“No more than two years” transfer rule clarification

Transfer Students
1

I have seen some colleges do not allow you to transfer after you have been at another college for more than two years. For example, Harvard’s website says: “Once a student has completed more than two years total of college at another institution, regardless of courses taken, that student is no longer eligible for transfer admission.” (btw Harvard is not where I am thinking about transferring, I just felt they had the best description on their website)

This may seem like a dumb question, as the definition is pretty clear, but I was just looking for clarification if this meant two actual years of time, or two years of credits? I am assuming it is the former since some students will come into college with credits and because of the “two years total of college… regardless of courses taken,” but I was wondering if anyone had a definitive clarification of this? For example, if a student took more of a course load than most students did their first two years, or took summer classses, etc, and had credits for more than two years, but had not been actually in college for over two years, would they be eligible?
Thank you

2

I’m kind of in the same boat. Depends the max credits the college would take, some would take up to 75 credits. What year and semester are you in?

3

This is something you need to specifically ask each of your target institutions. Policies do vary quite a bit, so you have to ask.

4

@fadedpetals I’m starting college fall 2020, but I have 25+ credits from dual enrollment classes in high school at a local college (not expecting the credits to carryover though lol). I’m asking because I don’t expect to get into the college I really want to, and am trying to weigh the possibilities of being able to transfer there later.

The more I read the more I’m starting to realize how unfamiliar I am with how college credits work lol. My hs counselors don’t have any answers because nobody from my hs has gone on to a college that wouldn’t accept de credits :confused:

5

Harvard’s statement is not meant for people with DE credits. It is meant for people who have completed more than the first two years at a regular college or university. Places that have policies like Harvard’s will consider you a freshman applicant, and will accept very few, or possibly none, of your DE courses for transfer credit.