How to Transfer College Credit

Students who have bounced around several colleges before finding their niche will have accrued an abundance of college credit. Many are surprised to find how few of their previous courses they receive credit for. The problem is that it's not in the best interest financially for your new college to accept all your previous course work. Here are some tips worth reading before enrolling into that introductory biology course for the third time.

Things You'll Need

• notebooks, tests, research papers from previous college courses

Instructions

1. Get a copy of your previous college course catalog that has a detailed course description of the course you completed. Bring it along with you to the admissions office when you request that you receive transferable credit.

2. Negotiate efficiently. Compare the course descriptions of two or three courses you received a B letter grade or better. Then present your argument to the appropriate staff member in admissions. Don't bother trying to transfer credit from courses with vague titles or ones you didn't perform well in.

3. Take your argument to the head of the department that you are attempting to transfer credit. If you're seeking introductory biology course credit, for example, set an appointment with the head of the biology department. Show any old notes taken in class and any research projects you might have. If you don't have any of those materials try to demonstrate that your previous course covered all the material listed in the course description. If you've made a good argument, the head of the department will vouch for you and let admissions know that you have satisfied the course requirement.

Tips & Warnings

• Be persistent and polite. Students have the have the right to know specific details why they did not receive credit for a course.

• Many students are not aware that there are independent study opportunities available to them. If you're traveling abroad for the summer you might be able to receive course credit while you're there. Depending on your particular major perhaps you could complete a research paper on the indigenous plant species or maybe a cultural study. Even if it is not listed in the course catalog you might be able to work out a viable project for credit with your professor.