Undergrad Application and Transfer Guide

Applying for college is a demanding process, and prospective first-time students and transfers should do as much research as possible. Each university has its own application requirements and credit transfer policies, which can get especially complicated for nontraditional or returning students. But these students are in good company since nearly 10% of students complete their degrees through multiple institutions, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Students may decide to transfer schools based on several factors, including financial situations, program availability, career possibilities, geographic proximity, and personal preference. Before choosing a new institution, both first-time and transfer students should list what they want in a school, and use that information to narrow down their top choices for the application process. Transfer students should also determine whether to transfer during the academic year, between years, or after completing an associate program.

When choosing an on-campus or online psychology program, it’s important to look at the length of the program, the coursework involved, potential on-campus requirements, and thesis or final project requirements. Prospective students should also check on whether the school and program are accredited or endorsed by any notable psychology.organizations (such as the American Psychology Association). Choosing an accredited program can affect graduates’ future licensure endeavors and career prospects.

When choosing a school for their bachelor’s degree, applicants may consider whether they want to pursue a graduate degree at that same institution. Graduate program applicants need to make sure the online and on-campus requirements fit their schedule and interests. Working students may want to look into options for part-time study. Applicants can also research their prospective department’s faculty members to see if any are noteworthy in their field or focus on interesting areas of research.

Psychology transfer students should be particularly aware of whether or not their credits will transfer to their next university. They can check on this by contacting their new school’s office of the registrar, or a department representative, to find out more about specific requirements. Graduate students who transfer from one program to another may need to work closely with faculty and department administrators to make sure their coursework and research is in line with the new program’s curriculum.

Many institutions offer two-year associate degrees in psychology entirely online. These programs provide core classes that help students develop their psychology careers or continue on to a four-year degree. Associate students learn about psychology theory and practice, while gaining insights into hands-on work. They can earn either an associate of science or an associate of arts in psychology, or an associate of arts in applied psychology, depending on the program. Each degree allows students to pursue a career as a psychology technician or an aide. Both positions are projected to grow 6% between 2016 and 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Psychology associate graduates can go on to pursue a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science in psychology. There’s not much difference between the two degrees, but they do have different emphases. Bachelor of arts coursework focuses on theories, history, and application of principles in psychology, while a bachelor of science often has more physical science and mathematics in the curriculum. Most schools offer one degree or the other, but not both.

With a bachelor’s degree in psychology, you have more career options in the field, including work as mental health counselor or community healthcare worker. The degree is also useful in market analysis and human resources, opening up an even wider range of careers. Bachelor’s graduates may also pursue graduate study in psychology.

Source: PayScale

Applicants to undergraduate online psychology programs usually only need to meet the school’s overall application requirements, without worrying about specific department standards. These requirements might include standardized test scores for the ACT and SAT, GPA guidelines, and — in some cases — previous coursework. These requirements are often particularly important to transfer students as they come into a new school or university.

For psychology graduate programs, applicants need to make sure their bachelor’s degree meets departmental admission requirements. Some schools require a bachelor’s degree in psychology, while others accept bachelor’s degrees in any area of study. Graduate admission may also take into account undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, and prior experience working or researching in the psychology field. Graduate programs that specialize in one particular branch of psychology, such as clinical psychology, may require specific coursework that’s relevant to the degree concentration.

Applications to psychology programs vary by school and department, especially for transfer students. Generally, students need to have a college application, transcript information from high school or previous college coursework, SAT or ACT scores, and application fees or waivers. Some schools may require letters of recommendation as well.

If you’re thinking about transferring, it is best to research your options as early as possible. By visiting college and university websites, you can get information about what different schools have to offer as well as what they require for admission. You should get in touch with admissions officers at your new school, as well. Finally, you need to contact the appropriate offices at your current school to find out what how long it will take them to get your materials ready for you.

Many transfer students move from community colleges to four-year bachelor programs. Others transfer between four-year schools, and yet others may transfer for reasons including military status, study abroad, international exchange, or general relocation. Each type of transfer has its own set of requirements.

It’s relatively simple to transfer between public universities in the same state, especially if articulation agreements are in place. When your new department is determining whether your completed course credits can transfer, faculty may assess syllabi or other documents from your previous coursework. It’s important to keep in mind that not all psychology programs have courses with the same names, levels, or equivalents. This can make credit transfers complicated, as can transferring between schools with different term systems (e.g., semesters vs. quarters).

The U.S. Governmental Accountability Office reported that from 2004 to 2009, transfer students lost an average of 43% of their credits. Additionally, students who transferred from private, for-profit schools to public institutions lost on average 94% of their credits. To avoid losing most of your credits in transferring, contact your previous schools to obtain your academic records, and be as proactive as possible in forwarding that information to potential schools. Credits may transfer either as psychology credits or as general electives, so it’s important to know your potential schools’ credit transfer policies. You should also learn whether your potential school is accredited, and what their policy is on accepting credits from regionally or nationally accredited institutions.

In addition to accreditation issues, many schools limit how many transfer credits they accept. Most schools also have grade requirements for transfer credits, where anything below a “C”will most likely not transfer. If you have courses that do not transfer, you will probably have to retake them at your new institution, but it’s also possible to appeal to have your previous courses reconsidered. Most schools have appeal processes in place, which require appellants to fill out forms to start proceedings. Other schools may require you to write a formal letter requesting reconsideration of your transcripts.

When you transfer from a two-year school to a four-year institution or from one four-year college to another, there are factors to consider in terms of location. In-state transfer is often easier and more affordable, because in-state tuition at public four-year colleges is significantly cheaper than out-of-state tuition — in fact, out-of-state tuition can be more than twice as much as in-state. Private colleges are generally more expensive than both in-state and out-of-state public universities.

Articulation agreements make it simple to transfer from a community college to a public university by clearly defining transfer policies.

Source: CollegeBoard

Earning an associate degree at a community college can be an affordable path to earning a bachelor’s degree, and community college programs are often more convenient and flexible than four-year universities’.

Once you earn a two-year degree, you can transfer to a four-year program to complete the rest of your bachelor’s, having saved a substantial amount of money. Tuition at two-year public colleges during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years was just over one-third of four-year, in-state public college tuition.

Source: CollegeBoard

Community college students often study part-time and enjoy having flexible class schedules. Once they transfer to a four-year institution, however, it’s expected to study full time in a more rigid class schedule. Community college environments are also more intimate, giving students direct contact with their professors and advisers in way that may not occur at a larger institution. Transfer students also have to consider the stress of applying to college twice.

There are two types of accreditation for colleges and universities, and it’s important to research which, if any, apply to your potential schools. Two- and four-year colleges are typically regionally accredited based on their geographic location, while national accreditation is more common for vocational schools, for-profit institutions, and specific degree programs. Transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions are more likely to be accepted than those from nationally accredited or unaccredited schools.

Your school’s accreditation status can also affect financial aid options. To receive federal financial aid, students must enroll at a college or university that is accredited by a body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You can research accredited schools at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation website.

There are numerous scholarships available for psychology students, some of which specifically support transfer students. Scholarship requirements and guidelines vary by sponsorship agency or organization, as do financial amounts, number of recipients, and options for renewal. It’s important to check all possible scholarship options as you work toward your degree.