Q: I want to transfer after one year at Collin. I will have the first part of the government sequence complete, one of my math courses, and the first chemistry course required for my major. Will I have any problems finishing the sequences at the college or university I am transferring to?
A: We recommend that you complete sequential courses at the college or university where you begin the sequence. This is because you may have gaps in instruction, another school may not begin the second course where the first course ended. The government part of the question is more complicated. If you absolutely must transfer without completing the government sequence at Collin, please read our Government/Political Science handout.
Q: What if another college won't transfer my credits?
A: Collin works closely with other institutions to make the transfer process as smooth as possible. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has established procedures to be followed when transfer credit for lower division courses is disputed. The procedures and individual courses covered by these procedures are defined by the Coordinating Board's guide entitled "Transfer of Credit Policies and Curricula. http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Rules/tac3.cfm?Chapter_ID=4&Subchapter=B
Q: Are there any guarantees?
A: Collin guarantees to its students who have met the requirements for its Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree and students who have met the 60 credit-hour transfer plan the transferability of those course credits to the Texas colleges and/or universities that participate in the Guarantee for Transfer Credit program. This guarantee is designed for Collin students who have made firm decisions about their major, the transfer college or university to which they plan to transfer, and have followed a written transfer guide for that transfer institution.
If these courses are rejected, a student may take tuition-free alternate courses at Collin that are deemed acceptable by the college or university to which he/she wishes to transfer. Special conditions that apply to the guarantee program are available on request.
Q: If I repeat a course, which grade transfers?
A: Every college/university has a different policy regarding the repetition of courses. This guide provides a good example of how some of our partner colleges handle this.
Q: How do I get admitted to a four-year college or university?
A: University transfer admissions vary from school to school. Transfer students are required to complete a certain number of credit hours (generally 24-30) to be eligible for “transfer student admissions status.” This means that your admission is based on your prior college performance rather than your SAT, ACT or high school performance.
If you haven’t completed enough credit hours to make you eligible for transfer student admissions, your admission will be based on your SAT, ACT, and/or high school performance. You will also need to be in “good academic standing” at the previous college you attended. University Admission Information is available on-line to help you find out the admission requirements for many colleges and universities.
Depending on your major, you may have to apply not only to the college or university, but to your desired major as well. Some majors are “impacted,” which means you will be competing with all the other applicants (cohort) seeking to transfer into that major as you. In this case, the minimum GPA varies depending on the GPA of the cohort.
Q: How do I transfer my Collin courses to another college or university?
A: Simply request that a Collin transcript be sent to the college or university where you are transferring. Please refer to the "Transcript Requests" link to the left. When the school receives your transcript, they will evaluate your credits and where applicable, apply them to your degree.
Students who take courses at Collin during the summer, Maymester, or Wintermester semesters will need to request that a Collin transcript be sent to their “home” institution each time they complete coursework.
Q: How do I know which courses transfer?
A: Course credits transfer in different ways depending on the course. Some courses have a direct equivalent and will transfer as a specific course: for instance at Collin, ENGL 1301 transfers to UNT as ENGL 1310. Some courses transfer but do not have an exact equivalent. Courses that do not have an exact equivalent may transfer by title; as elective credit, non-advanced (ELNA) or ENBLOC, where the receiving college or university department official determines if the course will fit into your degree plan. The equivalency guides show a course-by-course listing of how Collin courses transfer to various colleges and universities.
It is your responsibility to verify with specific college or university the applicability of transfer information.
Q: I’ve chosen my major, how do I know which courses to take at Collin?
A: Your best resource is to follow a “transfer guide” or “2+2 guide” if available. These guides are specific to a degree/major and college or university and list the coursework you can take at Collin which will transfer into your degree or major.
Q:: I’m still undecided about my major. Which courses should I take at Collin?
A: If you are undecided about your major, but know that you will eventually be transferring to pursue a bachelor’s degree, it’s best to stay with general education courses. If you will be transferring to a Texas state-supported college or university, you should follow the Collin Core Curriculum. The core curriculum will transfer to any Texas state school.
Even as an undecided student, you may know if you are a math/science or liberal arts person. Math and science courses are often degree-specific. Try to make the selection of core courses which will satisfy both the core curriculum requirements and future degree requirements.
If you will be transferring to a private college or university, follow the general requirements for that institution. It is best to work closely with an academic advisor to determine which courses to take within these requirements.
In addition, you may want to check out the Collin Career Services website for more information to help you make decisions about your future academic and career plans http://www.ccccd.edu/studentservices/cs.html
Q: Are there scholarships available at four-year college and university specifically for transfer students?
A: Yes! Many institutions offer scholarships specifically for transfer students. Most are “merit” based, meaning that they require a specific GPA and number of complete credit hours to apply. Many of these scholarships are for more than one semester and will require that students maintain a certain level GPA to continue their eligibility.
Some colleges and universities review all transfer students for scholarship eligibility based on their admission application. Some institutions have a scholarship application and deadline separate from that of financial aid. Be sure to contact the school to which you intend to transfer early to find out about deadlines and applications you will need to submit. Many scholarship deadlines occur during the spring semester, regardless of the semester you will be transferring.
Q: What steps should I follow to make my transfer from Collin to a university successful?
A:
- Research prospective colleges and universities to find those that offer the types of academic programs/majors, student activities, and scholarships you desire. Visit with Collin academic advisors; use the web and print resources available to assist you with your research.
- Find out the degree requirements for your major at the schools to which you wish to transfer.
