What transfer advising services does
NOVA offer students?
Counselors at each campus are available to help students plan
for transferring to another college. They can help you weigh
factors to be considered in making your transfer choices, such
as admissions standards, size, application deadlines, number
of hours and courses accepted for transferring. Counselors can
also show you on-line and hard copy transfer guides for many
local institutions. These guides include valuable information
regarding transferring to many schools, including guidance on
transferable courses.
A "College Tour" is scheduled annually in the Fall
Semester at each campus. Representatives from many four-year
colleges attend to discuss their institutions with interested
students.
Which degrees transfer and which degrees
do not?
You must understand the goals and purposes of the degree program
in which you are enrolled at the community college. There are
usually transfer options for just about any degree, though some
degrees are designed specifically for transfer, including the
Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in Applied
Arts degrees. Most transfer programs require students to complete
a minimum number of credits in English composition, the humanities
or fine arts, social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences,
mathematics, and in some cases, foreign languages. These courses
meet the lower-level general-education requirements of the four-year
colleges and universities.
The Associate in Applied Science degree programs are not specifically
designed to prepare students for transfer, but rather to gain
basic employment skills. If you are planning to transfer with
one of these degrees, you run the risk of losing credits, especially
for a traditional university degree program. However, many of
the courses in these programs may be transferable depending
on the school and program to which you apply. For guidance on
options, consult a NOVA counselor and the admissions representatives
at the schools you are considering.
Some AAS degrees transfer to some programs
at some 4-year colleges. For example, the AAS degree in Business
Management transfers to the University of Mary Washington's
College of Graduate and Professional Studies for a Bachelor
of Professional Studies degree. For specific information, see
the college catalog,
a counselor or the faculty advisor
for your AAS degree program.
Are there advantages to earning an
associate degree and then transferring?
Generally, if you begin your work toward a
bachelor’s degree at a Virginia community college, you
will benefit by completing an appropriate associate degree before
transferring. Students who have earned an associate’s
degree in a transfer program are considered to have met the
lower-division general education requirements at public senior
institutions in Virginia, even if their courses do not match
up exactly to that university’s requirements. Certain
majors, however, may require students to complete more than
two additional years due to prerequisites or other requirements
specific to a field of study.
Another advantage to earning an associate
degree is the lower tuition rates of NOVA compared to senior
colleges and universities. Also, if you have have a good GPA,
several schools in Virginia will guarantee admission with the
associate’s degree.
What do I need to know if I plan to
transfer without earning an associate’s degree?
Although students can maximize the number
of credits that will transfer by completing a college transfer
associate’s degree, some students may choose to transfer
before completing a degree program. Be sure to review the transfer
policies for the schools you wish to attend. Many schools will
require high school transcripts and/or SAT/ACT scores if you
have fewer than 30 transferable credits at the time of application.
You will need to consider whether your performance in these
areas will meet a school’s requirements.
Also, if you transfer without graduating from
NOVA, each course will be evaluated individually. Courses that
might have been accepted toward specific general education requirements
for a NOVA graduate may not be accepted as equivalent without
the degree.
If you plan to transfer but have not yet selected
an institution or a major, work closely with a counselor to
help you choose courses that are likely to transfer to most
schools and fit into a variety of programs. Particularly for
highly selective or unique bachelor’s degree programs,
students should follow the advice of an advisor from the four-year
institution to ensure that courses selected will prepare them
for the major they intend to pursue.
How do I know which classes will transfer?
You may work with both NOVA counselors and
available transfer guides for help in selecting transferable
courses. Not all credits earned at the community college transfer
to four-year institutions. Community colleges offer degree programs
for a number of purposes--to prepare students for immediate
entry into the workforce, to develop skills for career advancement
or personal growth, and to prepare students for continuing their
studies at four-year colleges and universities. Generally, courses
taken as part of a "university parallel" transfer
program will be accepted at the senior public institutions in
Virginia. Courses taken in certain occupational/ technical areas
may not meet the requirements for transfer to a bachelor’s
degree program. Transfer guides from colleges and universities
will usually include charts specifying which community college
courses transfer and the equivalent courses at the institution.
Most Virginia state schools and many Virginia private schools
have their guides available on the internet. Visit our page
here for links.
Can a NOVA counselor tell me what
classes will transfer to an out-of-state school?
The college to which the student wants to
transfer determines which courses they will accept, how many
credits will be awarded, and the type of credit that will be
awarded (general education, major requirements, or elective
credit). The receiving institution wants to ensure that the
credit awarded represents college-level work taught by a qualified
faculty member at a level appropriate and relevant to the student's
field of study. NOVA counselors can suggest courses that are
generally transferable to most schools, but because each college
determines its own policies about accepting credits in transfer,
guarantees cannot be made except by the receiving institution.
An important source of information on course equivalencies and
the transferability of credits is the four-year college transfer
guide, a publication usually made available through the admissions
office. Many senior institutions also provide access to their
guides through their webpages.
When should I apply to the colleges
I am considering?
Each college has its own application deadlines,
however a good rule of thumb is to apply a year ahead of the
date you wish to enroll. If you would like to attend in the
fall of 2005, begin the application process in the fall of 2004.
You may find that some colleges will allow you to apply as late
as one month prior to enrollment; however most colleges set
their deadlines at approximately six months prior to enrollment.
Waiting lists are another reason to apply early. It may be to
your benefit to have your application in early in case you are
placed on one. You may use links from our transfer page to find
information for specific schools.
How do I send my transcripts to a
college or university for admissions?
Submit a Transcript Request Form, available
from Admissions and Records at any of the NOVA campuses or here:
http://www.nvcc.edu/loudoun/admission/125-89.pdf.
What grades are accepted by other
colleges and universities?
Most colleges have policies requiring a minimum
cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for all work attempted
at the community college. For individual courses, D grades are
generally not accepted for credit. If you earned D grades in
general education courses or prerequisites for your major required
by the transfer institution, you will need to take courses to
meet the unfulfilled requirements.
What is the maximum number of hours
that I can transfer to the bachelor’s degree program?
Many colleges have a maximum limit on the
number of credits accepted in transfer. Graduation requirements
for the baccalaureate degree include a minimum number of credits
at the upper division level and a minimum number of credits
completed at the senior institution. This information is usually
available in a school’s transfer guide or catalog. The
admissions office at the transfer institution will also be able
to answer questions on the exact number of credits that can
be transferred from a community college to meet those requirements.
Can I continue to take NOVA courses
after I transfer?
Once a student has transferred into a bachelor’s
degree program, his or her school will usually have strict guidelines
regarding transferring in further coursework. You should seek
prior permission from the designated school official and understand
there is usually a limit of 3-6 credits. Generally, plan to
complete all courses at the community college before transferring.
How many more years will I have to
attend college after I leave NOVA to complete my bachelor’s
degree?
Many factors affect years in school. If you
are admitted as a junior in your major, and attend full time,
you should finish in approximately two years. Because some students
transfer with fewer than 60 credits, attend school part-time,
or change majors, degree completion can take longer. Certainly,
students may also have more than 60 credits from NOVA and other
schools, which may shorten the time required to complete a degree.
