One of the major issues when applying for admissions and transferring from one school to another is getting credit for courses that you have taken previously. If you plan ahead, you can avoid some of the pitfalls.
Keep Good Records
Although your official transcripts will be used as the primary tool for evaluating your prior coursework, it doesn't hurt to have supporting documents. Keep copies of your prior schools' Course Catalogs so that you will have course descriptions. It is also worthwhile to keep copies of the syllabi or course outlines for each course that you take. Papers that you wrote or tests you have taken can also be useful supporting documents. Use the
Search by Courses to review the course offerings per institution attended. Or, open a
Student Passport and compile your academic history. You can use the storage center and share your information with others, such as admissions and transfer counselors.
Make the Grades
Most schools won't accept any courses with grades of lower than a 'C' for transfer credit. If the course is transferring into your intended major, then it's possible that the minimum grade may be a 'B' in order for the course to apply towards the degree requirements.
Plan Ahead
If you know that you will be transferring from one school to another in the future, then check either your school's or the transfer school's web site to find information on course equivalencies. If a course is not listed as being equivalent, then try to sign up for one that is.
There's a Limit
Most schools have limits on the number of credits that will be accepted for transfer and be used towards completion of degree and major requirements. This limit depends on the school and can be anywhere from 45 to 90 credits. Again, planning ahead can help you avoid the frustration and added cost of losing credits.
Counting Credits
Even though you may get credit for all of your courses, the assignment of the transfer course equivalent can make a big difference as to whether or not the course can be used towards completing your degree requirements. For example, if many of your courses are transferred in as general electives, rather than specific courses, then you may not be able to use all of them towards completion of requirements for your chosen major.
If you are trying to make the choice between two schools that are offering you admission, don't just check the number of credits being accepted, also look at the how the courses will count towards a degree at the school. It's possible that the school that is offering the higher number of transfer credits may not be your best choice.
Make Your Case
If you haven't gotten credit for a course or the credit has been given to a general elective rather than a specific course that will count towards your degree, many schools enable you to appeal these decisions. This is when having all of the supporting documents for your courses will be the most useful. Be prepared when you meet with someone, have all of your supporting documents in hand and know your reasons for why a decision should be changed.
In the End
You may or may not get the transfer credit that you think you deserve, but being accepted at a new school is great news! Best of luck as you make your way towards your degree!!