Students: Transfer Basics: First Steps Action Plan

First Steps Action Plan

This action plan helps you focus your reasons for transferring and provides guidance for getting started with transfer.

1. Analyze your reasons for transferring.

   Questions to ask yourself about transfer

   • What is your purpose in transferring?
   • Are you transferring to a school based on location, cost, or types of programs?
   • Is a school's reputation important to you?
   • Have you visited websites to compare schools?
 
2. If you are undecided about your academic goals, contact a career counselor at your college to help you identify goals and a possible program. You can also use CAREERwise Education to explore careers, use self assessment tools, and the plan for the education you need for various careers.
   
   
3. Research the program or institution you are interested in by visiting websites, talking with people who have attended the institution, and attending information sessions offered by the institution. Use these links to conduct an academic program search of the various majors that are offered in Minnesota: Minnesota State, Private Colleges, and University of Minnesota.
   
   
4. Look up the college or university accreditation status and accrediting body and compare it to the transfer policy at the college or university to which you intend to transfer. Colleges and universities consider an institution's or a program's accreditation as one of the factors they use to evaluate credit for transfer. Use the following links depending on the region the college or university is located:
   
   • Middle States
   • New England Association of Colleges and Schools
   • Higher Learning Commission
   • Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities
   • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
   • Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
   • Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities

   Contact a transfer specialist if you have any questions or concerns.

5. Determine the type of degree (diploma or certificate) that best meets your educational goal by talking to a transfer specialist and by researching your career. If you plan to attend a two-year college with the intention to transfer to complete a four-year baccalaureate degree, it is extremely important to plan your courses and program carefully since not all associate degrees or programs are designed to transfer. See Minnesota State Programs: Transfer for descriptions of the transferability of different types of associate degrees and programs.
   
   
6. Consider whether any courses you are currently taking will transfer to your next college or university.

   Course transfer

   • Satisfy graduation requirements (program/degree/major requirements)
   • Meet accreditation requirements
   • Satisfy general education requirements including those within the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC)

   If you plan to attend a public Minnesota college or university, the courses you take toward your final academic goal should do the following:

7. Explore what characterizes your transfer profile. You can view the specific information and resources mentioned in these profile overviews in the Transfer Planning section.

   You have taken courses at a two-year college and intend to transfer to a four-year university

   • At your current college or university as well as at the college or university to which you intend to transfer to ensure you take courses that will apply to your major. Students who transfer to public Minnesota colleges and universities from out-of-state or private colleges will also have their credits evaluated individually for transfer.
   • At your current college to determine which courses fit general education requirements.
   • At the college or university that you plan to attend to see how your completed courses will transfer if you attended college in the past or are currently attending college and have changed your mind about your major.

   This transfer profile is for students who intend to complete their general education requirements before transferring to a 4-year university to complete a bachelor's degree. Students with this profile who attend one of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities usually follow the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) and/or an Associate in Arts degree that includes a 40-credit MnTC and any courses that are required for a major. Students may visit Transferology and create a plan to see how courses/credits will transfer and count toward programs within and between the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the University of Minnesota.

   Students may want to transfer to private or out-of-state colleges or universities. While some private colleges recognize completion of the MnTC, most will evaluate courses individually for transfer. Out-of-state colleges and universities will also evaluate courses individually for transfer.

   You should meet with a transfer specialist:

   You have taken courses at a four-year institution and want to transfer to another four-year institution OR you have taken courses at a four-year institution and want to transfer to a two-year institution

   This transfer profile requires that you have your transcript(s) sent to the institution to which you plan to transfer and they will evaluate your courses toward the program requirements for the major that you plan to pursue. Note: You may have to be admitted before you can get your courses evaluated. For students who attend any of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, courses that meet the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum will transfer according to the goal areas met at the institution at which they were completed. Students may visit Transferology and create a plan to see how courses/credits will transfer and count toward programs within and between the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the University of Minnesota.

   You have completed a specialized or technical program before transferring

   This transfer profile is for students who are in specialized or technical programs (e.g., the Associate in Science (AS), Associate in Fine Arts (AFA), Associate in Applied Science (AAS), Diploma, or Certificate programs) and decide to complete a more advanced degree or program. Articulation agreements may exist that would allow you to transfer to colleges or universities that honor the specialized/technical program you are completing. These agreements specify how a program completed at a sending college can be applied to program/major goals at the receiving college or university. If you choose to attend a college or university that does not have an articulation agreement with your current program, your courses will be evaluated individually for transfer. It is possible you will not be able to transfer all of your courses.

   Some students decide to pursue a specialized or technical program after they’ve attended a college or university. Students who have prior college credits would have their transcripts sent to the college they wish to attend to have them evaluated toward the specialized program they wish to pursue.

   You want to plan for a future transfer

   This transfer profile is for students who have not taken college courses and want to plan for transfer. You can use any of the resources on this site depending on where you will begin your education. For example, if you choose to complete an Associate of Arts degree at a community college, you can use the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC), Transferology, and Transfer Guides to guide your transfer. You are also advised to talk to a transfer specialist at colleges or universities you are interested in attending.

8. Plan for the next steps in the transfer process.