Putting the Work in to Be Awarded

FAWWAZ ASHRAF STAFF

Transferring can be a complex endeavor, so to make it simple, the first step you should take is to figure out where you want to transfer and what you want to do. From there, you can figure out the rest.

If you plan on transferring, going to STLCC is likely a stepping stone in the grander journey of getting your bachelor’s degree. That’s why you want to ensure all the classes you take at STLCC will work toward your bachelor’s degree.

Every university will have a list of all of the classes needed to complete your degree. This is often split up into major requirements and general education requirements. While you can spend your time at STLCC just working on general education requirements and electives, it’s also important that foundational major requirements are completed as well. This way, you can go straight into the upper-division coursework when you transfer.

Once you know what classes you need for your degree, it’s time to start enrolling for those classes at STLCC, but it’s important to make sure those classes will actually transfer to your target university. If you plan on transferring to another Missouri public school, you can look for classes with the “MOTR” tag.

These classes will have a transfer guarantee, so you don’t need to worry about articulation. Many schools also offer a transfer equivalency table. If someone from STLCC has transferred to that college in the past, they will have a list of all the classes they accepted or denied. With these resources, you can avoid taking classes you know will get denied and prioritize classes you know will get accepted. Generally, a Cor higher is required for a class to transfer. It is important to note, however, that some universities will have special stipulations regarding course transferability, but this only really applies to a handful of highly selective universities.

For example, Washington University and Dartmouth College won’t accept classes taken online, and the University of Notre Dame won’t accept courses unless the grade is a B or higher.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Many universities offer generous needbased and merit-based financial aid that can keep the cost of attendance far below the sticker price, but the availability varies heavily between schools. For most universities, the best way to save money is through scholarships.

Many of these scholarships just require having a certain GPA, so it’s important to keep your grades up even if you’re not aiming for a highly selective school. Simple grade-based scholarships can save students a lot of money, but many schools also offer larger scholarships for students who also excel outside of their grades. This might include doing community service and writing strong essays.

For more selective schools, the availability of scholarships tends to decrease, and the emphasis moves to need-based aid, aid awarded based on the student’s financial situation.

One notable example is that students whose families make under $85k/year pay nothing at Harvard University, and the average parent contribution is only $13k/ year despite a sticker price of around 82k/ year. Don’t let sticker prices scare you away from applying. To get an idea of how much you’d be paying, many universities offer a net price calculator to figure out your cost after need-based financial aid.

There are also third-party scholarships that can contribute significantly. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is the most notable, as it can provide up to $55k/year and is exclusive to community college students. Many private companies also offer scholarships, so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for those. Additionally, there are also many scholarships reserved for underrepresented minorities.

Selective Admissions

This is where things start to get more complicated. When one starts applying to highly selective schools, many applicants already have high GPAs and solid course rigor, so it comes down to other factors to make the applicant stand out. A GPA of 3.8 or above is generally considered strong enough for selective admissions.

High school performance is typically only factored if you haven’t taken many credits yet, so students planning to transfer after a full two years will only need to worry about their college performance. Once you’re comfortable with getting or