Transfer FAQ

Applying:
Who is a transfer student?
What are your transfer admission deadlines?
What is required to apply for transfer admission?
How will I know if Emerson has received all of my application materials?
Can I apply for spring semester?
What factors are considered in the transfer application evaluation?
Can I reapply?

Transferring Credits:
Can I transfer credits earned somewhere else and which of my classes will be transferable to Emerson?
What is an “accredited institution?”
What is the maximum number of transfer credits Emerson will accept?
Can I find out what courses will transfer to Emerson before I apply?
What is the transfer policy for international transcripts?
What does the Registrar’s Office require to process my transfer credits?
My school doesn’t grant 4 credits per class like Emerson. How do those classes transfer?
Can I receive credit for AP, IB, or CLEP examinations?
What classes are definitely NOT accepted at Emerson?
How many classes will I need to take at Emerson College?

Other FAQs:
Are transfer students eligible for financial aid?
Can transfer students live on-campus?
What pre-enrollment requirements are there for the BA in Theatre Studies (performance) and BA in Theatre Education (performance) programs?

Who is a transfer student?
We define a transfer student as any applicant who has enrolled in nine or more college credits after officially graduating from high school or earned a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Students with college credits earned prior to high school graduation (e.g., dual enrollment) are considered first-year applicants. Transfer students may not apply to the BFA in Acting or BFA in Musical Theatre.

A non-traditional transfer student is anyone who has been out of high school for a minimum of three years prior to beginning college and/or returning to college after an extended absence.

What are your transfer admission deadlines?
If you are interested in applying for September, the postmarked application deadline is March 1. For January admission, the postmarked application deadline is November 1 (although we strongly encourage spring applicants to submit their application before the deadline).

Applications and supporting credentials received after the postmarked deadline will be considered only if there is available space in the program. In addition, if your application is still incomplete by the deadline, you may not receive a decision by the notification date.

What is required to apply for transfer admission?
Emerson is a member of the Common Application and requires a Supplement with the Transfer Application. Both forms are available online and should be submitted together. (Please contact our office if you do not have Internet access.) In addition, you will need to submit:

• A $65 application fee.
• An official, final transcript from high school (indicating a date of graduation) or GED certificate.
• An official transcript of all college/university coursework.
• An Instructor Evaluation (available from Common Application).
• A College Official’s Report (available from Common Application) to be completed by a college dean or registrar who has access to your academic and disciplinary records. (You should complete the “To the Applicant” section by listing courses in progress and, to the best of your ability, indicating an estimated grade for each course.)
• Official SAT or ACT test results (unless you will have earned an Associate’s Degree, will have completed the equivalent of two full-time years of college, or will have been away from high school for three or more years by the time you are hoping to enroll at Emerson).
• Candidates for the performing arts can only apply for September admission and are required to submit a résumé of theatre-related activities and either audition or interview, or submit a portfolio or an essay. Transfer students may not apply for the BFA in Acting and BFA in Musical Theatre. More information is available at our Stagedoor website
• Applicants for Media Production: Film are required to submit a 5-10 page script OR register online at http://emerson.slideroom.com and upload a video of up to 5 minutes (less than 20 Mb) and statement/résumé describing your role in its production.

How will I know if Emerson has received all of my application materials?
When we receive your Common Application for Transfer Admission and required Supplement, we will mail you an acknowledgement letter to the address you provide. This letter includes your Emerson ID number, and should arrive within 7-10 days of submitting your application. If you do not receive this letter, please contact our office as soon as possible.

Using your Emerson ID number, you can check the status of your application online. We strongly urge applicants to check the status of their application online so your file can be completed on a timely basis.

Applications and supporting credentials received after the postmarked deadline will be considered only if there is available space in the program. In addition, if your application is still incomplete by the deadline, you may not receive a decision by the notification date.

Can I apply for spring semester?
With the exception of performing arts programs, we admit a limited number of transfer students each spring. The deadline to apply is November 1, but since we notify in mid-December and the spring semester begins in mid-January, the turn-around time is tight. The sooner you apply for spring and submit all the required documents, the sooner you may receive a decision (and, if admitted, receive information on transfer credits, course registration, and orientation). If you are investigating off-campus housing, you’ll have more time to work with our Office of Off-Campus Student Services.

What factors are considered in the transfer application evaluation?
Transfer admission is highly competitive. The selection process may differ slightly from major-to-major, but we consider similar factors in the application review, such as the relative strength of your college coursework, your performance in those courses, your high school record, standardized test scores (if applicable), personal statements, application essay, letters of recommendation, and activities both in school and in your community. Any additional requirements for performing arts or Media Production: Film will also be important in the review.

Successful transfer applicants typically follow a general education/liberal arts curriculum at their school for a full academic year earning “B” grades or better. Typically, the successful candidate will have completed at least a year of college credit (though some successful candidates have one semester of college coursework plus a strong high school record) and maintained higher than a high "B" average, although the most competitive candidates exceed these minimum standards. If you have been in college less than a year, your high school record will be an important consideration for admission.

Can I reapply?
You are welcome to re-apply to Emerson, even if you applied within the past year. You will need to submit an updated transcript showing your most recent college grades and courses in progress. You may also want to consider writing a new essay, asking different people for recommendations, and submitting new supplemental materials. (Please note: If you were a first-year applicant who was not accepted, we encourage you to take at least one year of college coursework before applying for transfer admission.)

Can I transfer credits earned somewhere else and which of my classes will be transferable to Emerson?
Transfer credit is granted for comparable courses from accredited two- and four-year institutions that were completed in the last ten years with grades of “C” (73% or 2.0) or better. A pass “P” or “CR” grade must equal a “C” or better. Consult our Undergraduate Catalog to read course descriptions. The College reserves the right to award or withhold transfer credit as well as change transfer policies.

