Transfer Checklist
Quick Links: Plan | Apply | Admitted | Complete
Plan
3-4 semesters before you wish to transfer
Explore majors.
If you don’t know what you’d like to major in, you should work with your academic advisor to start exploring your options. The sooner you decide on your major and where you want to pursue it, the sooner you can start following the appropriate mapped pathway.
Talk to your advisor & choose your transfer pathway.
The earlier you meet with your advisor, the more likely you will be able to take the right courses for transfer, and the less likely you will be to take courses that will not transfer.
- The A2B Mapped Pathways combined with the Commonwealth Commitment offer the best savings, but there are other options available, so be sure to talk to your advisor to find what's best for you.
- If you are interested in the Commonwealth Commitment, meet with your academic advisor as soon as possible. You must fill out a Student Participation Form before earning 15 credits at a community college.
Research schools
Your academic advisor can help you:
- Research the bachelor's degree granting institutions that you are considering.
- Go to their Websites and learn as much as possible about the transfer requirements.
- Reach out to their Transfer Admissions Counselors and schedule a visit or campus tour.
Apply
1 semester before you wish to transfer
Check in with your academic advisor.
Before you apply, review the application process with your advisor to make sure that you are ready to transfer.
Apply for admission.
Check with the institution you are applying to for application deadlines. Most campuses require students to submit the MassTransfer application by March for Fall entrance and October for Spring entrance.
Request your transcripts.
Be sure to request one official transcript from the registrar’s office of each institution you have ever attended.
Apply for Financial Aid.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and apply for additional scholarships and grants. Visit your school’s financial aid office and use websites like the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance and Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority to learn more about your financial aid options.
Once You Are Admitted
Make sure you understand your admission.
Check in with the Registrar's Office at your new institution. Find out:
- if all of your credits transferred
- whether you were admitted into the major of your choice
- whether there are any other barriers to your registration for courses
- Many schools require additional information before you are allowed to sign up for classes, including immunization forms, before the deadline.
Check on financial aid.
Contact the financial aid office at your new institution:
- Make sure they received your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Ask them about your new financial aid package.
Sign up for classes.
Check in with the Admission Office at your new institution:
- Make sure you know when you can register for classes.
- Register as early as possible, each semester, to ensure the widest selection of courses.
Continue Your Pathway to Completion
After you’re settled at your State U or UMass campus
Get started on your bachelor’s.
Connect with your academic advisor early and often. You should meet with your advisor once every semester:
- Make sure you stay on track to complete your degree.
- Make sure you have connected with all of the resources your new campus has to offer.
- Learn what administrative tasks you have to complete before registering for your next semester.
Reverse Transfer
Didn't complete your associate degree with a MassTransfer A2B Pathway? That’s okay! Through Reverse Transfer, students who made progress toward an associate degree prior to transferring may apply credit earned at a four-year institution back to their community college to complete the associate degree requirements.
