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Frequently Asked Transfer Questions
Select the question to find the answer.
For more information, e-mail transfer@mccc.edu
or call (609) 586-4800, ext. 3307.
When should I start to plan for transfer to a four-year college?
From the very first day you start
at Mercer County Community College, you should be thinking about what you
plan to do next. Since you plan to earn a four-year degree, be sure you're
in a program that will allow you to transfer. Take courses that are considered
appropriate to the freshman or sophomore years at another institution.
Talk to your counselor, advisor, or anyone else who can provide you with
accurate transfer information.
Even before you complete your first semester, make contact with the colleges
and universities you think you might like to attend after you graduate from Mercer.
Get their catalogs and check their websites. Both will be very helpful to you in
planning your course selection at Mercer.
Use the Transfer Timetable and the
Transfer Checklist.
More information:
College selection on the Internet
Links to NJ colleges and universities
New
Jersey Transfer website (transferring to New Jersey colleges and universities)
What steps should I take?
Some steps to take include:
- Attend free transfer workshops on campus.
- Review your educational goals and your
options with a transfer counselor in SC229,
another counselor or your academic advisor.
- Take advantage of the many resources
on campus and the Internet to get current information.
Some questions to help in your college search
What kind of degree is most likely to transfer?
In general, A.A., A.S. and A.F.A. degrees are designed to transfer.
An A.A.S. degree will transfer, but you need to choose carefully.
More information:
Mercer's degrees
New Jersey Transfer website (transferring to New Jersey colleges and universities)
Transferring to Rutgers University
What resources are available?
Online search
Peterson's CollegeQuest
Links to NJ colleges and universities
Links to other resources
New
Jersey Transfer website (transferring to New Jersey colleges and universities)
Reference guides (in SC229)
- Peterson's Guide to Four-Year Colleges
- Rugg's Recommendations on the Colleges
- The Gourman Report - A Rating of Undergraduate Programs
- Peterson's Guide to Two-Year Colleges
- Barron's Profiles of American Colleges
- Peterson's Guide to Colleges with Programs for Learning Disabled Students
- Peterson's Guide to Middle Atlantic Colleges
- Approximately 35 college videos
- Peterson's Graduate and Professional Programs
- The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools
- Campus-Free College Degrees
- Study Abroad
- Essays that Worked
When should I transfer?
The best time to transfer is after your
graduate or after you complete the requirements for an associate degree.
Students who complete A.A. or A.S. programs are generally given priority
for admission to four-year colleges, especially most public and many private
four-year colleges in New Jersey. Completing your associate degree may
help to assure that you have junior status at four-year institutions and
that your general education requirements are accepted toward a baccalaureate
degree.
In spite of the advantages earning
a degree affords, some students transfer before they have completed all
their degree requirements. This personal decision should be made based
on all the information you've gathered and your judgment of what is best
for you.
In any case, if you did not complete
the high school courses required by the transfer college for admission,
you should think seriously about staying longer at Mercer. You will
have the chance to finish the courses you didn't have in high school before
you attempt to transfer.
What grade point average
do I need to transfer to a four-year college or university?
Most colleges require a minimum
2.0 GPA or a "C" average for transfer. Usually a 2.5 GPA or higher is preferable.
Competitive programs such as accounting, business administration, computer
science, education, and engineering may require a 3.0 or higher.
In order to transfer, you must be
in good standing at Mercer and must have earned the minimum number of credits
specified by your transfer college. To be considered a transfer student
at most schools, you must have earned between 12 and 30 credits at Mercer
County Community College.
What are articulation agreements?
Articulation agreements are formal agreements
between Mercer and other colleges and universities. These agreements ensure
that, if you successfully follow a prescribed program of study at Mercer,
you will be able to transfer with full junior status. Some agreements detail
exact course equivalencies while others are more general.
Detailed program information about
Mercer's agreements is available in SC229.
Some colleges and universities enable
you to check which Mercer courses are equivalent
to their courses on the Internet.
What about applying for financial aid or scholarships?
Never assume that you don't qualify
for financial aid. Family income is not the only thing that counts. Fill
out the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for federal and state
sponsored assistance. Remember that some four-year colleges and universities
have their own financial aid application forms that you also have to complete.
If you are currently receiving financial
aid and want to transfer your eligibility to a four-year college, be sure
to e-mail finaid@mccc.edu or call the
Financial Aid office at Mercer (609-586-4800 ext. 3210) AND contact
the Financial Aid office at the college or university you plan to attend.
There are many transfer scholarships
available. Some are designated for particular groups such as minorities,
women, or engineers. Others are offered by four-year colleges and universities
to high-achieving students. E-mail a transfer counselor at transfer@mccc.edu
or the Financial Aid office at finaid@mccc.edu
for more information about transfer scholarships.
