|
BASICS OF TRANSFER FOR ADULT LEARNERS
Can I really transfer to and enroll at a four-year college/university
even if I’m older than 30? 40? 50?
Of course you can!
You might stand out a little compared to students wearing
loose-hanging or tight-fitting clothes, watching
DVDs on laptops, or texting friends on cell phones...but understand that
your admission to a four-year college is based on your academic
potential and your academic record, not your age.
How long will it take to get a bachelor’s degree—will I be ready to
retire by then?
It takes as long as
you need to complete the 120-128 credits that make up a Bachelor’s
degree. If you go to college on a part-time basis (1 or 2 courses at a
time), it could take you a very long time.
That’s where completing
the Associate degree has advantages. The 60-62 credits of the Associate
degree can cut your time at the four-year college roughly in half. You
can complete all of the same general requirements students are
completing at the four-year college at an affordable cost and with a
flexible schedule. Some colleges will allow you to bring in more than
60/62. They may go up to 75. And if you have credits from another 4-year
college, you might be able to transfer in 90 all together.
While at QCC, consider
-
accelerated
degree programs, such as Business Administration/Fast Track or Early Childhood
Education/Fast Track
-
online
Associate degree programs
-
online and hybrid
courses
-
courses offered
during summer sessions
What about courses I took here (or at another school, or multiple
schools) a long time ago?
-
Most general types of
courses—English, History, Sociology, Art—are considered "safe" for transfer.
-
Courses that include
very specific content or content that gets updated frequently, such as
Computer or other technical courses, are probably "unsafe." Just as the
technology field has grown and changed over time, computer and related courses in this
area have too.
Also, some majors
(science programs and health careers particularly) require coursework to
be current (taken within the last 3-5 years) in order to count towards
the program of study.
What colleges have the programs or majors that I’m looking for?
That is a great
question that all students ask. As an adult learner, one of your
follow-up questions to this will be: “who offers this major –at night,
or—on the weekend, or—online?”
You can begin to look for answers in
two ways:
-
Go to the
College Search link at this site, and
use the search engines to find colleges that offer your major.
-
Go to individual college websites, find
(or search for) the section titled "Continuing Education" or
"Professional Studies." Typically there is a list of the programs
offered at-night, online, part-time, etc.
What's the difference between "day" programs and "evening or continuing
education" programs?
The answer to this
question will surely influence where you transfer to complete your
Bachelor’s degree.
"Day" programs
-
Are those that we
typically think of: they involve full-time enrollment in classes offered
Monday - Friday, during day time hours.
-
These are programs that
most traditional-age college students enroll in after completing high
school.
-
Transfer (and other)
scholarships are usually limited to day programs.
"Evening" or "continuing
education" (including on-line) programs
-
Are offered in a variety
of formats, but usually not full-time.
-
College students of all
ages and experiences enroll in continuing education programs.
-
Courses are generally less expensive
than those in day programs
-
Admissions requirements are more
flexible
-
There typically is a higher limit on
the number of transfer credits that will be accepted
The hard part: you’ve
got to take the time to research these different schools to determine
which one (or more) is right for you.
Where do I start?
Start at
Getting Started
(at this website). Once you have enough information and are ready to
apply, follow the
Transfer Application Steps.
|
