Steps to a Successful Transfer

Step 1: Know Yourself and Plan Ahead!

You’ll find if you plan ahead and make good decisions early in your college career, you will be in a better position when it’s time to transfer.

• Define your interests and career goals and work with your academic advisor who can help with decisionsrelated to your major, career, and academic path.
• Utilize FOCUS 2, the online career exploration system,which is free to all LCCC students.
• Attend transfer fairs and college visits to help learn about the many opportunities for you as a transfer student from LCCC.
• Learn about LCCC’s transfer agreements and guides to see how your courses and program will transfer to colleges and universities.
• Attend the job fair and discuss career and major decisions with your faculty to learn more about the employment opportunities that will be available to you.

It’s a good idea to access this information and begin making decisions ASAP. More resources are described at www.lccc.edu/transferservices.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Institution

There are many things to consider when choosing which colleges to apply to after earning your associate degree.

– Location, Size, Cost, Services, Activities, Majors, Housing These are just some of the factors. Start with a list of what is most important to you when selecting your transfer schools. Make use of campus and online resources to search for colleges. Think outside of the box and don’t limit yourself; you might be passing over some great opportunities.

Step 3: Investigating Your Choices

The more information you have about your college choices and the sooner you know it, the easier your decisions will be.

To help decide if a college is the “right fit”:
• Take advantage of LCCC’s college fairs and transfer days.
• Visit schools! (The college visits can’t be stressed enough!)
• Schedule an appointment with the transfer admissions counselor, an academic advisor and financial aid/scholarship officer if necessary.
• Most colleges and universities offer open house programs which include general information sessions, tours of campus, class visits and overnight stays, but many will encourage individual visits as well.

Step 4: Getting Organized

Once you have your choices narrowed down, pay close attention to the details of your academic plans:

– Complete a letter of intent, if applicable, before earning 30 credits.
– Work with your advisor and transfer school(s) to make sure you are taking the right courses for your LCCC degree and transfer program(s).
– Keep your GPA up to qualify for admission to competitive programs and scholarships.
– Note deadlines for each school’s admission application, financial aid, scholarships and housing, to name a few.
– Read application requirements carefully and be sure to proofread what you submit.
– Request official transcripts from LCCC and any other college attended, as well as high school transcripts when required.
– Complete financial aid and scholarship applications.
– Allow extra time to request faculty recommendations and to write your essays, if needed.
– Visit Educational Support Services for assistance with essays, if needed.

Step 5: Staying Organized

Once the offers start coming, you’ll need to stay organized to respond to schools in a timely manner. When you have made your final decision (congratulations!) start paying attention to next steps and deadlines regarding deposits, registration, orientation, etc. Don’t forget to apply for graduation from LCCC! This is important for countless reasons. Finally, remember to send your final LCCC transcript at the end of the semester with your final grades.