General Timeline

Begin career exploration

MVCC has an amazing Career Development Center that provides many resources to help you as a student and as an alum — from career exploration to resume building and more.

Questions to consider:

• Where do you see yourself in the future? Think about physical location and job openings, earning potential and job placement.
• What is your educational goal, and does it match requirements for a career you see yourself in?
• Do you see yourself earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree? Or a doctorate or other certifications?

Career Resources:

• Career Coach — A tool that helps you gauge your interests and matches them with potential careers.
• Career Counselors — Available to meet with you to work with you through the decision-making process. They may suggest resources and experiences to help in your decision, including things like job shadowing.

Transfer School Exploration

We also provide resources to help you explore transfer schools and programs. Don’t forget to talk with your friends, family, mentors, and advisor — they may have unique insights!

Tip: Start saving all course syllabi; you may need these for your transfer school to determine transfer credit equivalencies.

Online tools: 

• Explore the State University of New York (SUNY) system (opens in new window)
• Explore private colleges within New York State (opens in new window)
• Explore public and private colleges within the U.S. and abroad (opens in new window) 

MVCC has many resources to help you with the transfer process — from people and events to online tools. 

Student Support Advisors (SSAs)

At MVCC, you are assigned both a faculty advisor and a student support advisor based on your major. Faculty advisors and SSAs can provide similar support with transfer. Both are here to support you from your first day at MVCC to the day you graduate and transfer.

• Scheduling based on transfer goals: Because your SSA is assigned based on major and your faculty advisor is part of the field your major is in, both can help you make the best decisions on classes to take that are suited to your transfer goals.
• Sharing knowledge: Your SSA and faculty advisor may be familiar with articulation agreements, programs at other universities, and transfer processes. You can meet with your SSA throughout the semester to talk about your plans.

Connect with your SSA and make an appointment.

Transfer Events

Transfer Fairs

A Transfer Fair brings representatives from four-year colleges and universities to campus to meet with students who are looking at transfer options and opportunities. Some tips for attending a Transfer Fair:

• Gather information: Most schools will have brochures and other materials available. Look for info on programs, housing, scholarships, costs, extracurriculars, and more.
• Find a point of contact: Fill out a contact card to receive more information or to set up a meeting. Write down the rep's email and phone number so you can follow up.
• Ask questions: This is a great opportunity to compare various colleges. Consider asking what support services are available to transfer students or what the community around the campus is like.

Advisor-in-Residence Visits

An Advisor-in-Residence Visit is a small-scale event where a transfer admissions counselor visits campus to meet with students. Transfer admissions counselors may:

• Share information about programs to see if they have a major that meets your goals.
• Discuss unofficial credit evaluations based on your transcripts so you understand how your credits may transfer.
• Be your point of contact and help you through the application steps.

Transfer Open House

Some universities offer open house events on their home campus — a transfer admissions counselor can tell you more about these opportunities if available.

Other Resources

Articulation Agreements

An articulation agreement outlines how credits or a program at one college transfers directly to another college. These agreements are useful because they provide seamless transfer between one college to the next, typically from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree.

See MVCC's articulation agreements with other colleges and universities.

SUNY Transfer Navigator

With this new online tool from the State University of New York, you can view SUNY programs and majors, explore transfer pathways, and understand credit and course transfer.

Use the SUNY Transfer Navigator (opens in new window) 

Individual College/University Websites

The official website for a college or university you are interested in will have the most up-to-date information, as well as contact forms and links to applications.

Look closely at all the information you have gathered. Talk about your options with your advisor, family, mentors, and others on your support team. Consider things like location, cost, support services, scholarship opportunities, and other aspects that you find important.

Analyze the information, compare aspects, and determine your priorities. Use charts and lists to help you narrow down your choices.

Transfer and Financial Aid

Your FAFSA and TAP applications will need to be completed for a new academic year or updated to include the transfer school you will be attending. It does not automatically update.

• Check with your transfer school for their school code.
• Be sure to maintain Standards of Academic Progress. See Standards of Academic Progress for Financial Aid. 

Things to consider:

• There is a lifetime eligibility limit for federal PELL and NYS TAP grants.
• There are borrowing limits for federal student loans.

The Federal Student Aid website has information on transfer and Financial Aid. Check with the Financial Aid office at your school for more detailed information.

See the FSA's general guidance for transferring schools (opens in new window) 

Determine how many schools you feel you can reasonably apply to, considering things like application fees, acceptance rates, admissions criteria like GPA, and overall estimated costs of attendance.

Make your short list and make note of application deadlines.

Tip: Your SUNY application fee is waived for up to seven SUNY schools if you graduate with your AS or AA degree from a SUNY-affiliated community college like MVCC! 

Determine the appropriate application to complete. Don’t forget that some schools and programs require supplemental applications or additional documents.

Application Options:

• The SUNY Application is best for applying to one or more SUNY colleges/universities. View SUNY Application (opens in new window) 
• The Common App is best for applying to one or more private or out of state colleges/universities. View Common App (opens in new window) 
• School-specific applications can often be found on official school websites.

What’s on the Application?

Most applications will ask for demographic information, if any relatives are alumni, interest in opportunity programs, program of choice, and more. You may also need to provide:

• High school transcript
• College transcript(s)
• SAT, AP, or other standardized test scores
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal essay/statement
• Portfolio

Deadline Tips:

• Applications must be submitted by the deadline determined by your transfer school and program — each school is different. Many colleges will not look at incomplete applications.
• Remember that scholarships and other grants have deadlines, too. The sooner you apply, the better!
• Plan ahead! It may take longer that you expect to complete and application and gather all the required documents.

You will be notified when you are accepted to a college or university, so check your mail, email, and phone on a regular basis. Make sure that your voicemail box is set up, has an appropriate greeting, and there is space available for messages.

Acceptance Letters

Acceptance letters may include next steps such as:

• Amount and due date of deposit
• Housing information
• Costs of attendance
• Financial aid, grants, scholarships, and other aid  
• Student account information for email and other systems
• Calendar and list of important dates
• Contact info and steps towards advisement and class registration

If you’ve been accepted to more than one school, look back at your notes to help you choose the best fit.