Decide whether you want to transfer as a lower- or upper-division transfer student. A lower-division transfer student is accepted into a four-year college or university as a freshman or sophomore; an upper-division transfer is accepted as a junior. You will have to complete more transferable classes, typically four semesters of a full-time class load, before you can transfer as an upper-division student.
Ask an advisor at your community college which of your completed classes will transfer to the university or college of your choice. Advisors will have a list of transferable courses to local and in-state schools. Many introductory or general education classes like English Composition, Biology, Chemistry, Algebra and Psychology will transfer to four-year colleges.
Complete all required coursework at your community college to prepare yourself for transferring to a four-year school. Some degree programs require that you complete certain classes before being accepted, particularly science and technical programs. Review information specific to your major on the college's website or contact the university department to inquire about courses that will transfer or are required for acceptance. Also, many colleges require transfer students to have at least a 2.0 grade point average, especially in transferable coursework.
Apply to your college of choice. Applications are usually available online on the school's website, or you can call the admissions office and request an application by mail.
Go to the admissions and records office at your community college and pay for your transcript to be sent to your chosen school. Many schools require that a sealed and stamped transcript be mailed directly to them. If you are accepted, an admission representative will review your transcript and explain how to apply for credit for the transferable coursework.
Appeal decisions where credit is not awarded. If you've completed a course that you feel should be accepted for credit by your new college or university, you often can appeal the decision. Obtain the course number and description for the class in question. The description can be found online at the community college's website or in the course catalog for the semester in which you completed the course. Photocopy the description and submit the information to a degree evaluations counselor for consideration.