Transfer From A Community College To A University: 5 Proven Tips

by Chad Agrawal

Transfer From A Community College To A UniversityYou might be under the impression that attending community college will leave you with an associates degree and not help you gain admission to a 4-year college or university. However, community colleges are geared exactly towards the purpose of transferring to a 4-year college or university, including Ivy League!

While you may not necessarily be bound for an Ivy League school when you leave the community college setting, it is possible. It just depends on how you fare during your time in community college and the steps you take to get where you want to go.

There's a lot more involved with getting accepted into your university of choice than simply slogging through your coursework and attaining acceptable grades in community college. You need to consider all of the requirements that will qualify you for admission down the line, as well as extras that will give you an edge over the many students competing for limited spots at top schools. Here are just a few tips that will give you the best chance for success when it comes to transitioning to a university.

Know the requirements. Protesting that you "didn't know" about requirements to transfer from a community college will not help you convince the review board that you are responsible, attentive to detail, and motivated to follow through with tasks. By overlooking deadlines and other requirements for your application, that only reflects on the work you will do in the future, and the review board will use this information to decide whether or not you should be admitted to their university. So make sure that you leave community college prepared to transfer by completing the general education coursework required as well as any additional classes specified by certain schools you're interested in. And be aware of deadlines well in advance and mark them in your calendar so that there's no chance you'll miss them.

Improve your writing skills. When it comes to applying at universities there is almost no skill more important than writing, regardless of your intended major. The reason is that most college applications call for a number of essays, and your ability to convey information in a clear, concise, and compelling manner could weigh heavily in your favor. So if your writing skills are a bit rusty it's probably a good idea to take an essay (or other English) class while you're at community college.

Look for feeder schools. If you've got your heart set on a certain university, it may interest you to know that many schools participate in feeder programs. This means that they may have agreements in place to offer preferential treatment to transfer students that come out of certain community colleges in the area (or the state). So call the university you're hoping to attend to find out if they have any such policy in place so that you have the best chance for admission after community college.

Do community service. With so much competition to get into top schools these days, you'll find that stellar grades simply aren't enough to ensure a spot. You're going to need an additional set of activities on your application that set you apart. Community service is one great way to round out your college résumé, not to mention your character. And your community college almost certainly has outreach opportunities that you can participate in. At the very least you can probably offer tutoring services on campus through the learning center.

Extracurriculars. If what you're really shooting for is not only admission, but a scholarship to your university of choice, then you don't need a masters in education to tell you that you're going to need something on your application that other students just don't have. Extracurricular interests could give you just the leg up you're looking for. Whether you're interested in sports, forensics, or you're a member of the Mathletes, you can use your specific strengths to earn accolades in community college that will help you to catch the attention of transfer schools. And while participation certainly helps to build your character (something that many universities take into consideration), excelling in your extracurricular activity of choice (generally through competing and winning) is more likely to tip the scales in your favor when it comes to both admission and potential scholarships. Plus, it's a great way to make connections with other people interested in the same field as you, which will be especially useful in the future.

Following these tips will help you along the way to transfer from community college to Ivy League, or other 4-year colleges and universities.

Want to learn more? Read about how to transfer from community college to a university.

This post was written by Chad Agrawal

Chad Agrawal is the founder of CCTS, helping students transfer from community college to Ivy League, tier 1 or anywhere else by following this community college guide.

{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

sima July 21, 2013 at 4:51 am

I’ve been away for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks.

Reply

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: