From 4C’s to 4-Year Degree

by Caitlin Grosso

Many students attend Cape Cod Community College to eventually transfer to a 4-year institution. This process allows students to save money, buff transcripts, and solidify academic goals; however, many students don't know where to start. Since transferring is a pivotal step in students' academic careers, it becomes an intimidating process without proper guidance and resources. Students are left with questions regarding application deadlines, MassTransfer specs, credit transfer, as well as finances.

“The first step that students should take when they are ready to graduate from 4C’s,” says Alicia Simonds, SUCCESS (Student Retention & Completion) academic advisor, “is to schedule an appointment with their advisor.” Students should then complete a degree audit, confirm that they have met all the requirements in their program, and fill out the Declaration of Intent to Graduate form. This form will be signed by the student’s academic adviser and sent off to Registration.

The first step of transferring, on the other hand, will depend on whether students decide to transfer within the state-system or a private institution, Simonds says. “The first thing I would recommend [to students who are] looking to transfer within the state system, is to go on the MassTransfer website.” There are a few different transfer options that are available for students to pursue, namely Reverse transfer, the A2B Pathway, and the Commonwealth Commitment. Students should explore these options and measure what best suits them. “The best part about MassTransfer is that it is an affordable way for students to receive a bachelor’s degree.”

Simonds encourages students to connect with a transfer adviser at their universities of choice. They will be able to tell 4C’s students exactly what those institutions are looking for, “and exactly what will translate from 4C’s to those institutions.” This tip helps students gauge what they may need to complete before they begin the transfer process.

Next, Simonds advises students to be aware of institutional and MassTransfer application deadlines. “Some institutions have rolling deadlines, but I would recommend applying as soon as possible to meet their priority deadlines,” she says. University application deadlines will depend on the universities themselves, but MassTransfer applications are typically due in March for fall admission and October for spring admission.

When the time comes to submit documents to the chosen institution, “the most important thing is a transcript. Students will need to send an official copy of their transcript sent to the university,” Simonds says. Some places use different methods of transcript submission. Cape Cod Community College uses the website Parchment, but students may also request their transcripts to be sent via Registration. If students choose to transfer to a private institution, essays and letters of recommendation may be required, along with the application.

This process can strain credit transfer, but “any course that is a general education requirement, such as English Composition I and II, college-level math classes, general science courses, human communication, general psychology, and more transfer well to 4-year institutions,” she says. Any course that is specific to 4C’s may be trickier to transfer.

On another note, Simonds encourages students to “apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA), no matter their financial situation.” Not only may they be eligible for a Pell Grant or Mass Grant, but they will also get access to federal student loans, “which typically have a lower interest rate than private student loans.” Students can also finance their education after transferring to a 4-year university by checking in with the school’s scholarship opportunities. “They may have a whole separate database of scholarships that transfer students can apply for,” she says.

All in all, the transfer process isn’t daunting once the proper resources and guidance are provided for students. For more information, visit the Transfer Information page on the 4C’s website, as well as the MassTransfer website:

Transfer Information | Academic Information | College Catalog 2019-2020 | Cape Cod Community College

MassTransfer / Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Alicia Simonds (Sara-Ann Semedo)

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