When continuing your education by transferring to a new college or university, taking advantage of transfer credits can be a huge time and money saver.
Whether you’ve found a program that better fits your career goals, or you’ve completed an associate degree and are ready to continue with your bachelor’s, getting the most out of your schooling so far will ensure you don’t waste time re-learning things you’ve already studied.
If you are asking, “Will my credits transfer to my new school?” or “How do I go about transferring college credits?” – you are in the right place.
5 Things to Know About Transferring Credits
Here are a few important terms and tools you’ll need to understand when endeavoring to transfer as much credit as possible toward your new degree.
#1: Articulation Agreements
As you look into transferring colleges, see if there is already an articulation agreement between your old school and the one you’re transferring to. An articulation agreement is a transfer agreement between two schools to evaluate the curriculum to determine its transferability. But articulation agreements are not merely a hearty handshake, they are signed legal contracts. In fact, “these documents go into great detail regarding guaranteed admission, transfer credits, scholarships, and academic and course requirements. Articulation agreements open the lines of communication between two institutions in regard to the important issues transfer students care about” (US News).
#2: Course Syllabi
Many schools will request copies of past course syllabi in order to determine whether the administration can accept transfer credit based on what texts were used, elements were graded, and the overall curriculum. Taking a few minutes to dig up copies of these syllabi before applying for transfer credit can greatly reduce your frustration and time needed later on down the line.
#3: Professional Experience
Turns out, you can learn on the job. Many universities and colleges understand the value of years in the workforce and want to make sure you get credit for your time in the field. You don’t want to spend 12 weeks learning Intro to Photoshop when you’ve been practicing within it for the past decade.
Keep an eye out for the following in any transfer paperwork or reach out directly to an administrator to see how your school handles rewarding college credit for workplace experience.
- Professional Training. You may be able to obtain transfer credit for professional development or training you’ve received while in the workforce. Credits earned are determined by The National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs.
- Old AP Classes. If you took the AP tests on college board back in high school and scored a three or higher, you can still get college credits.
- Proficiency Exams. Tests like the CLEP and DANTE allow you to test out of college courses with acceptable pass scores.
- Life Experience. If you’ve worked in your field for a considerable amount of time, you may be able to show through a portfolio (or appropriate equivalent) that you’ve gained the knowledge necessary to earn a credit for a specific class.
At University of Bridgeport, transfer students may receive academic credit for non-university sponsored instruction. These include life and work experience, standardized testing options, and more. You can learn about transfer credit options here.
#4: Prioritize Generous Transfer Programs
Many schools limit how many credit hours you can transfer, in order to help with student retention. But if you’re 35 hours into a bachelor’s degree and the program you’re considering will only accept 12 of those credits, you’re going to lose a lot of money, and time.
So when you start looking for schools better fit for your future, ensure that you’re taking steps forward, not sideways or backwards. It’s worth a little more research beforehand to ensure you’ll get the most out of your investment in the long run.
At University of Bridgeport, for example, transfer students have the ability to transfer up to 90 credits from four-year institutions, and 66 credits from two-year colleges.
#5: Transferology
A wonderful resource for transfer students is Transferology. Students can answer the question “Will my courses transfer?” by adding coursework, exams, and/or military learning experiences to see how many schools in the Transferology network have matching courses that may be awarded when they transfer. They can also find out what their options are for taking classes over the summer (or whenever) at another school to transfer back to their current school by using the “Find a Replacement Course” feature.
Of course, you can always contact your prospective school’s admissions team for assistance. These professionals are dedicated to helping transfer students understand credit equivalencies, course requirements, and the general application process. The admissions team can also help you understand which program is right for you at this time in your studies.
If you are interested in applying to University of Bridgeport as a transfer student, know that we are here for you. Contact our Office of Admissions via phone or email, or make an appointment to meet with us in-person. We are here to help ease the transfer process as best as possible, and can ensure you are getting the most out of any previous education or experience.
If you would like to learn more about the transfer process, you may also check out:
- How to Transfer Colleges: A Mini-Guide for Transfer Students
- How Does Transferring Colleges Work? Questions & Answers for Transfer Students
- When Should I Transfer Colleges? Plus 5 Factors to Consider When Transferring
University of Bridgeport is an accredited university in Connecticut, dedicated to helping students get the most out of their education. If you are interested in transferring, contact our transfer admissions department to get started today.