<p>Question: My son is about to go to a junior college in San Francisco. He will do this because he has no idea what he wants to major in. If he spends one year at the junior college, can he transfer his credits to another college or will he lose them all if he doesn’t […]</p>
<p>[View</a> the complete Q&A at CC’s Ask The Dean…](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/can-community-college-student-transfer-after-one-year.htm]View”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/can-community-college-student-transfer-after-one-year.htm)</p>
<p>The key is choosing “core” classes (general liberal arts distribution type classes). There was a recent horror story in the local paper that a student spent 2 years at a community college, and virtually none of the classes transferred. She took classes towards a major (something like interior design), but they were not compatible with the 4-year college (4-year college had their classes in the major that you have to take).</p>
<p>If your son transfers after 1 year, it should be manageable. Transfering after 2 years raises the question of whether he can get his remaining classes finished in 2 years. A lot of classes are done in a sequence (offered infrequently, etc), and you don’t want to take too many classes in the major at the same time.</p>
<p>The more generic the degree (liberal arts chemistry major), the easier it is to accomplish (classes are well defined between schools). If your son pursues a specialty degree, the harder it will be to finish on time (classes are very different between schools).</p>
<p>Some community colleges offer one year plans of study specifically designed for students who want to transfer after only one year. Here is a link to the 30 semester hour “Transfer Studies Certificate” offered by Montgomery College in Maryland:</p>
<p>[Transfer</a> Studies Certificate](<a href=“http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/studev/TSCERTIFICATE.htm]Transfer”>http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/studev/TSCERTIFICATE.htm)</p>
<p>If your college doesn’t offer this kind of program, you could use the MC plan as a guideline. MC has an excellent track record of getting students into good 4-year programs around the country.</p>