Steps to Transfer

RTC offers two types of associate’s degrees.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Associate of Applied Science- Transfer (AAS-T) degrees are career training & professional programs intended to give you hands-on skills in a specific industry or profession. The goal is to prepare you to begin working in your chosen field after graduation.

Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) degrees are transfer programs, intended to be the first two years of a four-year bachelor's degree. They prepare you to transfer to a four-year university.

Career Training & Professional  AAS & AAS-T Degrees

 Transfer DTA Degrees

Hands-on, career specific learning with some general education classes

General education classes, focus on theory and understanding the “why” behind a concept with some hands-on experience

Job ready skills- prepare to start career after graduating from RTC

Transfer ready- prepared to transfer to a four-year university after graduation to complete the final years of a four-year bachelor’s degree- BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BS (Bachelor of Science) 

Will not fully transfer to most four-year universities

Transfer options are mostly in career-focused bachelor's degree programs offered at colleges, called Applied Bachelor or BAS (Bachelor of Applied Science) degree programs

 Will not train or prepare students for a specific career or industry directly after graduation from RTC- further education required at the university to prepare for a career

Explore transfer pathways with your AAS or AAS-T degree

 

Explore careers:

  • Identify your career goals and the education required to get there. Talk to RTC Career Services for help exploring career options  
  • Does RTC offer the program that you need? Talk to an adviser for help choosing the right degree for your goals, or to discuss pathways to reach your goals based on the program you are in  
  • What type of bachelor’s degree will you need to reach your career goals?  

Choose Your Major 

  • Decide what area of study you’ll focus on for your bachelor’s degree 
  • Many students choose their major based on their career goals- some careers require a certain type of education or major, but majors don’t always lead directly to certain careers  
  • Talk to your adviser for help exploring careers & majors  

Explore bachelor's degree programs & schools  

Research degree programs that fit with your chosen major and goals, and which universities offer them. Visit campus for a tour, attend a program information session & meet with a transfer adviser  

  • AAS (Associate of Applied Science) and AAS-T (Associate of Applied Science-Transfer) degrees  
    • Explore transfer pathways  
  • DTA (Direct Transfer Agreement) degrees 

 

Most bachelor's degree programs require prerequisite classes and other application requirements to complete before applying to transfer. These requirements prepare you for your major and can be different at every school.  

  1. Review the bachelor's degree program & school transfer websites for information about prerequisite class requirements and how to apply for transfer 
  2. Ask the school’s admissions office or a transfer adviser if you have questions about the prerequisite classes or the school’s transfer application requirements  
  3. Use the school’s equivalency guide or talk to a transfer adviser to determine how RTC classes will transfer to meet university requirements  
  4. Explore how competitive the program is and find out the grades, experience, and preparation that successful transfer students have

 

  1. Create an education plan. Meet with your RTC adviser to plan out the classes and steps you will need to take to graduate from RTC and prepare for transfer to your future bachelor's degree program  
  2. Make a second plan. If you are not accepted to your first-choice major or school, what other bachelor's degree programs or schools can still help you reach your goals? Research the different pathways that you could take to accomplish your future career goals

 

It’s important to connect with your future school and bachelor’s degree program early on, to make sure that you are on track for your transfer goals. 

  1. Attend transfer information sessions.
    1. Check out RTC’s Transfer Tuesdays to learn more about the transfer process, ask questions and get advising help 
    2. Attend a transfer information session at your future college or university 
  2. Meet with a Transfer Adviser at the school you plan to transfer to, and share your education plan to make sure you will be ready to transfer 

 

  1. Know application deadlines. There may be two applications you need to complete to transfer: 1) applying to the college or university, and 2) applying to the bachelor's degree program 
  2. Apply. Start early to complete your applications before the deadline! A transfer application can include: 
    1. Online application 
    2. Application fee (ask the school about fee waivers if needed) 
    3. Official Transcripts from every college attended 
    4. Personal Statement: attend a Transfer Tuesday workshop to get started 
    5. Letters of Recommendation
  3. Apply for financial aid. Before the university’s financial aid deadline. Complete your FAFSA or WASFA application for the year you plan on transferring, and include each college or university that you plan to apply to  
  4. Scholarships. Apply for scholarships a year to six months before you plan to transfer.  
    1. Look for scholarships available to transfer students at your future college or university
    2. Look into joining the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society at RTC which offers transfer scholarships available only to PTK members 
    3. Search for scholarships outside of the college or university

 

  1. Accept your admissions offer by the deadline 
  2. Review your Financial Aid Award Letter to compare school costs  
  3. Apply to graduate with your RTC degree
  4. Order final official transcripts from RTC to be sent to your new school after your degree is awarded