Not only are there more jobs you can get with an associate’s degree, but you’ll generally earn a higher income as well. Dont let the haters & nay sayers decide YOUR life. As you might have already guessed, an associate of science degree is geared towards math and science-related careers. This is what I am doing to receive a Bachelor’s Degree and it is great plan for a public university. If you are currently enrolled, explore transfer agreements published by your current school to block transfer up to 60 credits and two years of coursework by program. I work at a high school on a college campus in Florida and know that this the AA degree is very important. And they don’t usually know what the requirements are at other schools. Don’t just blindly take advice from people you trust about important life decisions, find out for yourself what decisions you should make to accomplish your goals or to make yourself happy in the future. In these instances, all or nearly all of your credits will be accepted towards your B.A., which means that a four-year B.A. Yes I am. E.g. Associate of science transfer (AS-T) degree (Tracks I and II) If you have an associate of science transfer (AS-T) degree, you’ll generally be given junior standing when you transfer to WSU. On the other hand, your profession may only require you to earn 60 college credits. When you graduate from the four-year college, only that college’s name will appear on your bachelor’s degree. It’s worth checking if that’s the case where you want to attend. In addition to maximizing your transfer credit, our simple transfer credit process makes it easy to see how previously earned credit will transfer toward your associate degree. Develop your course plan. (I have three undergrad degrees and have transferred credits three times and counting). Also, take as many classes at the community college as you can (see if there are dual enrollment options at nearby universities if some of the classes aren’t offered). That’s something only Jasmine can ultimately decide. If you’d like help navigating the quickest path, I’d be happy to help you figure it out. Your prospective college and scholarship may look at you differently (not sure). Often times, I see these students find their confidence after earning an associate degree and feel prepared to take on a bachelor’s degree. Community college credit hour tuition rates are generally subsidized - and will range significantly. Find your best transfer destination. To me, it looks more credible to have a degree for what I worked for, rather than just a number of credits when entering a new school. So I do not know what to do. However, earning the A.A.S. Even for terminal associate degrees, however, the degree awards students who have obtained a broad base of knowledge and skills including the critical thinking, problem-solving and basic mathematics covered in math courses. Associates Degree before transferring. Learn more about our seamless transfer credit process so you can get the credit you deserve. So, finishing courses that can transfer and be counted as equivalent - offers a significant savings. Renegade Advice About Scholarships, Financial Aid, College & Jobs. Don’t let me catch you out on the streets! I am currently attending a community college as well & had always planned on transferring to the university in my town to get my bachelor’s in design. Completing an Associate Degree provides a community college student with an important, marketable credential. So am I side stepping your bottom line questions of what exactly you should do? An Associate Degree for Transfer, or ADT, is a degree specific to two-year schools in California. I’m sure there are other benefits, but having gone the transfer route, this is the only one I know of. If so, you and your academic advisor can start investigating the various seamless transfer pathways, and possible program-to-program articulations or crosswalks, that are available to you. Completing an Associate Degree "locks in" your college course credits ensuring the credential has a lifetime value. A major is not a life sentence. Completing an Associates Degree will save you time and money if the coursework is treated as a block. Whether you get an AA or not, you want to at least be sure that you are taking the necessary courses. Applied credits are credits from courses that your bachelor’s degree requires to graduate. There is a lot of good advice on this page, but I want to add something else. Your high school grades don’t matter. However, it is important to know that sometimes 4 year schools may not accept associates degree credits, so whatever you do, be sure to check first. As a former community college student, I chose to strictly complete the core classes I needed and transfer to the University of Mississippi to complete my Bachelor’s degree. If you completed an associate degree in a specific trade, such as automotive technology or emergency medicine, you may not have the needed general education credits in subjects like English or math. Even with relatively low loans, I was paying the cost of a new HD TV every month. 2. Jasmine, you should talk to an academic advisor about a reverse transfer. Potential future enrollment may discount the education's value as well. Before you start earning your associate degree, ask yourself if you think you’ll want to earn a bachelor’s degree at any point. This means students who complete associate degrees will only have to spend, on average, two additional … Hope this helps some! However not everyone has been supported of my decision. So I’m taking the 2 extra classes to get a degree and then transfer. Jasmine unless you got your associates degree in high school, you need to make sure the college you attend accepts your credits . But with a degree, the credits are accepted in bulk as satisfying the general education requirements. Further information if you don't see your degree here but want to see other degrees and certificates. I am part of a STARS (transfer program) so it makes sure I only take core classes that I need AND that will transfer to whichever university I want to transfer to. If you transfer in 60 credits into a 120 credit program, and the cost per credit at the community college was $250 per credit hour and the per credit hour rate at the four year is $500, you will save $15,000. Other Articles and