When the question is, "Can I still get a four-year degree?"
Transfer is the Answer
by Laura Lyjak

Did you know that the average yearly earnings for a college graduate are just over $45,000 while the average annual income for a high school graduate is about $25,000 a year?

It's estimated that over a lifetime college graduates make about $600,000 more than non-graduates. And aside from the good economic reasons to earn a college degree, there are other less-measurable benefits like the increased skills, knowledge and confidence that come with education.

If you've always dreamed of a college education but aren't sure how to make it a reality, you should know that there are many college students who don't fit the traditional stereotype. Not every college graduate begins as an 18-year-old freshman, living in a university dorm, supported by parents.

Consider these facts from a 1999 U.S. Census Bureau survey:

• About 28 percent of students took more than four years to finish their degree.
• A third of all college students are enrolled part-time.
• 38 percent of college students are over age 25.
• One third of all college students are enrolled in two-year colleges.

These numbers add up to a significant percentage of students who don't fit the typical profile. And if you think you're too old or you can't afford college; if you have job and family obligations; or if you're not sure you have the academic skills to succeed, there are resources to help you.

Make the transition
When traditional four-year colleges don't fit your life, community colleges provide a more flexible alternative. With low tuition, evening and weekend classes, resources to prepare you for college-level academics and an opportunity to get your GPA in shape, if necessary, a community college can prepare you to make the transition to a four-year institution.

And both community colleges and universities have programs to help make the transition a smooth one. More and more, universities welcome the experience and diversity that transfer and non-traditional students bring to campus.

What's the best university for you?
Your choice of a transfer institution will depend on various considerations, like your field of study and your willingness to relocate. But your options include everything from local universities to prestigious private colleges.

If you can't relocate, you'll likely attend a local university and chances are good it already has a transfer agreement with your community college. Many state universities have detailed transfer plans that help students choose which community college courses to take. In Michigan, many colleges and universities participate in the MACRAO transfer agreement, which allows community college students to transfer up to 30 credits hours of general education requirements to a four-year institution.

Counselors and instructors both can provide advice about what classes will fulfill your transfer requirements.

Universities value transfer students
Eric Freedman, author of "How to Transfer to the College of Your Choice" lists several reasons why universities consider transfer students to be assets, "They add to the maturity of the campus; they've already proven themselves in the classroom; they tend to stay on track and graduate; they know what they want to do."

That's why starting out at a community college shouldn't keep you from aiming high. A number of well-regarded private colleges have special programs for transfer students and even Ivy League schools accept transfers who meet their high standards. For example, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island has a special Resumed Undergraduate Education program for students over the age of 25 and Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio offers an undergraduate program for adults taking courses full and part time.

Articulation agreements are worth looking into, also. Some universities will guarantee transfer admission for participating community college students who take a specific course load and maintain a minimum GPA.

Southwestern Community College's Associate in Arts - College Transfer is guaranteed to transfer (with a grade of "C" or better) to any of the 16 public universities in the UNC System, including Western Carolina University.

Plan, plan, plan
According to Freedman, transferring requires thought and planning. Aside from choosing the right classes and keeping your grades up, you should be methodical about investigating different colleges and applying for admission and financial aid on schedule, "Students need to think about this on an ongoing basis, not just in their last semester."

And he suggests you monitor possible glitches such as lost transcripts or missed deadlines. He also suggests having a back-up plan in case you don't get accepted by your first choice of school. Asking, "What will I do if I don't get in?" is important to your strategy. "Students need to remember not to take rejection personally; the more competition there is to get into a school, the more chance there is of rejection," Freedman says.

Compared to students who transfer from one university to another, community college students have an advantage. Freedman notes, "Community colleges know that they are an intermediate step for many students and they can help students plan the process from deciding what courses transfer, to getting recommendations from faculty, to figuring out appropriate financial aid."

If you want to find out more about college transfer, look at Freedman's book "How to Transfer to the College of Your Choice" published by Ten Speed Press. Or, if you're returning to college as an adult, see "Never Too Late to Learn: The Adult Student's Guide to College" by Vicky Phillips published by The Princeton Review.
The Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education has a Web site at www.antshe.org/ with useful links and information for adult college students. Back to College Resources for Re-entry Students at www.back2college.com has more information for students returning to college.

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