - credit hours transfers from a foreign university - graduate credit hours - credit hours transfer between colleges - master degree credit transfers - credits by examination - general credits in a subject area - transfer credit acceptance - credit from regionally accredited institutions - community colleges transfer programs and many more such transfers…need to understand the thumb rule. They need to first assess the policies - rules and regulations of the school college they are transferring from and to - both. These schools and colleges stand the final verdict and there are rare chances of overruling their norms.

Schoolanduniversity.com has tried summarizing the prominent topics - usually with which students need help very frequently - a kind of frequently asked questions. However; limitations on transfer credits based on credits transfer policy - pros and cons - individual policies and procedures of the institution from and to; have the final verdict on case to case basis.

How to Transfer Credit Hours?

Preplanning is the best thing one can do whoever intends to transfer school - college- university.

School and college students often take transfer from one school to another at some time or other during their entire academic spell. Enlisted are a few of the measures to reduce hassles of transfer of credits - diminishing the possibilities of credit hours not being transferred.

College students often transfer from one school to another at some time during their education. They also should do college credit transfer comparison. There are several steps you can take to minimize the possibility that your credits will not transfer to the new institution. With some foresight and planning, you should be able to transfer most, if not all, of your credits from your old school to your new one.

• Taking a lot of general courses at first school is very helpful. Usually colleges are inclined towards making students absorb most credit hours in majors at their institution. If Leo is going to a community college - he should try and stay away from the classes of his majors. This will make him have less credit hour in his majors - providing him with opportunity to be picked up by some other college when he needs. Instead of attending classes in his majors - Leo should be attending courses of American history - college algebra or general sciences, which are amongst usually safe syllabus if he is intending to transfer credits and move to some other school or college.
• Classes and credit hours of previous institute are supposed to be from an accredit school or college. NO school will prefer taking up or transferring credit hours of a student who is not from an accredited source.
• Having a copy handy of credit transfer policies for the college you want to get transferred from and to - is the best thing one can do. This gives a clear view of what you need and what you have which meets the requirements of both the institutes.
• Also ensure that you are selecting a college or school for transferring yourself and your credit hours I the one which is amongst the ones which participate in a credit transfer program. Students of Texas Blinn can automatically get transferred to Texas A&M University and various Texas colleges and universities.
• Keep visiting your enrollment advisor on regular intervals to stay abreast all the latest development in the credit transfer policies - which will help you make a well informed decision.

How to Transfer High School Credits

Ensure you do everything required to get credit of work that you already have completed.

The syllabus taken by any student in the high school forms the required credits for graduation. If transfer students or transfer applicants change high school or move to a private to public school or the other way round; one thing that can make this transition a lot easier is through transferring credits following the transfer credit policy. Transferred high school credits would ensure you of losing credits and not starting everything from a scratch.

• Inquiring with the new school about high school credit transfer is something one should start with. Usually schools follow a transparent procedure for transferring credits. Basis the requirements as suggested by the transferee high school one needs to accomplish the paperwork. The administration office also tries to help the students creating a smooth transition for every student.
• Fill up the enrollment application - collect info about transfer student eligibility requirements of enrolment and transfer of credit hours from the previous school. Here the paper work might need attention from student's parents or guardians.
• Transcripts should reach your new school in due course. These transcripts generally contain details of syllabus opted for - credit hours earned - grade-point average received and much more. Usually credits earned for every course passed/cleared is transferrable, depending on the policies of the schools.

How to Transfer College Credit

Vast opportunities post completion of colleges is lucrative enough to lure students to bounce a lot between various colleges. Along with them their credit also is and need to be transferred in an appropriate manner. It is a moment - filled with surprise and shock for nearly all the students when they come to know the worth of credits earned till date. Surprisingly not all the colleges find it financially viable to accept and transfer all the credits to these students' previous course works. Have a look at the enlisted for a better stake at transferring college credits:

• Equip yourself and carry along a copy of the later college syllabus catalogue which carries all the detailed course description of the syllabus you attended and cleared - do this while you approach the new college requesting for a credit transfer.
• Hone your negotiations skills before getting into the discussion with the administrator. Compare the syllabus descriptions of two to three courses where you would have scored a B grade or better. Upon doing this then put across your side to the administrator. There is no need to worry about transferring credits for some low profile courses or the ones where you did not score well.
• If required approach the head of the department as well. Say for someone who needs introductory English literature course credits - should fix an appointment with the head of English literature department. In absence of any documented material to support your arguments - go ahead and express all that your course covered - making it more than important and special. Your argument - if convincing enough would make the head to go ahead and give a green signal for transferring credits.

