Obtain a 2 year associate degree without transfer meaning

What is Reverse Transfer? A student who has transferred to a baccalaureate institution from a community college without first earning an associate degree might still be able to earn that associate degree. With Reverse Transfer, credits earned at the baccalaureate institution that meet and complete the academic credentials of the associate degree are “transferred back” from the four-year institution to the two-year institution.

See article in CUNY Matters: “Taking Credit For Credits Earned.”

Please note that the information below provides general guidance. It is very important to consult with your advisor.

Q: How can I choose to be screened for a Reverse Transfer associate degree?
A: Look for the Associate Degree Completion item in your To Do List in the Student Center of CUNYfirst. If you select “Yes, I choose to opt in,” you give CUNY permission to review your academic records to see if you’re eligible.

Q: How do I know if I’m eligible for a Reverse Transfer associate degree?
A: After you opt in, you will be notified by your community college and/or senior college if you meet the criteria (or are close to meeting the criteria).

Q: What is the cost?
A: There is no cost.

Q:Will I be notified if I have received an associate degree? How do I receive my diploma?
A: Yes, your community college will attempt to notify you and will explain how to receive your diploma. Your senior college may also attempt to notify you.  Therefore, it is important to keep your contact information up to date in CUNYfirst and to read both your community college and senior college emails.

Q: Can I participate in commencement?
A: Yes. You will be eligible to participate in commencement exercises, but consult with your community college about the specific timing.

Q: Will receiving my associate degree affect my financial aid?
A: It is important to consult with your senior college advisor. It is possible that your degree requirements may change, and you may need to change a course that you have registered for.  Although you may be certified for TAP, and that TAP award cannot be taken away from you, it is imperative that you consult with the financial aid office at your current senior institution and verify any necessary financial aid information.

Q: Now that I’m a current student at a senior college, why would I want my associate degree?
A: The primary benefit of receiving an associate degree, even if you are currently working towards a bachelor’s degree, is recognition for work accomplished. You have already earned this degree! Further, you may receive additional benefits, which your advisor can tell you more about. For example, you may have fewer College Option requirements at your senior college.

Q: Now that I’m a current student at a senior college, will receiving an associate degree have any negative effect on getting my bachelor’s degree?
A: No, receiving your associate degree will not impede your progress toward a bachelor’s degree.

Q: I’m still at community college. Why should I wait to get my associate degree before transferring to senior college?
A: There are many benefits to first finishing your associate degree at your community college. Students who complete the associate degree before transferring are statistically much more likely to complete the bachelor’s degree.

Also, if you first graduate with an AA or an AS, you will know exactly which Common Core requirements are complete (all of them), and how many College Option credits you will have remaining at the senior college (6).

Students who have completed the associate degree are guaranteed admission to a CUNY senior college, and admissions criteria and review processes are significantly different for some institutions, to the favor of students who have the degree.

Top 5 Things Students Want to Know About Reverse Transfer

Link here to the National Student Clearing House

Click here to see course equivalencies from CUNY to CUNY, in any direction, from any college to any other college.

Many students use a community college or another two-year college as a stepping stone to a four-year institution and a bachelor's degree. If you want to take this path, here's what you should do:

• Meet with your college adviser when selecting classes every semester. Students looking to transfer after 2 years of college must choose their courses strategically. Not every credit you earn at your 2-year college will transfer to your 4-year university. By asking an adviser if classes will transfer before you select them, you can save time and money.
• Sign up for a transfer program at a 2-year college. These programs include the same kinds of courses that you'd take in your first 2 years at a 4-year college. The program aims to help you succeed at making the transition.

Ask Questions About the 4-Year vs. Community College Experience

Because each college has its requirements, the most important thing you can do to make the transfer process run smoothly is to plan early.

Get help from these resources:

• Your high school counselor
• The admissions or counseling offices of the 2-year colleges you're thinking of attending
• Transfer advisers at the admissions offices of the 4-year colleges you're considering

The last resource is one of the most important. Transfer advisers at four-year colleges are there to support the transition. They can assist you in many ways, such as answering pivotal questions and helping you determine which courses are most relevant to your plans.

When you take advantage of these resources, ask these questions:

• Does the 2-year college have a special transfer relationship─often called an articulation agreement─with any 4-year colleges?
• Will the credits I earn be accepted at the 4-year colleges I'm considering?
• What grades do I need to earn in my classes to get credit at the 4-year schools?
• What's the minimum GPA I need to maintain to get into the 4-year institutions?

Transferring Colleges: How Does It Work?

The first step is to go through the application process. After spending time at your two-year college, you must apply to the four-year institution as a transfer student. This admissions process works differently for transfers than for new students.

What happens after you apply for a transfer? Your four-year college will look at the courses you took and the grades you earned at your two-year college and decide how much credit to give you. Each class is worth a certain number of credits, often three, and students need to earn enough credits, usually 120, to graduate.

Here are more transfer facts:

• If enough of your courses transfer, you can start at the 4-year college as a junior.
• If you don't get credit for some of your courses, you may need to retake them at the 4-year college. This scenario often occurs when classes considered core courses at the 2-year college only count as electives at the 4-year university.
• When you graduate from the 4-year college, only that college’s name will appear on your bachelor’s degree.

You can learn more about transferring to a four-year college, such as information about individual college requirements and application deadlines, by checking out College Search.

FAQs

When can you apply to transfer colleges?

Application cycles typically open anywhere from six to nine months before the start of the term. That said, every four-year college is different. As a result, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the application deadline dates of the college you're looking to enter.

Read more

When is the earliest you can transfer between colleges?

How early can you transfer from one institution to another? While students typically complete two years of core studies before the transition, there’s no concrete timeline. Some schools may require that you have at least a year of college before applying for a transfer.

However, you don't always need to complete two years of college to transfer successfully. For example, students who earned college credit in high school may timeline to enter university as a junior.

Read more

When can you transfer from community college to a university?

If you're following a structured program, the transfer will occur after two years of college, allowing you to enter the university as a junior.

Exceptions do apply. The primary qualification is the number of credits you earn. Students can complete the required courses, earn their associate degree before or after two years, and transfer when ready.

Read more

Find the right college for you.

What qualifies as a transfer student?

Can you transfer to a university with an associate's degree?

Do you need an associate's degree to transfer to UC?

How do I convert my associates degree to a bachelor's?