Colleges That Accept Transfer Credits with Bad Grades

Need help finding colleges that accept transfer credits with bad grades? If you’re looking for advice on transferring colleges with bad grades, you’re in luck. Many four year colleges and universities often require a minimum GPA of 2.0 and only accept transfer credit for courses with a grade of C or higher.

Maybe you started in community college to save money? Or maybe you’re changing your area of study. Perhaps your current school just isn’t a good fit? In fact, there are many reasons students find themselves among the one third of undergrads transferring colleges per the NCES. Although if you earned a low GPA in college so far, your school choices may seem limited.

Fun Fact

Transfer students wanted! According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, 9 out of 10 four-year schools regard transfer students as considerably or moderately important to their overall enrollment goals.

STEPS TO TRANSFERRING COLLEGES WITH BAD GRADES 

If you’re looking to transfer to a new school and you have less than impressive grades, there might be options. The steps below could help guide you through the process of transferring colleges with a low GPA. Of course, remember to be mindful of transfer application deadlines!

STEP #1: IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF YOUR LOW GRADES

Determine what went wrong. First, was the academic program not a good fit? Second, did life circumstances impact your school work? Whatever happened, it’s important to identify it now. So that you can make a plan for future academic success.

The admissions office at your prospective school may want to see a detailed plan for how you will overcome the obstacles that plagued you at your last school. With this in mind, do a self assessment.

STEP #2: RESEARCH COLLEGES

Research schools that accept transfer students with a low GPA to see what options you have. In order to maximize your chances of finding a school that works for you, be sure to cast a wide net. Also include online schools in your search.

Were your previous college credits were earned a while back? And are you currently in the workforce? Then online schools may be a great option for earning a degree without uprooting your life.

STEP #3: TALK TO AN ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR

The National Association for College Admission Counseling reports that 81% of colleges have at least one admission officer who works exclusively with possible transfer students. Therefore, contact admissions at your intended schools to work with someone who can help you decide the best course of action for transferring.

Be prepared to share your story and your plan for future success from Step #1!

Benefits of an Admissions Counselor

Some colleges may pair each prospective student with a dedicated re-entry counselor for the purpose of helping make each step of their return to school easier. To clarify, re entry counselors go a step further to help you assess your readiness for college, complete the necessary paperwork, and plan out your academic career.

STEP #4: IMPROVE YOUR GPA

What do you do if your GPA is brought down by one or two courses with a D or lower? In this case, if you have the time and resources, consider improving your GPA by retaking the courses. As long as the course is retaken for a letter grade (as opposed to Pass/Fail), the higher grade can be substituted for the lower one and improve your GPA.

Some colleges also offer “academic renewal” to students with a bad course or a bad semester. Academic renewal essentially erases the grade for a course (or entire semester). In this case, removing the grades from the GPA calculation and replacing them on official transcripts as “AR.”

Each school is different, and academic renewal is not always possible, so contact your current school and your prospective school to see what it takes to get renewal approved. After all, with a little work you could find a number of colleges that accept transfer credits with bad grades.

STEP #5: SOLICIT LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Why ask for letters of recommendation from college professors? Because, especially those in your academic area of interest, could help make a good impression on the admissions counselors at your prospective school.

Yes the opinions of faculty who have seen you handle college coursework may be most valuable. However, high school recommendations could be a helpful addition to your admissions package. Especially if you don’t have much college faculty representation.

Don’t forget to always send a thank you note to faculty for taking the time to craft a letter of recommendation!

STEP #6: BOLSTER YOUR APPLICATION WITH OTHER EXPERIENCE

If your academic work hasn’t been stellar, it may be even more important to round out the rest of your application with worthwhile experience. In summary, work, volunteer service, and other activities during summer and winter breaks may bolster your appeal. In short, find ways to be seen as a potential valuable addition to the student body at your school.

STEP #7: DETERMINE THE BEST TIME TO TRANSFER

Are you in the first year of college and considering a transfer? Then it is helpful to know that many colleges take high school grades into consideration. Especially if you are transferring with few college credits.

For students with more than a year of college credits, it may be a good idea to stay at your current school until you have earned an associate’s degree. With this option, you ensure that you don’t lose credit for individual courses with D grades. Generally speaking, the credits that make up the associate’s degree will transfer as a block.

If you are still having a hard time getting accepted into an undergraduate degree program, you may have the option of applying as a non-degree seeking candidate. In that case, you can start taking courses appropriate for your major and, after demonstrating that you can good grades in these, try again to gain admission to the college.

DO GRADES TRANSFER WHEN YOU TRANSFER COLLEGES?

When transferring colleges, credit is typically awarded for courses in which you earned a grade of C or better. Thus the grades do not transfer, but credit does. This means that your GPA at your new school does not usually factor in the grades or GPA from your previous school.

If you are hoping not to lose transfer credit for previous courses in which you earned a D grade, one option is to stay long enough to earn an associate’s degree at your current school. Ordinarily when transferring a degree earned, the credits transfer as a block and each course is not evaluated separately for transfer eligibility.

LIST OF 4 COLLEGES THAT MAY ACCEPT TRANSFER STUDENTS WITH BAD GRADES

It may seem difficult if you’re looking to transfer colleges with bad grades. However, many schools may understand that sometimes a change of scenery can help you improve your grades. Learn more about how to transfer colleges with bad grades and explore our list schools below for undergraduate degree programs that accept transfer students with some D grades or lower GPAs.