Transfer Considerations

When selecting a college...

Selecting Courses

Transferring and Applying

When Selecting a College to Transfer to:

Consider:

Request a copy and read the current college catalogs to determine the admission requirements for the college AND the major. Sometimes the requirements are different!  The Counseling/Career Development Center has catalogs for Minnesota colleges and some out of state colleges.  Many colleges have their catalogs on the Web (See Transfer Resources).



Selecting Courses at IHCC:

There are four types of coursework to complete before you transfer:

1.  General Education – Transfer Options
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MTC):
The MTC completes the general education requirements at all Minnesota state universities, the University of Minnesota and some private colleges.

Transferring without the MTC:
Students must follow the transfer guides and course-by-course equivalencies, specific for the chosen college/major.  These are located in the Counseling/Career Development Center and some are online (See Transfer Resources).

While rare, on occasion students need to transfer before fulfilling their general education and pre-major requirements.  This may be necessary because IHCC does not offer the essential coursework OR the transfer major has a rigid sequence of premajor/major courses that need to be completed at the transfer college. 

Transferring out of state:
While IHCC does have some transfer agreements with out of state colleges, usually students will need to follow the requirements of the selected transfer college.  Counselors are available to assist students with this process.

2.  Pre-major Requirements
Students must plan for admission to their major, which is often separate and in addition to admission to the college/university.  Students should refer to the transfer guides in the CDC, the college catalogs, and consult with an IHCC counselor for specific information

3.  High School Preparation Standards
If you did not fulfill the preparation standards in high school, coursework at Inver Hills can be substituted for missing high school coursework.

4.  Second Language Requirements
Whether you will be required to complete a second language often depends upon where you are transferring and what type of bachelor's degree you will be pursuing (i.e., Bacholor of Arts, Bachelor of Science).  Most of these requirements do not need to be met before you transfer, but need to be completed before you graduate with your bachelor’s degree. (Visit the CDC for list of colleges and the language requirements.)

NOTE:  The AA degree can be tailored to fit your choice of college, its general education requirements, missing high school preparation standards and the pre-major requirements.  Consult with an IHCC Counselor for assistance with this process.

Transferring and Applying:

College Transfer Representatives
“Reps” regularly visit IHCC.  To see when a “rep” will be visiting check the Student Bulletin or on the Counseling Bulletin Board in the College Center. 

Admissions/Application Deadlines
Most college web sites post deadline information. Be aware that freshman deadlines and transfer deadlines may vary.

GPA Requirements
GPA requirements may differ for college and major
Courses below 100/1000 level do not transfer
Some colleges refigure GPA based upon college level transfer credits only
Some colleges do not transfer "D" grades
Some colleges do not transfer + or - grades which can elevate or decrease a transfer GPA

Visit the College
Attend open houses/visit with the admissions office representative: ask for financial aid estimates, visit a class, get a tour, talk with a faculty member.

Academic Year Calendar
Check when the semester/quarter begins.  This is particularly important if you want to transfer mid-year.

Complete the Admissions Process
Submit the application, ALL transcripts, essays, assessments, financial aid, and determine whether ACT, SAT, or PSAT is needed.