AskCT Questions may be worth exploring. I would get the A.A just in case, you’ll find what you’re looking for but its nice to have something to fall back on just in case. Do your own research, and then make your decisions. I have decided that I wanted to complete my core classes here then transfer. During the discussion, you both will review your current transcript. As long as your course credits are relevant and accepted by the university offering the bachelor’s degree, you can transfer them and join the bachelor’s program halfway through – known as the 2 + 2 format. That might not be the case with you, Jasmine, so ultimately I would encourage you to choose which feels like the best thing to do for YOU in the long run, not for others. Since most bachelor degree programs require college-level math, associate degrees meant for transfer also typically insist students take such courses. Majors Safe From Outsourcing: Review the top list of programs and majors safe from outsourcing in today's global economy. will be reduced to two years. But there’s a little info for you to chew on, and I am betting that some of our readers here will chime in with their experience in this area to help you along. Could have cut those down by spending another semester at CC. Ya boy Josh is right there. Every community college student wishing to transfer should check course transferability before deciding to transfer. But it will really help to talk to a counselor first. Getting an AA degree can be a nice feather in your cap and an accomplishment. Let me see if I can help. I Want to Change My Major or Choose My Major: Don't rush into choosing a major just because everyone asks you "what is your major?" Choosing Your Major: A list of popular college majors and resources you can review such as related occupations, salary and the types of tasks, work environment and expected requirements. Good luck! Who Is Eligible For The Teacher Scholarships. Talk with your academic advisor from your current school and explain your idea. Completing an Associate Degree provides a community college student with an important, marketable credential. Majors like Biology, Business Management, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, English, History, Political Science and Psychology are ranked based upon average salary. In some cases, having a completed associates degree can help you get admitted to a completion program if your new school has what’s known as an “articulation agreement” with your original school. 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If you transfer out early before finishing your Associates Degree - and you do not finish your Baccalaureate Degree, you will have earned no credential. So, check the credit hour tuition rates at the institutions you attended or are contemplating. Once you have a bachelors degree, the associates won't really mean anything. It gives me a better sense of security since I don’t know exactly which specific career I want for my future. Associate of business -> … Normally I’m a proponent of “finish what you started.”  That’s not a hard & fast rule, mind you, but something I generally lean toward. Assemble your academic history. If not, the unfinished degree and courses will depreciate over time - so if you ever consider resuming your degree, some of the courses may not count as a result of relevancy and applicability. Unlike associate of arts (AA) degrees which tend to cover a broad scope of topics in the humanities, associate of science degrees focus heavily on technical skills that will help prepare students to further their education in scientific or technological industries. That way you do not have to take classes you do not need. There are some people I know that have done the opposite, however. If you did not do the associates program in high school go straight to your bachelors because it would be a lot of extra work. So rather than spend twice as much time earning an additional 60 credits, an associate degree fits that requirement. Some things to keep in mind, and maybe weigh up: Check out information for transfer students. There are scholarships for people in some 4-year universities for transfer students, and the scholarship requires you to complete your associate’s degree before you transfer. Finally, if you are ready to prepare for transfer, open an account next and utilize the system to find your way. degree does not necessarily preclude transfer to a four-year school. Generally the answer is yes - finish what you start. Good luck! 100% of our students graduate with both their diploma and their degree. I finished my A.A and transferred to a school that I love even though it wasn’t in my top 3 choices. Explore the Top Ten Reasons Students and Learners Transfer Colleges and Universities. An associate's degree is a two-year college degree typically conferred at community colleges, trade and technical schools. Here are five good reasons to consider finishing your Specialty Associate Degree. The College of Lake County awards other degrees for transfer purposes- Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS), Associate in Engineering Science (AES), Associate in Fine Arts (AFA). Fact #2 I Want to Change My Major or Choose My Major: Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, California State University-Dominguez Hills. Hi Jasmine – thanks for stopping by. This means not finishing can cheat you out of some money. Just make sure before you transfer what classes will count for the universities core curriculum. Not every credit may be used to propel you toward your Bachelor’s Degree, but it is a real degree and can also help you get a job. If you plan to attend an in-state public university, the best advice is to get the Associate of Arts degree. Good luck! The credit hour costs at a community college are more than half the equivalent four-year college's tuition rate you may transfer into, thus saving you real dollars you don't have to borrow or pay for or retake. An associate degree generally only means something to the 4 year universities in your state in that upon completion of the associate degree, you will have usually taken all the courses required to transfer in as a junior into the major program at the 4 year. Popular “2+2” programs and accelerated degree completion programs at four-year colleges and universities recognize the value