How to Transfer University Credits

Transferring credits from one university to another is a pain stacking task - it is as good as reincarnation of an individual - not that it is not possible - but it is a tough task.

• Will your major need a different admission process?
• Will you be living on-campus? If yes - will that affect your upper-class transfers?
• How much of your coursework will and can be transferred?

Be prepared with all your Transcripts - Course description books for both schools - Transfer equivalency chart and many such essentials.

• Obtaining your transfer equivalency chart along with new school's degree plan for your majors should be your top priority. Usually universities do publish a transfer equivalency chart which has the common courses listed for benefit of students - they are even published online. Degree plans like these are also available.
• Your degree plan - transfer equivalency chart - course description book, use them to audit your own transcripts. You may end up finding some plans which are automatic transfers whereas other might end up being judgment calls. Course description book from both the schools - for non transferable ones will be of great help. If you feel it should - prepare a note with appropriate argument to support your thought.
• Be proactive in submitting your transcripts for transfer. Upon admission in the university the transcripts are supposed to reach the registrar for official transcript evaluations. Initiate the process if required - and the admission office does not have automation for it. Counselor would come in action once the registrar's office approves of receipt to the transcripts.
• Be prepared mentally that some of the courses might get transferred as it is - some as elective units and some that you might have to drop out. Usually universities do not entertain courses with grade below “C” - remedial course works and of course no incomplete courses as well. Most problems are caused due to courses which come in as electives instead of fulfilling requirements.
• Do not forget that you have the right to withstand any decisions which are not in your favor and you think you need to counter them. University audits tend to be on conservative side. Filling out forms - submitting page from other school coursework or having it signed off by departmental head or faculty also helps at times.
• Follow proper communication channels and etiquettes. You might think that the university is inefficient - but do not forget to pay due regards to the process set - fill out all needed forms - stand in queue - leave voicemails and so on. Do not forget - you are there to get work done.

How to Transfer College Credits to Another State

During the academic regime there might be students who feel the dire need to continue their education at a school in a different state all together. This usually happens with those who initiate their higher education at a junior college where avoiding transfer is impossible in order to attain a four year degree. University transferring credits are designed to facilitate within the state transfers - out of the state credit transfers are given only for approved courses hence it becomes a tacky issue.

Be prepared with your Transfer information packet - Sealed transcript - Open transcript

• Get in touch with the admission office for the new college in the other state requesting them to send across transformation information packet in mail - which contains information about the school - how to transfer - forms required and much more. A thorough review of the information packet for a list of acceptable - transferrable courses and credits is helpful.
• Assess the age of your credits. You might encounter a situation where the other college happily accepts credit transfers for nearly all the courses you want - but it is only for credits that are earned in a stipulated time frame. Usually credits earned more than 10 years do not fall in transferrable credit category.
• Ensure requesting two copies of your transcripts from your current school - sealed for the new school and open for yourself for ready reference.
• Evaluating your transcripts to assess the courses you would want to go for is a must. Courses such as English and Math have wide acceptance and are easily transferrable between states. However; never forget that courses with grades above "C"; only are considered for transfers.
• Calling registrar's office of the school you are seeking admission to in other state helps a lot in clearing all the doubts you have about credit transfers.
• Give due diligence to the paperwork for transfer information packet. Include your sealed copy of the transcripts and send across to the school where you are seeking admission.
• Temporary credit transfers from one school to another and back in a different state is something that needs serious attention - written confirmations and lot more investigation; as a small goof up might land you in a position of losing it all.