Commonly Asked Questions about the Transfer Process

What are some tips that I can follow to avoid making costly and timely mistakes in the transfer process?
How do I decide which college or university will be the best for me?
Where can I get information about transfer admission requirements, transferability of LCCC courses, and about articulation agreements with colleges and universities?
What is an "Articulation Agreement"?
When is the best time to transfer?
What grade point average do I need to transfer to a four-year college or university?
What questions should I ask during my meeting with the four-year college transfer counselor?
I'm still undecided about my major. Which courses should I take at LCCC?
Are there scholarships available at 4-year schools specifically for transfer students?

What are some tips that I can follow to avoid making costly and timely mistakes in the transfer process?

Check the transferability of your courses BEFORE you take them.
Understand how your LCCC courses "fit" into your four-year program to avoid taking the wrong courses or excessive electives.
Choose a college major as soon as possible.
Consider applying to a few schools as opposed to one.
Pay attention to admissions requirements and deadlines and be prepared to meet them!
Make scholarship search an ongoing process.
Visit the schools that you are interested in.
Discuss your transfer plans with a counselor or advisor.

How do I decide which college or university will be the best for me?

There are many factors to consider when choosing a four-year college. Listed below are some of the many questions you may want to ask yourself:

Does the institution offer the major you are considering?
What is the geographic location you prefer?
What are the admissions requirements?
What is the cost of tuition and fees?
Are financial aid opportunities and scholarships available?
Do you want an urban or rural setting?
Do you prefer a large or small campus?
Is the college accredited?
What is the reputation of the institution?
What is the student/faculty ratio?
Is special help available if needed?
What size student body are you looking for?
Do you want to live on or off campus? Do you want guaranteed housing for transfers?
Are you interested in fraternity/sorority life?
Do you prefer a private, public or religious college?
Are there particular sports or activities you wish to participate in?

Take advantage of the resources and tools available in the Transfer Resource Center and those online to help you with your college search. LCCC counselors and advisors have expertise in helping you clarify these issues and assist you in your college search.

Where can I get information about transfer admission requirements, transferability of LCCC courses, and articulation agreements with colleges and universities?

Lehigh Carbon Community College offers a variety of educational opportunities and services for the student whose goal is to transfer to a college or university. Most of the following services and resources can be found in Advising and Counseling Services, AD 126 and at many of the off campus sites:

Counselors and advisors who will assist you with transfer resources and information.
Transfer Admission Information guides that list admission requirements, contact names, phone numbers and other information.
Course Equivalency Guides that list LCCC courses and their equivalents at colleges and universities.
Program-to-Program Articulation agreements that list transferable LCCC courses by select college or university according to major.
Self-directed computerized software and access to college catalogs and other materials.

What is an "Articulation Agreement"?

Articulation agreements are formal agreements between LCCC and other four-year colleges and universities. These agreements ensure that, if you successfully follow a prescribed program of study at LCCC, you will generally be able to transfer with full junior status. Agreements often include: Minimum GPA requirements for admission, minimum number of credit hours that will transfer and transferable courses for specific degrees or majors. Detailed program information about LCCC's agreements is available in the Advising and Counseling Services, AD 126.

When is the best time to transfer?

With good planning and information gathering, most students should be able to transfer 60 - 64 credits, not including developmental, technical or nontransferable credits. To spell success, we recommend using the course comparison guides, general education check sheets, college catalogs, and consultation with a college counselor well in advance of your transfer plans. We hope you will stay with us and receive your degree and realize the recognition that is attached to such an accomplishment. Many colleges prefer that you transfer with the degree and some colleges require that you do. Students taking advantage of the many articulation agreements we have will require the degree. In addition, many schools offer generous transfer scholarships to students transferring with a degree.

However, even though staying at LCCC may be financially wise, there are situations that deserve individual assessment that might result in the recommendation that you transfer early. This depends to a great extent on your major at your transfer institution. Discuss your plans with a counselor to build a timetable that makes sense for you.

What grade point average do I need to transfer to a four-year college or university?

Most colleges require a minimum 2.0 GPA or a "C" average for transfer. Usually a 2.5 GPA or higher is preferable. Competitive programs such as accounting, business administration, computer science, education, and engineering may require a 3.0 or higher.

In order to transfer, you must be in good standing at LCCC and must have earned the minimum number of credits specified by your transfer college. To be considered a transfer student at most schools, you must have earned between 12 and 30 credits at Lehigh Carbon Community College.

What questions should I ask during my meeting with the four-year college transfer counselor?

Here are some questions you might want to ask the counselor from the four-year school you are considering:

How many credits are likely to transfer?
How many additional credits are required to earn the four-year degree? What grade point average is required?
Is there job placement assistance after graduation?
What are the admissions requirements?
Are applications accepted at any time (rolling admissions) or only by a fixed deadline?
Are high school grades and SAT scores required or preferred? Are they used in making the admissions decision?
What support services and student activities are available?
Is credit granted for CLEP, life experience, or cooperative education?
Are D grades accepted in transfer?
How many transfer students are accepted each year?
Are there special programs or registration dates for transfer students? Are there any programs not open to transfer students?
What are the costs for tuition and room and board?
What are the procedures to file for financial aid?
Is faculty available to meet with students?
What tutoring assistance is available?
How large are classes?
How many students live on campus? Is on-campus housing available to transfer students? What opportunities are available for off-campus housing?
Is parking available?

I'm still undecided about my major. Which courses should I take at LCCC?

If you are undecided about your major but are fairly certain that you will eventually transfer to pursue a bachelor's degree, it's best to take courses that will satisfy the general education requirements of your transfer institution. It's best to work closely with an advisor or counselor to determine which courses to take within these requirements. The Core Curriculum and General Education guides for various schools are available on-line.

Are there scholarships available at 4-year schools specifically for transfer students?

Yes! Many institutions offer scholarships specifically for transfer students. Most are "merit" based, meaning that they require a specific GPA along with a minimum number of credits earned to apply. Many of these scholarships are for more than one semester and will require that students maintain a certain level GPA to continue their eligibility. Some institutions have a scholarship application and deadline separate from that of financial aid while other institutions review all transfer students for scholarship eligibility based on their admission application. Contact the school early to find out about any deadlines and applications you will need to submit. Many scholarship deadlines are in the spring semester, regardless of the semester in which the student transfers.

See scholarship opportunities for transfer students and Internet Links to Career and College Search Information on the LCCC transfer web page for more information.

For more information email transfer [at] lccc [dot] edu.