If you are looking for a way to save a little money on your college education while also making the entire process a bit easier, you might want to consider attending a community college for the first couple of years of your education and then transferring to a larger college later. Although this is a great way to save some money, it is important for you to understand the process of transferring from a community college so you can be certain to make the transition as smoothly as possible when the time comes. Here is a look at the top 5 things you need to do when transferring from community college.

Finish Your Associate’s Degree

In order to avoid the hassle of trying to get credits to transfer from your community college to your new college of choice, it is best to complete your associate’s degree before transferring to a new school. Furthermore, research has shown that people who transfer from a community college with a degree rather than a potpourri of credits are much more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree.

If you know you won’t be able to complete your associate’s degree before transferring, make sure to check into what credits will transfer and which ones will not. This way, you can make certain you are taking the right courses to get you to your goal the most quickly.

Do Your Research

Before transferring to a new college, be sure to do a great deal of advanced planning and to select a major. The more you consider all of your options and explore all of your opportunities, the better choice you will make. In addition, by shopping around and knowing the major you wish to pursue, you can make certain you are taking the right courses at the business school to properly prepare you for the school you will be attending later.

Meet Regularly with Your Adviser

It is also a good idea to meet with your adviser on a regular basis in order to make certain you are staying on track. By keeping your adviser informed about your transfer plans, you can be sure you are meeting the proper deadlines as well as the benchmarks that are necessary to complete the transfer.

Complete the FAFSA

Whether attending college for the first time or planning for a transfer, completing the FAFSA is an important part of the process. So, if you haven’t already filled one out, make sure you do so before you start the transfer process. It is also a good idea to contact the admissions office at the school you plan to attend and to ask about scholarships for transfer students. Then, be sure to meet all of the deadlines for financial assistance, or you might miss out on some great opportunities.

Gain Admission

Finally, you need to make certain you are taking all of the steps necessary to gain admission to the school of your choice. The exact procedure for accomplishing this will vary from one school to the next, so be sure to talk to the admissions office about the proper procedures and make certain you are meeting all of the deadlines. It is also a good idea to attend the orientation for new students. This way, you can become better acclimated with the school and will be better prepared to attend classes on the first day.