Big Three Associate Degree Transferability

[Paul]

Would an associate degree (say in business or associate in arts) from one of the Big Three (particularly TESC) transfer to another college or university so that one would have the freshman / sophomore years completed when entering OR would they review the transcript comprised of "CLEP's" and either not accept the associate degree or just accept those few cleps that particular college accepts?
I'm a big believer in the Big Three but was wondering what would happen if ones interests lead them to pursue a direction where a B&M might be worth considering for getting the education in that field after completing the associates.
Any thoughts are appreciated!

[cookderosa]

Would an associate degree (say in business or associate in arts) from one of the Big Three (particularly TESC) transfer to another college or university so that one would have the freshman / sophomore years completed when entering OR would they review the transcript comprised of "CLEP's" and either not accept the associate degree or just accept those few cleps that particular college accepts?
I'm a big believer in the Big Three but was wondering what would happen if ones interests lead them to pursue a direction where a B&M might be worth considering for getting the education in that field after completing the associates.
Any thoughts are appreciated!

>.

Too specific of a question. Each college will have it's own policy.

Let me put it to you another way- if you earned your AA from TESC, you won't even get to a guarantee that EC or Charter Oak will take everything! There are generalized practices, but the specifics come specifically from the colleges you are talking about.

A suggestion- go through a standardized articulation agreement already in place at your local community college. There, the advisers can help you meet all of the transfer requirements. At University of Iowa and Illinois, if you graduate with an AA from your articulation partner- the CLEPs come with it. In that situation, you can CLEP anything that your community college will accept (up to x number of credits) and then it overrides the university policy.

A second suggestion- you can contact the university you have in mind and specifically ask them this "if I have an AA degree and apply to your university, is my degree accepted as a block of credit that automatically puts me as a junior, or are the credits evaluated individually?"

It is 100% possible that you could get screwed if you are not very very careful. Close family friend was accepted at a 4 year university- she had an AA degree from a school that wasn't in articulation with the university. They accepted all her credit (on her transcript!) and was considered a junior- but everything was plunked into free electives/other and she only had 18 credits toward the 122 university requirement. That's one semester. But hey, she was young, and apparently enjoyed taking out student loans.

Anyway- there are very very solid ways to transfer, and then there is the hope and pray method. You need to be talking to the university and getting written policy in your hands.

[Paul]

Thanks Jennifer!

[bat21]

Each college has it owns rule, but if the degree is R/A they will accept it for transfer!

[Griffin]

Would an associate degree (say in business or associate in arts) from one of the Big Three (particularly TESC) transfer to another college

That's a very good question.

In New Jersey proper, most schools will override their limits on CLEP transfer credit if you are transferring in a degree (Associate's or Bachelor's). I currently live in WA, and I've found most of the schools here to be the same way. I've found that NJ colleges also have flexible transfer policies for TESC courses and exams.

The average limit on CLEP, DANTES etc is equivalent to the 1/4th of a bachelor's degree. But, again, many are willing to override their normal policies once you've been awarded a degree elsewhere.

Really, the best thing to do is email the schools that you may want to finish your Bachelor's at and ask.