Typical Accounting Program Entry Requirements
Online accounting program students must meet certain requirements. For instance, most schools require students to hold a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. Some ask you to demonstrate writing skills by submitting a short essay, while others might request a phone interview with an admissions adviser or enrollment counselor, or a campus visit to tour the school and ask questions. Many schools like to see SAT or ACT scores and at least one letter of recommendation, while some do not require any letters of reference or standardized test scores, but do mandate an entrance exam .
After learning and completing your schools application requirements, make sure to submit the;Free Application for Federal Student Aid; to apply for scholarships and other forms of financial aid.
What Are Common Transfer Paths
College students transfer between schools for a variety of reasons. Common motivators include moving from a two-year program to a four-year program, changing majors, and other more personal factors. Whatever the reason, the good news is that today’s college students have more educational options than ever before.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, as of 2019, there were 4,042 degree-granting institutions in the United States. This variability is nice, but the large number of schools means you have to plan carefully when considering a move between institutions. Understanding the transfer landscape is paramount. A good place to start is to take a look at the most common circumstances under which students decide to transfer.
Transferring from a two-year school to a four-year school is a common path for students. According to a 2017 report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 49% of students who completed a four-year degree in 2016 had attended a two-year school at some point in the past 10 years.
Many students choose to begin their college careers at two-year schools to save money, get a taste of college life, and/or make a more informed decision about their prospective major. Planning ahead is the key to making this a successful transition. Select courses that are most likely to transfer and count toward your bachelor’s degree.
Get The Most Out Of Your College Investment
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Get An Official Transfer Credit Evaluation
After you apply, you can submit official transcripts to have an official evaluation completed. If you’ve already had a preliminary estimate, you can register for your first semester knowing that you’re taking the right classes. We can process your official evaluation as soon as all transcripts have been received.
What Can I Study At Community College
If youre thinking about getting your degree at community college, youre making a smart move. Getting a degree at community college is a perfect way to further your career. When you attend a community college,;youll have the option to earn several two year associates degrees. Community college degrees can differ from school to school. Many people earn their two year community college degrees before moving on to complete two more years at a traditional university in order to get their bachelors degree.;
Lets take a look at some of the most common community college degrees among students today:
Certificates Earning a certificate is a great way to show your employer that youre serious about staying on top of the latest research and knowledge in your field. Many people earn certificates as a way to break into a new career field, while others earn certificates in order to advance in their career. Different certificates require different periods of study. Many certificates are available fully online, while others require an in person component. When youre looking for;types of degrees in community college and you come across certificates, remember that most employers dont consider a certificate to be an official degree. Rather, its considered to be an extension of the highest level of education youve completed.;
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High School: Ib Credits
IB stands for International Baccalaureate. It was a program designed in Switzerland in the 1960s but now exists worldwide, including the United States.;
High schools that offer an IB program provide students with the opportunity for advanced learning, as well as the possibility of advanced placement and college credit when they enter college.
This program also has exams that students take upon completion. Based on your exam scores and whether you have taken Standard Level or Higher Level IB courses, you can earn college credit.
Many IB programs also offer an IB Diploma upon high school graduation. Students who have earned this credential can sometimes place out of all of their general education courses upon entering college, although policies vary by institution.
Is The Educational Quality Of Community College Lower
According to recent polls, the quality of education at a community college is just as good as the education at a four year college. One of the reasons that some people feel the education at a community college is not as good as that of a traditional college is due to the fact that it costs less. Dont let that fool you. Because a community college only offers two year degrees, its able to offer you the same quality education at a lower cost.
If you take classes at a community college and then transfer to a traditional university, you may even find that youre better prepared for your studies than other students around you. At many traditional universities, the first two years of classes take place in massive, auditorium style classrooms, with little to no personal attention from the instructor. When you take your first two years of classes at a community college, its likely that youre getting the one on one attention you need to prepare you to succeed in the future.;
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Do Ds Transfer From Community College
Many schools ask for a C grade or better in order to transfer credits. But, there are ways you may still be able to transfer without losing credit for those courses where you earned a D. First, check the transfer policy of the school you want to go to. They may have a flexible policy on accepting credits for Ds. If not, you may want to meet with the college to see what options are available to you.
