Frequently Asked Transfer Questions

1. What does “transfer” mean?
   In general, "transfer" indicates moving from one educational institution to another. However, this web site uses the term "transfer" to describe advancement from a community college to a four-year college or university. It means that you begin working on your bachelor’s degree at the community college and finish it at a four-year college or university.
    
2. What do I need to do to transfer?
   For a student to transfer, he/she will first need to review the transfer admission requirements on the receiving institution’s website.  Some may require a specific number of transfer credits &/or a minimum cumulative GPA.  One item to consider, however, is that even though a general admissions requirement for a university may note a minimum cumulative GPA, a specific college within the university may choose to have other guidelines.  For instance, although a university may have a GPA requirement of 2.0, the college of education may have a required 2.5 for admittance.  Please check with the receiving institution for more information.
    
3. How many credits do I need to transfer?
   The number of transferrable credits required to transfer to an institution may vary across institutions.  However, for a student to be considered as a “transfer,” most institutions will require at least 12 hours of transferrable credit.  A student who is transferring from one institution to another with under 12 hours of transferrable credit may be categorized as an incoming freshman.
    
4. How long will it take to transfer to a four-year university?
   Many students generally take 2 - 3 years to transfer to a four-year university. However, there are many factors that will have an impact on the length of time you are enrolled at LSC such as your English and Math eligibility at the time you enter LSC, the major you have selected and the amount of preparation courses needed to fulfill your transfer requirements, the number of courses you take each semester, and your academic progress. Meet with a advisor or counselor regularly to ensure that you remain on track toward your transfer goal.
    
5. How long will it take for me to graduate from a four-year university once I transfer?
   Think of your community college education as your halfway point in the process of obtaining your bachelor's degree. Still, it is difficult to predict. Many factors will impact the amount of time you spend at the university such as the number of classes you take each term, the number of units required for your major, and the number of required courses you completed prior to transfer.
    
6. What is a major?
   A major is a program of study which leads to a degree. It is the primary area of study in which the greatest depth of knowledge will be developed.
    
7. What does “core complete” mean?
   Being “core complete” at LSC means that when you transfer to a four-year university you may not have to complete any of that institution’s core courses…even if they are different from that of LSC.  This designation, however, may have no impact on transfers to out-of-state or private universities.
    
8. What is a competitive GPA for transfer?
   To be accepted into a prestigious program or university, the GPA for admission will need to be considerably higher than the minimum allowed. A GPA of 3.0 and higher may be required to be competitive for transfer admission – depending on the university &/or program.  For example, some business schools require a higher than average GPA for transfer admissions as may also the case for programs in engineering, nursing, etc.  The minimum allowable GPA may vary each year according to the specific institution and applicant pool at that time.
    
9. Do I need an AA degree to transfer?
   No…the AA or AS degrees are generally not required or considered by the university as an admissions requirement. Many students choose to obtain an associate’s degree prior to transferring for personal or professional reasons. The program of study for the AA or AS degrees can overlap with the lower division preparation for transfer. If your objective is to transfer, however, be sure to seek the advice of a LSC advisor or counselor for the appropriate program of study for the associate’s degree.
    
10. Do "D" grades transfer?
    Acceptance of "D" grades is based upon the university or college decisions. While some universities will accept a grade of “D” for transfer, this is not the standard of operation for most institutions.  You will want to check with your university of choice for specific information on transferring a grade of “D.”
     
11. Can I earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree & then transfer to a four year university?
    Absolutely!  If you earn a workforce degree at LSC-Montgomery & wish to earn a bachelor's degree, you have two options.  1) Apply to a traditional program at the university level (i.e., business, liberal arts, etc.) & transfer only those credits that are considered "transferrable."  These courses would be the standard "academic" courses that may be required to complete a degree (i.e., ENGL 1301, ARTS 1301, etc.)  Workforce credits may or may not transfer into traditional bachelor programs.  2) Or, a student could transfer an AAS degree into a BAAS (Bachelor of Applied Science) degree program at certain institutions.  These programs allow for workforce credits to be transferred in as the first two years of the four year degree.  Then, a student would complete the remaining coursework at the university.
     
12. What is the cost to enroll at specific Texas Universities?
    Check out the College for All Texans website for an itemized list of charges that includes tuition/fees, books/supplies, room/board, transportation & other costs: http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/collegecosts.cfm.
     
13. When do I transfer?
    When you transfer may depend on several factors.  The university may have specific guidelines on how many transfer credits may be required prior to transferring.  The institution may also have a necessary GPA that must be met &/or particular coursework that must be completed prior to transferring.  This information will be based not only on the university but may also be tied to the college (within the university) to which one is applying.  Check with the receiving institution for specific requirements.
     
14. What are some good resources where I can get transfer information on local universities?
    Click on the school for more information:

Frequently Asked Career Questions

What are some resources that can help me research jobs?

What can I do with my Major?