Transfer Services
JCC is a wonderful first step on your way to a bachelor's degree, and our transfer advisors are here to help! After all, transferring from one college to another involves much more than simply moving. It means researching colleges, planning courses, and completing paperwork. Most of all, it means making important decisions about your life.
As you probably already know, the type of school you choose depends on your personal needs, desires, and career plans. Some of these factors brought you to JCC, and they are even more important as you choose a four-year college or university. Planning to transfer doesn't have to be overwhelming! Visit us to check out college guides and other resources to help you identify the four-year school that lines up with your goals.
Transfer is made easy at JCC in 5 easy steps:
#1 IDENTIFY THE CAREER AND COURSE OF STUDY YOU WANT TO PURSUE
Before you pick a college or university to transfer to, it's important to identify your ultimate goals. Your first step is to develop your educational and career goals and pick some possible majors that will put you on the path toward reaching those goals. You should also determine what you want your education to prepare you to do. Visit the Career Services Center for help. You should complete this step by the end of your second semester at JCC.
You can use these topics and questions to find the answer to, "What am I looking for in a four-year college/university?" and to help you narrow your choices of transfer schools to a short list:
- Location – Do you prefer to stay close to home? Or would you rather go far away for school? In state? Out of state? Urban? Rural? Suburban? Will state residency requirements affect tuition or your eligibility for state aid?
- Size – Do you envision yourself at a huge university or a small, private college? Find out how many students attend the school you're considering, and research the average class size for each school.
- Population – What does your dream school look like? Do you want to attend an all-male or all-female school? Or would you rather be part of a co-ed school? How diverse do you want your school to be? Do you want your school to be affiliated with a certain denomination?
- Atmosphere – Do you want to be at a commuter school or a residential school? Does the student life suit you? When you're researching different schools, ask yourself, "Is this an environment where I can see myself? Will I feel a sense of belonging?"
- Majors – For each school you investigate, find out what degrees are offered and whether the school is accredited. Also find out how competitive each school is, both in admissions and grading.
- Requirements – For each school you're considering, find out what courses are required of transfer students for acceptance into your major and what the GPA requirements are for acceptance to your major.
- Cost – How much are you willing and able to spend on tuition? Room and board? Books?
- Financial aid – For each school, find out how many students receive financial aid. What are the requirements? What are the application deadlines? Is work-study available?
- Scholarships – What transfer scholarships are available? What criteria are used for selection?
- Services – Are you looking for certain services, such as tutoring, counseling, placement testing, career development and placement, and support for students with disabilities?
- Activities – Are you interested in clubs, honor societies, events, and athletics?
You should complete this step by the end of your second semester at JCC.
Use the answers from the questions in Step 2 to narrow down your choices to three or four schools. For each one, research the academic requirements. You should review catalogs from the schools you're researching and contact admissions representatives from each of the schools. Go to your selected school's open house event or schedule a private college visit to meet others and to learn more about the college/university. Through your research, you should be able to find out about the:
- GPA required for admission to the transfer school
- GPA required for acceptance to your major at the transfer school
- Course prerequisites for your major
- General education requirements for graduation
You can find or request most of this information on the website for each school, but
you may have to call or email. To keep yourself organized and make your search easier,
you should start a file for each school you are considering. Keep a record including
names and phone numbers of any in-person, phone, or email contacts you make with the
schools, and what you were told.
This step should be completed by the end of your second semester.
It's important to find out about and stay ahead of application deadlines, particularly
when applying to selective programs and schools! You can check the websites and applications
of each school for specific deadlines. Be sure to complete and send all admissions
and financial aid applications on time. You should keep a copy of each application
you send.
Essays – Although essays are often said to be optional, consider them mandatory if you want
to be a competitive applicant. If you need help completing applications, visit the
Department of Student Success and Advising.
- Transcripts – You will need to send your official JCC transcript to the Admissions Office of
each school to which you apply. Transcript request forms are available at the Registrar's
Office or you may request them online.
There is a $4 fee for each electronic transcript and $6.00 for each hard copy. Most schools want transcripts after your third-semester grades are posted. - Financial aid – If you're applying for financial aid, you will need to complete any applications requested by the Financial Aid Office of each school to which you are applying. Some schools require other applications in addition to the FAFSA applications, so you should check with each school you are considering to find out what financial aid applications they require.
- Scholarships – Research scholarship options. Contact the Admissions Office at each of the schools you are considering to request scholarship information.
You should complete this step during your third semester.
You're so close to reaching your transfer goals! Don't forget to:
- File your Graduation Application within the first ten days of your final semester at JCC.
- Send your admission deposit by the required deadline to reserve your place at your transfer college/university.
- Send a final, official transcript (after your final grades are posted) to the transfer college/university you choose to attend.
- Make sure your immunization information is up-to-date and on file at your new school before you register.