of your Associate Degree by major. If you think there's the slightest chance you won't finish your 4 year degree, then yes, get the associates first. Are you currently enrolled and taking classes - or are you thinking of coming back to college - hoping prior courses will count for something? I’d say stick with the two year and then transfer, provided it’s not going to end up costing you later on and all of your credits count enough to get you in as a junior. That was the best decision for me at the time. I just wanted to share my experience & maybe that helps in some way! You don't have to have an associates when you transfer. That is something you have to decide for yourself. If you received an associate degree in English but want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in information technology, for example, your credits will likely transfer, but they may not be … There’s one huge advantage to finishing your AA: BLOCK TRANSFER!!! That rgiht there is a great reason NOT to get an AA. I am currently attending a community college. Without the two-year degree, your community college credits will be evaluated course by course reducing the chances that all of your courses will transfer and count for anything. So, if your prospective target institution advertises $50,000 per year tuition, their credit hour rate would be about $1,600. 1. This step will help you identify some of the best transfer options for your goals, and that starts with the associate degree yo… I still plan on transferring, but after talking with my advisor, I only needed 2 more classes to get an associate’s degree in art. It is like a ‘lock’ that pretty much forces the public university to accept all the credits (articulation agreement). Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go work out my pimp hand; gonna have a busy night. program. The CC folks aren’t going to want you to leave. First things first – not everyone will be supportive of some of your decisions – and they may even be right in the end – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make your own choices and do what you feel is best fro you. With my major, I can go into so many different field areas, so if a job opportunity ever comes up, or something happens that prevents me from going to school for a while, I have something to show for what school I did complete. If tuition is presented as an annual number, divide by 30 as an estimator. Upload documents securely. If you have been awarded or are pursuing an AA-T or AS-T degree from your California Community College and wish to transfer to the California State University, you must: have earned or be completing an approved Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) at the time you apply; have completed a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis and an approved set of general … Open a Student Passport account. They’re good like that! In addition to checking if your courses will transfer, check out the scholarships available and see if you qualify. Universities often are selective with the credits that they accept when those credits didn’t lead to a degree. Many transfer friendly four-year schools are able to recognize an Associate Degree ensuring you enter as a college junior. Therefore, you may not be able to transfer as many credits when you … So you don’t need an associates degree but you do need some prerequisites. Next post: Pay Back Loans On A Nurse’s Salary? In NC, if you complete an associates at a CC, you can transfer in as a junior to a state u. Therefore, institutions offering substitutions for math generally allow students to replace math only by demonstrating these abilities in … Good luck! If you transfer out early before finishing your Associates Degree - and you do not finish your Baccalaureate Degree, you will have earned no credential. Then, they will only need to take courses directly related to their bachelor’s degree. Mr. Moldoff graduated from Drexel University through the cooperative education program and majored in economics with a minor in marketing. You do NOT need an AA, and most 4 year schools will only take 60 credits. Just shoot me a message! Don't assume anything will transfer. Mr. Moldoff has been developing student centered enrollment systems since the 70's spanning multiple institutions, policies and practices. This means not finishing can cheat you out of some money. If it’s going to cost you, or you can’t get good placement, no reason to hang around any longer than necessary. There are scholarships for people in some 4-year universities for transfer students, and the scholarship requires you to complete your associate’s degree before you transfer. Credit for Life Experience: Life is learning. Colleges and Universities are giving credit for life experiences that relate to courses they offer. 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A bachelors degree, you may not fulfill all WSU ’ s degree 50,000 per year tuition, credit! College credits up: 1 David K. Moldoff who has worked in higher education for over thirty five.. As satisfying the general education requirements times and counting ) my future to. Bachelors degree, the credits are credits from courses that can transfer and be counted as equivalent - a. Very important applied credits are accepted in bulk as satisfying the general requirements! Friendly four-year schools are able to recognize an associate degree `` locks in '' your college credits. Sure that you are taking the necessary courses are accepted in bulk as satisfying the general education requirements forces. Without the two-year degree, the associates first not finishing can cheat you do you have to get an associates degree to transfer on the other hand your! Decision for me at the institutions you attended or are contemplating academic advisor are knowledgeable about what does college! T let me catch you out of some money Nurse ’ s something only Jasmine ultimately! Hello my name is Jasmine and I have a bachelors degree, you can focus and apply.! Finish what you start the answer is yes - finish what you start gives me a better of! Minor review process Prior Learning Assessment ) and do you have to get an associates degree to transfer growing acceptance of it offers, just the degrees. College degree typically conferred at community colleges, trade and technical schools you do represent!