Second, consider staying at your community college long enough to earn your Associates degree. After you earn that degree, you can apply to a four year school knowing that your credits may transfer in a block. When you transfer credits as a block, individual grades may not be evaluated.
Are Community College Credits Transferable
Yes, the classes that you take at an accredited community college will often be eligible for transferable credit.
Sometimes, credits transfer smoothly from one school to another because the two institutions have articulation agreements with each other. An articulation agreement means that the four-year school has agreed to automatically accept certain classesor even entire associate degreesfrom the community college.
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In other instances, the four-year college must review each class on your transcript individually to determine which ones qualify for transfer credits.
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Transferring Coursework From Institutions Outside The Us
Before considering transfer credits from institutions outside the U.S., AACC requires students to have their transcripts reviewed on a course-by-course basis by one of our approved professional transcript evaluation services:;
Special Considerations For Nc Community College Transfer Students
The UNC System and the NC Community College System have worked together to encourage more students to transfer into the University after completing their studies at the community college level. To this same end, individual UNC System institutions have also established unique partnerships with nearby community colleges.
These agreements make it easier than ever before for students to transition from community college into the UNC System. Nevertheless, you will need to plan carefully as you make arrangements to transfer. As you begin to think about transfer options, keep in mind the following points:
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How Long Are Credits Good For At A Community College
Many community college credits from an accredited school stay good indefinitely. For example, a composition class that you took years ago is probably still relevant today, so you may be able to transfer that credit to another institution.
Not all subjects boast such longevity, though. Coursework in some fields can quickly become outdated. When it comes to classes related to technology, engineering, or even some types of science, the credits might lose their value within 10 years or less.
What Is The Maximum Number Of Credits You Can Transfer
The rule of thumb for college transfer credits is 90/30. This means that, at most, online colleges will accept 90 hours in a college credit transfer, and will require that you must complete 30 credit hours in their program in order to earn your degree there. More likely, however, the college will accept around 60 college transfer credits, leaving you to complete another 60 credits at the school to which you have transferred.
You will notice that the above ratios add up to 120 either way. This is because the average bachelor’s degree program requires 120 credit hours for completion. The 90/30 rule assumes you will need to complete at least one year of study at the institution to which you transfer. It is also assumes that the credits being transferred are standard credit hours and not quarter-credit hours.
If you have attended a school that utilizes quarter-credit hours, transferring can be a bit more complicated. Quarter-credit hours can be converted to standard credit hours, but different schools have different ways of doing this. If this situation applies to you, contact the office of admissions or registrars office at the school of your choice to learn more.
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Dont Only Take General Education Courses
This tip may appear confusing at first many community college students unsure about their majors seem to be encouraged to load up on general education courses as it is believed that these will be required anyway at some later point. This, however, often leads to accumulating excess credits some of which wont be applicable to your major once you transfer.
Of course, were not saying that you shouldnt take any GE courses, just to not take too many. If you sense that there is a field you may be interested in pursuing , we recommend that you take some of those courses. This will allow you to see whether youre truly interested in the subject. If you are, it allows you to skip some core courses at your new college .
Type Of Accounting Degrees
Those interested in accounting have a variety of degree options to choose from, including associate, bachelor of science, or bachelor of arts. Consider some important differences before deciding which accounting degree is right for you.
An associate degree in accounting is the first step beyond a high school diploma or accounting certificate. Most associate programs comprise 60 credits and take two years to complete, giving students basic, fundamental accounting knowledge. Its affordable and can be completed relatively quickly. After earning an associate degree, many students transfer their credits to a four-year university.
