I read on Tufts’ website that they do not accept online courses for transfer credit. Does anyone know if there are exceptions to this or ways to test out of general education requirements as a transfer student? My past two years of community college were entirely online (with proctored exams as needed), so the idea that none of my work will count is a little discouraging.
That said, I’ve been accepted via Tufts’ REAL program for nontraditional/adult/returning students and my financial aid package covers 100% of need based aid. If my undergraduate experience has to last another four years instead of two to make up for the fact that none of my credits will transfer, that seems like a fair price to pay for nearly a full ride at a school like Tufts.
I’m looking for insight and advice with regard to this situation. For some perspective, Boston University has offered me 40k in financial aid (35k of that grants and scholarships) and has accepted nearly all of my classes for transfer credit. I could graduate in two years at BU, but roughly 20k in debt, or tack on another two years to my undergrad experience and graduate with zero debt from Tufts.
In light of this, Tufts is obviously the better offer. But the idea of slogging through general education requirements again is frustrating. Do I need to just suck it up?
It is 100% up to the individual college what courses they take for transfer and which they do not. But, what they say on their website may not match reality, it sure doesn’t where I teach.
Frankly, if you are in a special non-traditional program, the first person to call is THEM, the contacts specific for your program, to see what they do and do not take. Reading something on a website doesn’t mean that it pertains to you and your program, and if you do have in writing that Boston U. does take the credits, that will be fuel for Tufts to take them.
All you need is someone to sign off on them transferring, not every at Tufts to agree with it.
One more issue - if you want a FULL college experience, go to Tufts, stay with your cohort for four years, you’ll be happier. But if you want to start earning a real salary two years earlier, it would be better to go to Boston U., get out and get a job, and the 20K in loans will be paid by that job you’ll have two years more.
@rhandco Thank you for your insight. I didn’t think about using the fact that BU has accepted most of my courses as fuel for Tufts to do the same. I’ll certainly contact the individual colleges about whether online courses will transfer, since you’re right, they do have the final say and not everything on Tufts’ website may apply to my particular situation.
Since my ultimate goal is to earn a PhD in Philosophy, I would not be looking for a salaried position immediately after graduating. In light of your advice it does seem that four years at Tufts is a better situation financially (and academically? Their MA program in philosophy is top-tier, according to the Philosophical Gourmet).
Thank you again for your feedback! It’s always helpful to get a different perspective, especially while I’m still overwhelmed by the good news of acceptance.