For students who have been offered admission to Emerson, we send all of their college/university transcripts to our Registrar’s Office. They determine the number of general education credits that are transferable and faculty members in specific academic departments evaluate the major-related courses. We then send the student an “Evaluation of Transfer Credit” form, usually within 3 weeks from the date of the admission notice. The Evaluation of Transfer Credit form explains which courses will transfer, the number of credits awarded, and indicates class standing at Emerson. Please note, we are not able to evaluate coursework until the student is offered admission.

The Registrar’s Office may require additional information to evaluate transfer credit, such as course descriptions, syllabi, or proof that a nonstandard grade is equivalent to a “C” or better. Courses eligible for transfer must be taken for credit at an accredited college/university within the last ten years, and you must have earned a minimum grade of "C" (73% or 2.0).

What is an “accredited institution?”
The term “accredited” usually means that a college or university has met or exceeded quality standards and has the resources to achieve its stated purpose. Emerson is accredited by the New England Association for Schools and Colleges, one of six regional organizations in the United States. Transfer credits are accepted only from other accredited institutions. Credits from foreign colleges and universities may be transferred from schools recognized by national authorities as degree-granting institutions of higher learning.

What is the maximum number of transfer credits Emerson will accept?
A maximum of 80 credits may be transferred to Emerson; no more than 64 credits may be transferred from a junior or community college (even if you have an Associate’s Degree with more than 64 credits). Consult our Undergraduate Catalog regarding academic regulations.

Can I find out what courses will transfer to Emerson before I apply?
The volume of transfer applications prevents us from assisting students with credit evaluations. However, we feel many of your questions will be answered by consulting our Undergraduate Catalog. Information regarding Emerson major or general education requirements is available at the Advising Center.

Some helpful hints:

• You will find that general education or traditional liberal arts courses will be more readily accepted for transfer credit than specific upper division classes in a major. Keep this in mind when choosing courses at your current college/university.
• Select courses at your school that have similar course descriptions and titles as Emerson’s.
• Keep your school’s catalogue, course descriptions, and course syllabi handy. You may be asked for additional information to evaluate your transfer credits.

What is the transfer policy for international transcripts?
If you have transcripts from a college or university outside the US that are not in English, you need to have them evaluated by World Education Services (WES) before the application deadline. Processing international credentials may take up to eight weeks, so please allow sufficient time for your documents to arrive by the application deadline.

What does the Registrar’s Office require to process my transfer credits?
Matriculating transfer students must supply the Registrar’s Office with final, official copies of ALL college/university transcripts. Faxed, unsealed, or student copies of transcripts are not considered official and will not be used to evaluate transfer credits.

My school doesn’t grant 4 credits per class like Emerson. How do those classes transfer?
A three-credit course completed at another institution will not transfer to Emerson as a four-credit course. It will, however, satisfy a four-credit (full-course) requirement. Credits awarded by other institutions in units, courses, or quarter hours, etc., will be converted to make them equivalent to Emerson’s semester-hour credits. Quarter hours will be reduced by 1/3 to make them equivalent to semester hours.

Can I receive credit for AP, IB, or CLEP examinations?
Emerson grants transfer credit for Advanced Placement scores of 4 and 5, International Baccalaureate higher level exams with scores of 4, 5, 6, or 7 (with the exception of Language A/English, where a score of 6 or 7 is required), and CLEP exam scores of 50 or higher (for a full 4-credit course equivalent; freshman composition must be with essay). Official test scores must be submitted to our Registrar’s Office for evaluation before any examination credit can be awarded. Please refer to the Undergraduate Course Catalog for more information.

What classes are definitely NOT accepted at Emerson?
Non-academic coursework from the following subject areas is generally not accepted for transfer credit at Emerson:

• Physical Education classes
• Engineering, Mechanical, and Technical courses
• Hotel, Restaurant Management, Travel and Hospitality courses
• College Success, Orientation, and First Year Experience programs
• ESL classes
• Pre-College level (Pre-100 level) courses

How many classes will I need to take at Emerson?
Transfer students are required to complete a minimum of 48 credits at Emerson, of which at least 20 credits must be in their major. In addition, they are required to earn their final 16 credits at the College. Please refer to our Undergraduate Catalog for additional academic regulations.

Are transfer students eligible for financial aid?
Yes. Each year, approximately two-thirds of our student body, including transfer students, receives some form of financial assistance. The awards typically combine grant and scholarship, loan, and college work-study, and take into consideration the cost of transportation and off-campus housing.

In order to be considered for financial aid, you must complete both the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) and the CSS PROFILE form, as well as submit copies of signed tax documents. April 1 is the deadline to file financial aid materials for September admission and for January admission, the deadline to file is December 1. More information is available from Student Financial Services at 617-824-8655 or finaid@emerson.edu.

Can transfer students live on-campus?
The availability of college housing for transfer students is very limited, and not guaranteed. Most transfer students utilize the services of Emerson’s Office of Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS). OCSS can help matriculating students find roommates or locate apartments as well as assist with the rental process. For apartment listings, student message boards, public transportation discounts, moving and storage resources, and information that can help secure off-campus housing, visit http://www.emerson.edu/offcampus_housing. (Please note that you will need your Emerson ID and pin numbers to access part of the website.)

What pre-enrollment requirements are there for the BA in Theatre Studies (performance) and BA in Theatre Education (performance) programs?
If you are admitted to the BA in Theatre Studies (performance) or BA in Theatre Education (performance), you will be required to enroll in a summer intensive Acting Training Sequence prior to September. This six-week, five-days-a-week program prepares you to enroll at the Acting III level and to complete your degree in a timely manner.