All About Transfers: Community College to University

Sometimes where you start college is not where you finish. The students that I teach every day in the classroom are a testament to this fact. There are 28 colleges that belong to the Florida College system – one for each county in the state. The overwhelming majority of these students are associate’s degree seeking; they’ll earn their 2 year degrees before transferring to a 4-year university to complete their bachelor’s degree. When it comes to the college transfer process, these students often need additional, hands-on, and individualized guidance and support.

The Community College Experience

Attending a community college is a great option that many students should take under serious consideration. Not only will students complete their general education requirements (the “lower level” courses that students typically take their first 2 years before taking more specialized courses in their major), but they will do so taking virtually the SAME courses at the university for a fraction of the price. And professors at the community college level truly excel at teaching, whereas some universities heavily prioritize research skills and publications when hiring.

Over the years, I’ve seen a wide variety of students in my classroom: first-generation college students, dual enrollment students simultaneously finishing out high school and earning college credits, veterans, low-income students, English language learning students, and nontraditional degree seekers (read: mature adult learners).

I’ve also asked, over the years, why they chose our college. I’ve heard everything from:

• “I wasn’t the best student in high school, but this is a chance to start over and get into my college of choice.”
• “It was a lot more affordable. I wish I could stay here to complete my bachelor’s degree.”
• “I didn’t know that you had to take the SAT or ACT before applying. I didn’t want to sit out of school for a year, so I enrolled here.”
• “I wanted to stay and live here. Going to this college was the most convenient.”
• “My parents said if I went to college here for 2 years that I could transfer to any university I wanted.”

As you can see, there a variety of reasons why students choose a community college education. What underlies these quotes is also a wide variety of understandings (and misconceptions) about how community college fits into the larger college admissions landscape, how the overall college admissions process works for transfer students, or determining which university is the best choice to transfer to.

This is a great point to interject that there is no one “best” college; it comes down to very personal and individual factors to weigh as part of the decision-making process, including academic, social/cultural, financial, and career concerns.

No One Starting Point

There is also no one starting point in navigating the transfer admission process. Some students are very savvy. They are well-informed about college admissions in general. They benefit from the experiences of family or friends going through the process from years before. Others are starting at Ground Zero.

Case in point: I overheard one student complaining that she’d started out at a 4-year university, didn’t like it, and came to take classes at our college. She was concerned that being at a 2-year college would “put her behind” in completing her bachelor’s degree. Nope. I had to stop and explain how regardless she’d be completing her general education requirements, she would not be behind her peers, and when she’d transfer, she’d take more courses in her major. Lightbulb moment.

Second case: One of our department student workers overheard me talking about my undergraduate education. He was on the verge of finishing his associate’s degree and was torn about where to transfer to next. He mentioned deciding between 2 colleges in particular. I pointed out that both sounded like good choices and suggested applying to both to compare financial aid award letters. With wide eyes, the student says, “You can apply to more than one college at a time?” He legitimately did not know. You see, he is the first in his family to attend college AND he was born in another country.

Both cases highlight something that can be easily taken for granted in the college transfer admission process: students may be making life-changing decisions without all of the necessary information to make the best choices. Putting together applications to selective colleges may be more challenging than students first realize. Of course, there’s basic information to fill out – name, address, GPA, etc. – but then there may also be recommendation letters to request and essays and supplemental essays to write. And let me tell you – there is an art and a process involved with both.

There Is Another Way

Admissionisms stands in the gap where students need additional education and support to identify their best fit college choices and successfully navigate the transfer admissions process. Our tools, techniques, and strategies work equally well for students, though not exactly new to college, but require some level of support in choosing their next college home.

One more factoid: More highly selective colleges are starting to recognize the value of high-achieving community college graduates. Not only do they outperform their peers who transition directly into university from high school, but they are especially likely to graduate, and graduate on time. Don’t believe me? Ask Forbes. Sometimes it’s just a little nudge, a little guidance, a little support, and a little cheerleading that brings out the success in some of our most promising students and leaders who take a different path through higher education. (And I just so happen to be an excellent cheerleader too!)

Ask about our Transfer Time comprehensive package – where we work one-on-one with community college students to explore and identify best-fit transfer options, get ready to apply via the brand new Common App for Transfer Students or other application platforms, and create application materials that speak directly to their strengths and why this university ranks among their top choice.