Transfer Colleges
WHY TRANSFER COLLEGES?
Over a third of students change colleges at some point. Students transfer colleges for many reasons, including:
- Degree: Many students start at a community college and transfer to a university in order to receive a Bachelor’s degree.
- If you plan to transfer to a 4-year college in Oregon after taking classes at a community college, consider degree partnership programs that allow you to be dual enrolled at both colleges.
- Program or major: Often, students transfer colleges in order to study a specific program or major.
- Financial: The cost of college can factor into the decision to change colleges.
- Fit: This may be any number of factors including location, size, social scene, or campus culture.
TRANSFER STUDENT CHECKLIST
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☑ Explore your options.
► Review what is most important to you in a college.
► Develop a list of colleges and universities that you're interested in and that have your program or major.
► Get to know the colleges.
● Sign up to receive information from your top colleges.
● If possible, visit your top colleges. Sign up with the admissions office to take an official tour, go to an information session and sit in on a class if possible.
● Explore colleges online with virtual tours or on their websites and social media.
● Attend a college fair if there is one in your area or an Oregon Transfer Days event at your community college.
Oregon Transfer Days: Current community college students can learn more about transferring to a 4-year college in Oregon. Events take place in January or March at each community college. -
☑ Make sure you're on track.
► Research admission requirements for each college to make sure you're on track.
● Requirements for transfer students may be different than for first-year students. In general, admissions offices will pay more attention to your grades in college than your grades in high school.
● You may need to apply as a first-year student if you don't meet a minimum number of transferable credits.
● Make a list of deadlines for each college.
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School Bushnell University † Corban University † George Fox University † Gutenberg College † Lewis & Clark College Linfield University Mount Angel Seminary † Multnomah University † National University of Natural Medicine New Hope Christian College † Pacific Northwest College of Art Pacific University Portland Actors Conservatory Reed College University of Portland † University of Western States Warner Pacific University † Western Governors University Willamette University † = religiously-affiliated college or university
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☑ Explore how your college credit will transfer.
► Talk to an advisor at your current institution as well as the college you plan to transfer to. You may need a minimum grade for the classes to transfer while other credits might not transfer at all.
► Use the Oregon Transfer Compass to get tips and answers to frequently asked questions.
● Core Transfer Maps: 30+ credits (eight classes) at Oregon community colleges that transfer as a block to any Oregon public university.
● Oregon Transfer Module: 45 credits at Oregon community colleges that transfer as a block to any Oregon public university.
● Statewide Transfer Degree: 90 credits at Oregon community colleges that transfer to any Oregon public university and cover all general education requirements. Includes the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) and the Associate of Science Oregon Transfer (ASOT) for Business or Computer Science.
● Interstate Passport: Blue Mountain Community College and Western Oregon University participate in this program that allows credits to easily transfer between colleges in different states. -
☑ Apply for admission.
► Apply online. There may be a specific transfer student application.
● You may need to apply as a first-year student if you don't meet a minimum number of transferable credits.
► You will need to order a transcript from the registrar at each of the colleges you have attended.
● In some cases, you will need transcripts from your high school as well. -
☑ Apply for financial aid and scholarships.
► Complete the FAFSA or ORSAA every year you are in college.
► Apply for scholarships, including ones specifically for transfer students.
● OSAC lists scholarships for Oregon transfer students including the Oregon Scholarship Fund Transfer Student Award (#902) and Ford Scholars (#1).
● Colleges and other private organizations may also offer scholarships for transfer students.
