Step by Step Transfer Planning

Choose a Major

Students who decide early on both a major and a transfer college are more likely to graduate on time AND transfer successfully. If you are currently undecided, advisors are here to help you. ACM offers many advising services including:

• Selection of a major field of study
• Self-assessment of interests, values, and aptitudes
• Career decision-making

Visit the Advising Center or call 301-784-5198 to schedule an advising session.

 

Select a Transfer College

With nearly 3,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. to choose from, selecting a transfer college can be a challenge. Each college has its specific setting and set of educational opportunities, along with graduation requirements and transfer credit policies. When looking at colleges that offer your major, also consider the following characteristics.

• Cost- attending college is expensive and can result in significant student debt. Consider the financial impact of your decision and explore all available scholarships and aid.
• Location- far away or close to home, large city or small town.
• Size- small with the personal touch, mid-size, or large with many programs and activities.
• Athletics- the range includes intramurals only up to Division I programs.
• Online or residential- full degree programs are available online, but many schools require residency at the college.
• Accreditation- chose a college that is recognized by a respected accrediting body and whose programs are accredited by national associations.

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College Search Links

Try one or more of these free sites to search for potential colleges and universities.

• ARTSYS (Search for programs at Maryland private and public colleges)
• BigFuture
• US News Best Colleges
• Peterson College Search

 

Other College Search Links

• A listing of US colleges and universities by state
• A listing of Maryland community colleges and four-year universities
• A listing of West Virginia colleges and universities
• A listing of Pennsylvania colleges and universities

Develop and Monitor Your Educational Plan

Careful planning is critical to ensure both graduation from ACM and a smooth transfer to another college or university.  You should develop an educational plan which includes both general education requirements and course requirements in your intended major. Consult the Advising Center to establish an educational plan..

Students can monitor their progress toward graduation on Self-Service. Students with specific transfer plans should also consult the Advising Center ensure that they are meeting both the ACM graduation requirements and recommended transfer requirements. 

Apply for Admission

Application deadlines vary by institution, so students should consult the admissions office of the transfer college.  Generally, students who plan to transfer in the fall should apply between October 1 and March 1, while spring transfer should apply between September 1 and October 15. In Maryland, March 1 is an important deadline for state financial aid and scholarships.

• Complete an Application
  Most applications are available online on the transfer college's homepage. If the application is not easily found, click on the Admissions or Prospective/Future Student buttons or do a search.
  
  
• Request a Current ACM Transcript
  Transcripts may be requested through the ACM Admissions/Registration Office or by completing the Parchment request (View Tutorial). A nominal fee is charged for each transcript requested. ACM will not release transcripts for students who owe an obligation to the college. The obligation may be an unpaid bill, overdue book at the library, or a bill or fine from campus housing.
  The ACM Admissions/Registration Office cannot forward transcripts from high schools, other colleges, or credit by exam (such as CLEP) to another college. This information must come from the original source.
• Complete the FAFSA
  Students who plan to apply for financial aid at the transfer school should request that the FAFSA information be forwarded to the new school. To add a college to a FAFSA list, students may use the FAFSA username and password to access your financial records and enter the code for the new college. For assistance, students should visit the ACM Financial Aid Office.
• Apply for Scholarships
  Students should contact the transferring institution to see what scholarships might be available to them.

Complete the Transfer Process

Once, accepted, transfer colleges may request additional information, including health records and proof of vaccinations. All will require a final ACM transcript.

• Send a Final ACM Transcript
  Once students complete their coursework at ACM and receive their final grades, they must request a final academic transcript to be sent to the new college or university. Students should also keep a personal copy of their final transcript as well as their access codes for Self-Service for future reference.
• Acceptance
  Some colleges may follow a rolling admissions policy, meaning that students are admitted in the order they apply. Other colleges  wait until a certain date to review applications. Colleges with competitive admissions may place students whose academic credentials are at the lower end of their acceptance level on a wait list. 
• More information 
  After offering admission, the college may request additional information such as health records and/or proof of vaccinations. 
  
  For students with disabilities or in need of special accommodations, this would be a good time to contact the disability office at your new school. The new school may require copies of your disability evaluation and/or IEP.
• Transfer Credit Evaluation
  An evaluation of your transferable credits should be available within a month of acceptance to the college. When the evaluation is completed, review it carefully to make sure that all of the courses that were expected to transfer have been accepted. If you have questions about the evaluation and need some assistance in interpreting it, consult the Advising Center.
• Registration
  Transfer colleges may have only one or a few days set for registering transfer students. 
  
  To assist with the registration process:
  • Apply early
  • Provide all of the documentation the new school requires.
  • Make sure your accounts at ACM are paid.
  • Attend the first registration session to which you are invited.
    • Be familiar with the new college's catalog and have an idea of courses you plan to take. Develop a tentative education plan before going to register.
    • Since advisors may not have access to transfer credit evaluations, bring a copy.
    • If questions arise about what the advisors recommend, ask questions.