- A visit and campus tour of the university campus will be beneficial in your selection process. If possible, make an appointment with an advisor in the department of your major at the different universities.
- Find out the admission guidelines for the different colleges and universities and the departments of your major. University admission guidelines may differ from the department admission guidelines
- To apply to Texas state schools, use the Texas Common Application Form for Transfer Students. For private and out-of-state schools, request a transfer application or download one from the college website. It is best to apply to all schools in which you are interested, but be aware that most require an application fee. Some schools have application deadlines which fall as early as six months prior to the requested semester of entrance. Make copies of everything you are submitting to each school.
Consult the International Admissions Advisor at the school that you plan to attend if you are a permanent resident and/or on a visa. You may face additional admissions policies and procedures including: testing, deadlines, and fees.
- Request official transcripts from each college or university that you have previously attended or are presently attending be sent to your transfer university. You can do this by written request, by fax, or by filling out a transcript request form at the Admissions Office of schools you have previously attended.
While Collin does not charge a fee to send your transcript; you might be charged a fee for other official college transcripts.
- Request and file financial aid applications with the Financial Aid Office at your transfer university. Often these applications due as much as one year prior to admission. Ask about special financial aid for transfer students. Again, make copies of everything.
- Request and submit financial aid transcripts from each college or university you have attended or presently attend.
- Contact the college or university Admissions Office to verify that you application has arrived and that your file is complete.
- When you have been accepted by and decide to attend a particular college or university, notify in writing all other universities where you have been accepted. Once you notify universities that you will not be attending there, they can admit other students.
Q: How do I earn an associates degree before transferring to a college or university?
A: Collin offers Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificate programs. If you plan to graduate from Collin, you should request a degree plan prior to the completion of 30 credit hours. You must be currently admitted to Collin to request a degree plan. You can graduate under any of the college’s catalogs from the preceding five years as long as you were enrolled under that catalog; however, you may benefit from graduating under the requirements of the most recent catalog. You are considered a candidate for graduation if you have completed the specific course requirements for a degree or certificate with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Q: Will my AAS degree and/or workforce courses transfer to a college or university?
A: There are some baccalaureate degree programs in Texas into which the AAS degree, certificate and/or workforce courses transfer. The most common are the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAAS), Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). In addition, through the Texas Two-Step Project at the University of Texas at Arlington, workforce/technical students can transfer their credits into a BA or BS degree.
Go to the Transfer Opportunities for Workforce/Technical Students for more details.
Q: How can a Collin academic advisor help me transfer?
A: Collin academic advisors can offer you assistance with the following:
- Assistance in the development of meaningful educational plans which are compatible with your life goals.
- Assistance in the selection of appropriate courses to meet your short- and long-term educational goals.
- Interpretation of degree/major and other academic requirements.
- Information on other college and universities services that may enhance your success.
- Assistance in reviewing your progress toward your short- and long-term goals.
- Encouragement and support to reach your goals.
- Information on university and college policies and procedures (for example: the admission process, financial aid, housing, etc.)
- Assistance in understanding your role as you take responsibility for your education.
Q: How do I interpret my grades and calculate my GPA?
A: http://www.ccccd.edu/studentservices/advisinggradecal.htm
Q: What does it mean? (A glossary of academic terms)
A: Click to access Collin's Glossary of Terms
Q: Is my GPA the same at the university and community college?
A: The receiving university will evaluate all transferable coursework attempted at the community college for admissions. Community college grades are also important in eligibility for awards, scholarships, and admissions to impacted majors with limited admissions.
Q: Do I have to repeat courses at the university if I took them at the community college?
A: No, you should not be required to repeat a course that you have taken unless the grade that you made in the course does not meet the requirements of the major you are pursuing. This is true for both transfer students and students who begin their baccalaureate-degree work at the universities.
Q: What if I change my major?
A: If you change majors, you will likely have to take more than the minimum number of courses and credits to graduate. Realistically, most students do change majors or delay choosing a major and may graduate with more than the minimum credits required.
Q: Can I complete a bachelor’s degree on-line through Distance Learning?
A: Yes, depending on your major. A listing of on-line degree options are available at http://www.texasdistanceeducation.com/.
Q: Where can I find descriptions for courses offered at Collin?
A: The Collin Catalog includes the descriptions of currently available courses. And you can find complete course syllabi at the Collin Syllabus Depot site.
Q: How do I get an official transcript evaluation of my transfer courses? When can I expect to receive this evaluation?
A: You will receive an official evaluation of your transfer courses after you have completed a Degree Plan Request Form and submitted it to the Collin Admissions and Records Office. http://www.ccccd.edu/aro/degreeplan.pdf
It usually takes four-six weeks to receive your official evaluation. The evaluation will be sent to your home and will also be available on the Collin Degree Audit System using your student ID and PIN number.
Q: Can I take college courses while I’m attending high school?
A: Yes. This is an excellent way to get a quick start toward completing some of your core curriculum courses and Collin has a special admission process in place for high school and home schooled students.
Collin offers special admission to high school students who have advanced abilities and request early admissions consideration, students under 18 years of age without a high school diploma or the equivalent and home schooled students under the age of 18. Juniors may take one college course per 16 week semester and seniors may take two courses per 16 week semester. However, both juniors and seniors are limited to one course per five week summer session. Students interested in this program should visit with their high school counselor who will decide which college courses are accepted and whether or not the courses may be taken for dual credit or early admissions.
If you have further questions contact Stephanie Hanson, coordinator of transfer programs, at 972.985.3734.
We hope you find these resources of use as you plan your next academic move.
