Transfer Timeline

Here’s what to do each semester at QCC in order to plan a smooth transfer to a four-year school.

FIRST SEMESTER OR 0-15 CREDITS

• Start transfer planning now! Your transfer process starts when you begin your first semester –this doesn’t mean you have to fill out forms now, it means you should start to learn about the various steps involved. Give yourself enough time to begin researching careers, majors, and the four-year school(s) that best fit your interests.

• Start thinking about careers. This is the most important part of the transfer process. Anyone can fill out forms and have transcripts sent, but the hard part is being clear on why you are going to college and how to connect academic programs with your talents and career interests. Not sure about this? Consider taking a QCC career exploration course (ORT 110 or PSY 115) or going to a CAPS session.  

• Start learning about majors. As you learn about careers, think about college majors that lead to these careers. Talk with counselors, faculty members and representatives of four-year colleges about what is available.

If you have a major in mind and know the university to which you wish to transfer, find out whether QCC has a transfer agreement with this school. Through the Joint Admissions program, students who graduate from approved Associate degree programs are guaranteed admission into MA state colleges and/or UMass campuses. Look under the Joint Admissions link at the Transfer Office website for more information.

• Attend a Transfer Information Session. These drop-in sessions are the first step in learning more about the details involved in your transfer planning. The QCC Transfer Office has details on schedule.

• Attend transfer fairs and talk with representatives of four-year colleges to learn more. Look for campus visits by four-year college reps to do this all semester long.

 

SECOND SEMESTER OR 15-30 CREDITS

• Keep thinking about careers. Discuss your transfer plans with your advisor and instructors in the classes that you are taking this semester. It's also helpful to speak with instructors who teach courses in the field that you're interested in. Remember: they studied in that field and so know first-hand what is involved.

• Keep thinking about majors. Get on mailing lists and visit colleges. At college fairs and other college visits to campus, sign up for college and university catalogs. Pay particular attention to the catalog sections about transferring your credits and the majors offered. Once you’re on a mailing list, you will receive invitations to open houses, information about scholarships and brochures that address the major you are interested in studying.
 

• Take advantage of campus visits to QCC by four-year colleges and university representatives.

• Learn about QCC transfer agreements such as Joint Admissions (state colleges and UMass campuses) or other school-specific articulation agreements. Go to the QCC Transfer Office website and look under ‘Transfer Pathways,’ ‘Joint Admissions’ and ‘Articulation Agreements’ to learn more.

• Visit the QCC Transfer Office. Pick up some college information—viewbooks, brochure, information sheets--to learn details about specific colleges. You can also do research on colleges by going to the Transfer Office website, and opening the "College search” link.

• Start looking for money. You should never have to pay for scholarship information. Start by checking out the Financing College link at the Transfer Office website. You should plan to apply for financial aid, even if you don’t think you’re eligible. Remember that the next school is going to be more costly than QCC, so you may be MORE eligible for aid. You can also look under "Scholarships" at the Transfer Office website.

• Visit college websites and take notes. E-mail admissions offices and department faculty of the colleges in which you’re interested for information about degree requirements and deadlines.  

• Figure out what’s important to you. Identify the college characteristics you care about most. Use this list to start:
• Public or private
• Rural, urban or suburban
• Geographic location and distance from home
• School size
• Undergraduate and graduate programs
• Full-time or part-time status requirements
• Costs
• Financial aid available
• Transfer student scholarship opportunities
• Housing
• Degree requirements
• Faculty-student ratio within major
• Clubs and organizations
• Recreational activities and intercollegiate sports
• Internship and co-op opportunities

• Attend transfer fairs and talk with representatives of four-year colleges to learn about their academic programs. Also meet with any four-year college reps who visit your campus.

• Attend a Transfer Information Session. These drop-in sessions are offered each semester, and provide students with details involved in transfer planning.

THIRD SEMESTER OR 30- 45 CREDITS

• Keep your adviser in the loop. They may be able to help you confirm that you've "covered all the bases."  They may also have questions or thoughts about your transfer plan that you haven't considered.

• Learn about application deadlines. Several colleges consider transfer applications on a rolling-admissions basis throughout the year, so apply as early as possible. Planning to transfer for January/spring enrollment? Apply no later than September or early October. Planning to transfer for fall enrollment? Apply by mid-March or April at the latest.

• Planning to transfer without completing the Associate degree? Now is the time to apply for admission. Follow the traditional transfer pathway under ‘Transfer Pathways’ at the Transfer Office website.

• Create an application checklist. This will help you to organize the different pieces of information required in the transfer application process. Follow all application procedures, and make sure you’re aware of all application deadlines. This is particularly important for high-demand programs. Be sure to get recommendations from professors who know you well.

• Make an appointment with a four-year school transfer admissions representative to accomplish two goals: 1) to express your interest in a particular school and give admissions officers a sense of who you are, and 2) to get an unofficial transfer credit evaluation of your QCC transcript.

• Meet with the QCC transfer counselor. Set up an appointment or plan to drop in to a Transfer Information Session.

• Request your college transcript. Official copies of your transcript must be forwarded to the admissions office of the four-year schools to which you’re applying. At QCC, students can pick up and fill out a Transfer Request Form at the Student Payment Center, Room 65 in the Administration building. There is a fee for each transcript you have sent. If you have attended other colleges, contact them to request that they send official transcripts as well. Depending on the school to which you are transferring, high school transcripts may or may not be required. Check with the individual school.

FOURTH SEMESTER OR 45 OR MORE CREDITS

• If you are a Joint Admissions student, now is the time to fill out and submit the “Intent To Enroll” application form. Forms are downloadable and printable from the Transfer Office website, under ‘Important Forms’ link or ‘Joint Admissions’ link.

• Apply for admission. Follow all application procedures, and make sure you’re aware of all application deadlines. This is particularly important for high-demand programs.

• Apply for need-based financial aid. Fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov as soon after Jan. 1 as possible. This form is necessary to apply for federal and college-specific aid.

• Visit the colleges to which you’ve been accepted before you enroll. Schedule an appointment with an admissions officer three to four weeks in advance. Ask about opportunities to stay overnight in a dorm and sit in on classes. If you’re interested in a college sport, meet with the team’s coach. Also meet with a financial aid counselor if you have questions.

• Make sure to send your deposit(s) by the deadline dates.

• Re-read your acceptance letter. Make sure you understand what you’re getting into. If you applied to a special program or major, make sure the letter indicates that you have been accepted into that particular program. Also check to make sure you have been accepted for the appropriate semester!

• Review your transfer credit evaluation. If you have not received an evaluation letter, contact the admissions office. The evaluation should state what courses will be accepted in transfer, how they fit into your program, and how many credits you will have remaining before you earn your bachelor’s degree. If you do not understand the document, review it with your advisor or transfer counselor.

• Read all your mail! Take advantage of the special orientation and advising programs offered. Participation in these programs will help you understand the college’s environment, give you the chance to meet other transfer students and acquaint yourself with the opportunities available.

• Review your financial aid. Understand what each item in your package means and whether or not the package will be renewed each year. Understand your loans and what is involved in borrowing and paying loans back.