Frequently Asked Questions Transferring to a Four-Year School

Frequently Asked Questions: Transferring to a Four-Year School

Academic Advising Center | Staff & Center Hours | Advising & Educational Planning | Transfer Services |

Degree Programs | Parents Guide | New Student Orientation | General Education Electives

1.) How do I begin the transfer process?

The steps to begin the transfer process our outlined in our Transfer Guide.

2.) How many credits will be accepted at the four-year school?

It will vary at each institution. Within the State of NJ, a college/university must take an AA or an AS degree from a NJ Community College in full as half of your degree requirements for a bachelor’s degree provided the BA/BS degree is a similar program. You can use NJ Transfer to plan your academic program to a four-year NJ school. Students who choose out-of-state colleges/universities are not protected under NJ requirements. Many colleges will take broad-based liberal arts courses, but will evaluate each course for equivalency. If you have decided to apply to an out-of-state college/university you can contact the Admissions Office for details on their transfer policy!

3.) When is the best time to transfer?

Students who plan to transfer to NJ Colleges/Universities are encouraged to finish a degree at Ocean County College before transferring because it will guarantee full degree transfers for AA and AS degree programs if the OCC degree is similar to the four-year degree. Many out-of-state colleges look favorably on students who have finished a degree because it shows commitment and good character when students follow through on their goals. However, some institutions prefer that your transfer after one or two semesters due to requirements within a major which may demand coursework that is not available at OCC. You should contact the Admissions Office at the institution or an Academic Advisor for more information!

4.) What is Ocean County College’s CEEB code?

Ocean County College’s CEEB code: 2630

5.) How do I choose a four-year school?

There are many factors that need to be considered when choosing a four-year institution. Here are a few websites that may be helpful in gathering information:

www.petersons.com is an interactive website with tools to help students make decisions about colleges/universities across the United States and even other countries. Click on “Find A School” to search by subject/major, keyword, or other categories!
www.ecampustours.com gathers information from colleges/universities in U.S. to provide students with detailed information and a 360o degree tour of the campus. Information and articles on career and college planning can be easily accessed. Click “College Planning” for transitioning guidelines, the college selection process, and the top 10 reasons NOT to attend an institution.
www.njcan.org is set up by NJ’s Department of Labor. Click the login icon and use your town information and area code to begin exploring careers and occupations. You can take free career tests as well as link to programs of studies available all over the U.S. for specific majors.

6.) What GPA do I need to transfer?

This will vary, but many colleges/universities will be looking for a G.P.A. of 2.5 or better. In some competitive programs they may require a 3.0 or better for admission. The GPA for admission is usually posted on the institutions website under Transfer Admissions.

7.) Are financial aid or scholarship opportunities available for transfer students?

Yes. Students should apply to FAFSA to see what financial aid is available. Scholarships maybe awarded to students based on financial need, GPA, major, or organizational affiliation. Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is the community college honors society, please visit the PTK website for more information. You can also check out FastWEB.com or the financial aid department for information on scholarships

8.) What do I need to transfer?

Students who finish an associate’s degree program must provide ALL official transcripts to a four-year institution along with an application. If you are not graduating with an associate degree and have under 30 credits, please check with the four-year institutions for additional documents that may be required. Some additional documents for specific colleges/universities or programs may include:
Letters of Recommendation, Personal Essay, High School Transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, Portfolio/Interview

*OCC Students must APPLY for graduation and meet all criteria. Click here to download an application for graduation. Form must be submitted to the Cashier’s Office with the application fee.

9.) Where do I get my transcripts from?

To obtain your transcripts, you can download the Transcript Request form or stop by the Records and Registration office. You will need to know the address of the college/university in order to fill out the forms. Many institutions require official transcripts to be sent directly from the previous college. Transcripts are only considered official if sealed in an envelope. If you have transferred any credits to Ocean County College, you must contact the other college in order to obtain those transcripts.