Due to financial and many personal reasons, I made a big decision to try and transfer out of my CSU and into my local community college. I am currently a freshman and I will make this transition after I finish off this fall semester.
Today I decided to begin this process and after about one or two hours of going across campus to talk to my university’s transfer center, financial aid center and admissions office… I am still completely and utterly lost as to the steps I’m supposed to take in order to transfer. The only thing I was able to do was cancel my CSU financial aid for the spring semester.
I was told by many advisors that in order to “withdraw” from my current university, I just need to “not show up” during the spring semester. I just find it extremely odd that this is how I’m supposed to transfer out and that there is no exact set plan for transfers like me to transition to a CC. What am I supposed to do next? Do I contact my CC’s transfer center? How do I go about getting aid at my CC?
My advisors were very confusing as to how I go about transferring and I still have no idea what I need to do. If anyone has any experience with how transferring works I would appreciate any advice.
I recommend that you contact the community college that you wish to transfer to. You can likely go online also at theiir website and read through their application process. Registration for Spring semester likely first begins in November timeframe, so do it soon. Many CCs are impacted so you will have best choice of classes if you apply/enroll sooner.Check the school calendar on the website for enrollment dates.
You will need to transfer your CSU transcripts to the new Community College once you apply so an assigned counselor there can help you with getting appropriate credit for what you have taken. Some Colleges may make you take a English/Math placement test depending on what you have taken or how you have scored on previous tests.
You can go to assist.org and see what classes articulate with the community college (ones you will get credit for) . The website will let you compare your CSU classes to similar ones at the community college you wish to attend.
You will also want to contact the community college financial aid department to see what may be available for you there. You can either call or go online to send a copy of your FAFSA to the community college (very easy to do). This way, the community college will have that information to better counsel you. Do that right away. Most community colleges have good additional scholarships that are open for applications beginning in December. Be sure to check those dates to see what you might be eligible for.
With regard to your CSU. If you do not sign up for classes in Spring, they will automatically consider you withdrawn. If you want to make it more official, send a letter or e-mail the CSU admission office once you are enrolled at the community college to let CSU know you have transferred and keep a copy for yourself.