Additional resources for scholarship sources and insights include
New Jersey Council of County Colleges,
FastWEB Scholarship Search,
and scholarshiphelp.org.
Should I visit colleges?
If at all possible, take a trip to visit
the colleges you have selected. Visits are very important because they
provide first-hand information that you simply won't get by talking with
people or looking in a catalog.
Try to devote a full day to visit
any large campus. Take a tour. Talk to students, sit in on classes, look
in at the dormitories and roam around the student center. Check out the
town or community bordering the campus to see what services are available,
especially if you plan to stay in a residence hall or apartment off campus.
Arrange in advance to meet with an
admissions representative. For your meeting, bring along a student copy
of your transcript and a Mercer catalog.
Treat this meeting as if it were a job interview. Prepare yourself with
appropriate questions. Dress neatly and remember that your reason for going
to this interview is to convince people of your value to their institution.
What questions should I ask during my transfer interview?
The questions listed here are not the
only questions you are likely to have, but they will get you started on
formulating your own personal list. Think about the things that are important
to you and add them.
- How many credits are likely to transfer?
- How many additional credits are required to earn the four-year degree? What grade point average is required?
- Do students earning a degree get job search assistance after graduation?
- What are the admissions requirements? Does a grade point average transfer, or do only the courses transfer?
- Do the college accept applications any time (rolling admissions) or only by a fixed deadline?
- Are high school grades and SAT scores considered?
- What about housing, athletics, support services, and student activities?
- Is credit granted for CLEP, life experience, or cooperative education?
- Are D grades accepted in transfer?
- How many transfer students are accepted each year?
- Are there special programs or registration
dates for transfer students? Are there any programs not open to transfer students?
- What are the costs for tuition and room and board?
- What do you have to do to get financial aid?
- Are faculty readily available to meet with students?
- What tutoring assistance is available?
- How large are classes?
- How many students live on campus? Is
on-campus housing available to transfer students? What opportunities are
available for off-campus housing?
- Is parking available?
Some additional questions to ask during your visit
Where do most students transfer?
Where you transfer depends on personal
preferences, program (major) availability, grade point average, and location.
If you choose to stay close to home, our neighboring schools are:
Rider University
Located in Lawrence Township. Accepts
applications for both fall and spring semesters. Early applications are
encouraged. Rider University has two divisions: the Full-Time Division
and Continuing Studies for students attending part-time.
Current application deadlines
Hint: Although for many years
Rider University was known as a business school, the excellence of its
liberal arts programs should not be overlooked. A dual admission agreement
has been signed with Rider University.
Contact:
Transfer Admissions - (609) 896-5297
Continuing Studies Admissions - (609) 896-5036
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Rutgers, the State University
Located in New Brunswick. Applications
are accepted for fall and spring by deadlines. Applicants are accepted
after the priority deadline on a rolling basis (any time).
Current application deadlines
The university consists of several
colleges: the College of Engineering, the College of Pharmacy, Cook College,
Douglass College, Livingston College, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers
College, and University College (for part-time and evening students). Admission
is competitive to each of the colleges.
You can check your Mercer courses on the Rutgers ARTSYS website.
Hint: For some Rutgers University
colleges, two years of algebra and one year of geometry are required, as
well as two years of a foreign language. If these courses were not taken
in high school, they may be made up in college.
Contact:
Admissions Office - (732) 445-3777
University College - (732) 932-7276
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The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)
Located in Ewing Township. Applications
are accepted for fall semester and on a limited basis for the spring semester.
Current application deadlines
The associate degree, A.A. or A.S.,
is preferred. All students are encouraged to apply. Admission to all programs
is extremely competitive. A 3.0 is usually the minimum for admission to
the college although some programs require higher.
You can check specific course equivalencies
on this TCNJ webpage.
Hint: Apply early and do not miss the deadline as it is firm.
Contact:
Admissions Office - (609) 771-2131
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Thomas Edison State College
Located in Trenton. Open to all
regardless of age, residence or previous educational experience.
Current application deadlines
Students earn degrees by passing
proficiency exams, through assessment of outside learning such as training
in business, industry, and associations, and by transferring credits earned
at traditional colleges or through correspondence or television courses.
Hint: Many Mercer students
continue their education at Thomas Edison, especially those in the Aviation
Flight Technology program.
Contact:
Admissions Office - (609) 984-1150
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How can I appeal? (Transfer Appeals Process)
All problems relating to transfer/articulation
issues should be brought first to the individual responsible for the disputed
decision, usually at the four-year college. If you have reason to believe
that you have not been treated fairly, we encourage you to meet with your
transfer counselor at Mercer to discuss your situation. In most cases,
a conference with the four-year college will resolve the problem.
What is Mercer's CEEB number
(requested on some application forms)?
Some application forms for four-your
colleges ask for the CEEB number of other colleges you have attended or
are attending. Mercer's CEEB number is 2444.
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