Those who do not earn their bachelors degree often get jobs as bookkeepers or accounting clerks. However, to become a certified public accountant, you must earn a bachelors degree in accounting from a four-year college. A bachelors degree is the next step up from earning an associate degree. Accounting students can choose between a bachelor of science and a bachelor of arts , the main difference being that a BA includes more general education coursework in finance, while a BS requires more specific, major-related courses involving the technical or practical aspects of accounting. Both of these undergraduate degrees consist of 120 credits, and can be completed in four years of full-time study. Those whove already earned an associate degree can transfer their credits and complete the bachelors degree in just two more years.
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How Does Residency Affect Tuition
Students seeking new educational opportunities may consider out-of-state schools, but out-of-state tuition is generally far more expensive at public institutions. According to the College Board, the average annual tuition at an in-state public four-year institution was $10,440 during the 2019-20 academic school year. Conversely, the national average for out-of-state tuition at these schools was $26,820.
One way to ease the burden of out-of-state tuition is to consider online programs; many of these programs charge all distance learners the same rate. Distance learning allows you to choose from schools across the country without worrying about commuting and finding housing. You may also be able to finish your degree faster, since online programs tend to offer more flexibility.
Alternatively, if you’re drawn to a program or major only offered in another state, consider establishing residency there. According to FinAid, eligibility for in-state tuition usually requires at least one year of residency without taking any classes.
If you’re a “dependent” student and receiving substantial financial support from your parents, at least one of your parents must have lived in that state for a year. To qualify as an “independent” student, you must demonstrate two years of self-sufficiency and state residency.
Undergraduate Application And Transfer Guide
May 5, 2021 | Staff Writers
Are you ready to find a school that’s aligned with your interests?
Transfer students switch schools for a variety of reasons. Financially motivated students may choose to start their accounting degrees at a community college to save money; other students transfer because the academic program at a different school is simply a better fit for their interests and career goals. Some students have more specific transfer situations, such as military students who earned college credits while in the service, or international students who moved to the United States and want to continue their education here. Nearly 10% of all students complete their degrees through multiple institutions, according to the;National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Many colleges and universities are welcoming to transfer students, offering generous transfer policies, plus other resources to ease the process and make it as smooth as possible. Do your research before beginning the accounting program application process to increase your chances of success.
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Find Out Your Schools Transfer Credit Policy
Arguably, one of the most important steps in transferring is finding out how your credits transfer. If youre applying to in-state schools, there may already be established transfer agreements detailing what courses will transfer between your community college and prospective four-year school. Alternatively, if youre applying to out-of-state schools, you can send in your transcript to your prospective schools, who will use these to determine which credits can transfer.
Also, for those of you applying to in-state, public universities, its also worth it to see if there are any transfer pathways between your current and prospective school. Sometimes, these pathways or alliance programs guarantee transfer to students who achieve a certain GPA. Others make the process easier or increase your chances of admission, so theyre definitely worth a look if you find any. For example, many California community colleges have such agreements with the University of California campuses .
Why Start With Community College
Freshman courses at four-year colleges often have hundreds of students in them. At the same time, community colleges often have around 30 students per class. For students new to higher education, this leaves more room for interaction with professors and deeper engagement.
Many of the professors and associate professors at four-year colleges have to publish or do research to honor their contracts. At community colleges, instructors typically have fewer responsibilities outside of teaching, leaving them more time to commit to their classes.
Why go to community college first? Students who attend two-year schools have more time to transition from high school to the rigors of University studies. Taking two years to mature and consider employment opportunities can give students the opportunity to take different classes and learn how to manage their personal time and study schedules.
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How Do I Appeal My Transfer Credits
Transfer credits may be denied outright or downgraded to general elective credits, even if the courses seem equivalent to those required at your new institution. If this happens, you are entitled to appeal. Institutions approach the credit transfer appeals process in varying ways, as demonstrated by this example from the State University of New York system.
Generally, these appeals processes require evidence of equivalency to overturn the admissions office’s first decision. You must provide, among other materials, the following items:
It’s important to stay organized and maintain your own records and materials, as this process can take some time to complete.