Expert: Bruce - 6/5/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi
I am an international student and I don't very know the college, so here is the questions, i am appreciate that if you can help me to figure out that.

1 usually, do colleges have the same deadline that other universities have.

2 if I attend a college, then i take the associate degree course in order to transfer, typically, it will take me 2 years to finish that, can i finish it in 1 year or transfer without the associate degree?

3 typically, do most of the universities accept transfer student? What about the top school like MIT and UC Berkeley

4 I don't very sure about what the universities require from the transfer student, but usually they just require the student to get all B or C+ grades in all the major he chose. I think it's is too easy for the student compared with the SAT!!

ANSWER: K,

I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can. Keep in mind that the terms college and university are often used interchangeably here in the US. I know that in some parts of the world college means secondary school (or what we call high school).

The more selective colleges will have earlier application deadlines than the lessz selective ones. In general, its good to apply to all your colleges by December 1, of the preceding year, if you can.

You are correct that it usually takes 2 years of college to get the associates degree. Doing the associates degree in 1 year would be grueling, but you could probably do it in a year and two summers of coursework if you can find the school that has the summer classes you need. BY the way, the colleges in the US that focus on associates degrees are typically called community colleges or sometimes junior colleges.

Yes, you can transfer without the associates degree; many schools will take such transfers. To do this, you would make application after the fall semester for entrance the next fall at your main university.

Most schools will take transfer credit. Make sure, though, that you are not taking a lot of your major courses at the community college. For example, if you want to go to MIT for engineering, DO NOT take enhgineering classes at the community college, take math and physics instead, and some liberal artrs courses. Also, make sure the associates program you are in (even if you do not intend to finish it) leads to an A.A or A.S. degree and not an A.A.S. That is important.

Some colleges may not take all your transfer credit. As for places like MIT - you would have to ask them directly.

Most 4 year colleges and iniversities will assume that a transfer from a community college will see his or her grades drop at the new school. So, you should try to maintain a healthy grade average at the first college, perhaps a B+ or better. If you have a full year of credit many senior colleges will not worry about an SAT score. But if you are international student you and English is not your first language, you should plan to take the TOEFL.

If you are looking for community colleges to attend here in the US, here are a few good ones I know of:

Middlesex County College (New Jersey)
Brookdale Community College (NJ)
Finger Lakes Community College (New York)
Alfred State College (NY)

I hope this info helps. Feel free to send along add'l questions you may have.

bruce

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Bruce

Thank you so much, your answars are so helpful!!!!

If I want to major in architecture, what subjects should I take in college?

You mentioned "Some colleges may not take all your transfer credit" above. Is that correct that I can get my credit after I finish my semester, And whether they will take the credit depands on what the subject is, right?
ANSWER: K,

When I say that they may not want to take all your credit, I am meaning that any courses you have that are close to your major (architecture) the senior college will want you to take from them. Also, if you have courses that just don't have anything close to an equivalent at the four year school could be tricky.

If you want to get a degree in architecture but start at the 2 year school - I suggest english composition, geometry, basic drawing, art and art history.

For an example, look at the archtiecture curriculumat the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, they lay it out pretty well for the four years. It actually looks like you might be best taking one year at the community college and then going on, if architecture is your course of study (or for any technical field).

As far as transfer credit - a college should tell you before you enroll how your credits will transfer in.

Hope htis helps

Bruce

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Great

The final one

do all the colleges' credit the same, I mean will there be a situation that that community school's credit is better than mines
ANSWER: I'm not really sure what you mean.  Here in the US, ccollege courses are typically 3 or 4 credits. When transferred these will either be accepted by the new school for full credit, or they won't. If the class si acceptable, then the number of credits earned 3 or 4, will be counted.

Does this help?

Bruce

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I mean I am now going to attend a so so community college, will the credit be inferior than the one from the very good college?

Thank you

Answer
Thanks for clarifying. As long as your community college is accredited by the relevant regional comission, the credit you earn there should be accepted by a college that accepts you - if they find it matches up OK with their coursework.

The community college should be able to tell you what accreditation it has, and this should also be findable on the Web site.

By the way, if you are looking or engineering schools, be sure to check out Clarkson, Worcester Polytech, RPI, Stevens Tech, NJIT and Carnegie-Mellon.

Good luck

Bruce