Pick a program of study. Students can complete general requirements, or tailor general requirements toward a specific program of study at a four year college or university. A student preparing for transfer into a four-year nursing program at a university will want to complete different courses than someone who intends to study business. It is important to pick a program, especially if you intend to transfer into a four-year degree program that is highly technical.
Research four-year schools of interest. Visit each school's website and view requirements for enrollment and degree programs. View the class profile and see what the average grade point average,GPA, of incoming students is. You want to exceed this average GPA to make yourself competitive. Notice any lower-level classes that a specific degree program requires. Meet with an academic counselor at your community college and ask if your school has an equivalent class that you can take while attending community college.
Enroll in any transfer programs. For instance, the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA, has the Transfer Alliance Program, or TAP, to enhance a community college student's chances of being admitted into the program. The TAP program requires that students complete an honors program at their community college. Visit the college of interest or your community college transfer adviser to see if there are any programs to increase your chances of transfer.
Complete the general requirements. Many schools will require that applicants from a community college complete specific general requirements, or complete their freshman and sophomore year before transferring. The California State University system, for instance, requires that you complete up to 39 lower-division, general education classes in five 'breadth' areas before transferring to a California State school. Make an appointment with a transfer adviser at the community college to verify that you have met the basic requirements for the intended school and program of study.
Meet every semester with a transfer adviser at your community college to verify that you are taking classes that are transferable, and you are on the right track to graduate on time and transfer to a four-year university.
Apply to the four-year college by the deadline. Some applications will require recommendations from teachers, colleague or personal acquaintances. There may also be an essay required.
Request that your official transcripts be sent from the community college to the four-year universities that you applied to. There will be a fee to send each transcript. However, many community colleges send out the first transcript free.
Apply for financial aid by the cut-off date for your intended semester or quarter of enrollment at the four-year. Have the Free Application for Federal Student Aid , or FAFSA, sent to your school's of choice.