Many students attending two-year colleges start out knowing that they will eventually transfer to a four-year school to get their bachelor's degree. There are several reasons you may want to consider this route, too.

Things to think about
Upon graduating from high school, you may not have defined career goals. Not wanting to put your education on hold, you may prefer to avoid paying huge tuition bills while trying to "find yourself." As the cost of a university education escalates each year, the option of spending your freshman and sophomore years at a two-year college can be a great way to get started.

You may also consider attending a two-year college if you are unable to meet the initial entrance standards required by the four-year school of your choice. Some of these standards, such as a specified grade point average (GPA), standardized test scores, or knowledge of specific academic subjects, can be remedied at a two-year college. Students who have opted to do this praise the community college system for giving them the chance to be academically "born again."

The two- to four-year transfer
If your plan is to attend a two-year college with the ultimate goal of transferring to a four-year school, you will be pleased to know that the importance of the community college path to a bachelor's degree is recognized by all segments of higher education. As a result, many two-year schools have revised their course outlines and established new courses in order to comply with the offerings of the universities.

Institutional improvements to simplify transferring credits have also occurred at both the two- and four-year levels. The generous transfer policies of the Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida state university systems, for example, reflect this attitude. These systems accept all credits from students who have graduated from accredited community colleges.

When to think about transferring
If you are thinking about moving from a two-year college to a four-year university, the sooner you make up your mind, the better positioned you'll be to transfer successfully. The ideal time to make this decision is before you register at your two-year school. A counselor can help you select your classes with the goal of fulfilling the requirements needed for your major course of study.

Naturally, it is not always possible to plan your transferring strategy that far in advance, but keep in mind that the key to a successful transfer is preparation, and preparation takes time.

What you need to do
The first thing you need to do is gather your high school and college transcripts. Compare their contents with the admission criteria of your chosen school. If you meet the requirements, file an application as far in advance of the deadline as possible. This will most likely include requesting that your former schools send official transcripts to the admission office of the school you plan to attend.

Review your transfer program with the head of your new department as soon as you have decided to transfer to determine the recommended general education pattern and necessary preparation for your major. At your present school, take the courses you will need to meet transfer requirements for the new one.

How to qualify
Admission requirements for most four-year institutions vary. Usually, you will need to show satisfactory test scores, an academic record up to a certain standard, and completion of specific subject matter.

Transfer students can be eligible to enter a four-year school in a number of ways: by having been eligible for admission directly upon graduation from high school, by making up shortcomings in grades (or in subject matter not covered in high school) at a community college, or by satisfactory completion of necessary courses or credit hours at another postsecondary institution.

Ordinarily, students coming from a community college or from another four-year institution must meet or exceed the receiving institution's standards for freshmen and show appropriate college-level course work taken since high school.