Transfer FAQs

1. Can I apply to transfer into the winter or spring term?
2. As a transfer student and/or a commuter student, will I feel disconnected?
3. If I am missing one or two classes before I apply, will summer classes be considered?
4. Can I have required courses in progress when I apply?
5. I want to take a class that is listed in the Bulletin that is not on the transfer guide.  This class will count as SCU credit, right?
6. Does sign language count as a foreign language?
7. Is there financial aid available for transfer students?
8. Is there housing available for transfer students?
9. How can I figure out whether my classes will transfer in to Santa Clara University?
10. How can I figure out how to register for classes that will definitely transfer in to Santa Clara University?
11. How many units can I bring in from my other schools?  Are my grades transferable?
12. When will I know how my prior coursework will transfer in?
13. What if I feel that certain courses should have been accepted—is there an appeal process?
14. What do I need to do if I have AP test credit?
15. When do I register for my classes at Santa Clara University?  How will I know what to register for?
    
16. What happens if I have taken more than eighty-eight units?
17. What happens if I fail a class, then I retake it?  Do I receive the better grade?
18. If I come in as Junior, will I definitely be able to graduate in two years?
19. Can I still apply if my GPA is lower than 3.3. (College of Arts and Sciences and School of Engineering) or 3.5 (School of Business)? 

1. Can I apply to transfer into the winter or spring term?
   Unfortunately, winter and spring terms are not available to applicants.  Santa Clara University only accepts applicants for the fall quarter.
2. As a transfer student and/or a commuter student, will I feel disconnected?  What opportunities are available to help me get connected?
   Initially, you may feel slightly out of the loop but you can do so many things to make sure that feeling doesn’t last long!  You can join an RLC (Residential Learning Community), participate in one or more of the 100 clubs that we have on campus, get a job on campus, etc.
3. If I am missing one or two classes before I apply, will summer classes be considered?
   No.  All classes must be in progress or completed by spring term.  If you are missing one or two required classes, we encourage students to apply.   Every year the application pool is different, and in some cases we are able to admit students who have not met the requirements.
4. Can I have required courses in progress when I apply?
   Yes.  For example, if you have one or two required courses that you are currently taking when you submit your application, those classes will be considered in the evaluation.
5. I want to take a class that is listed in the Bulletin that is not on the transfer guide.  This class will count as SCU credit, right?
   Courses from accredited institutions are generally transferable if they are similar in nature to the courses listed in the Santa Clara University Undergraduate Bulletin.  However, the evaluation and decision of whether or not certain classes will transfer is not done until after admission.
6. Does sign language count as a foreign language?
   Yes. If you took the classes before enrollment, Santa Clara University will accept sign language as fulfillment of the foreign language requirement.
7. Is there financial aid available for transfer students?
   Financial aid is need-based only and students must submit a FAFSA and CSS profile.  Our priority deadline is February 1st.  It is important to note that financial aid packages are distributed after the student is admitted and before the deposit deadline.  For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 408-554-4505.
8. Is there housing available for transfer students?
   Housing is not guaranteed for transfer students.  If you are admitted, you will need to submit a housing deposit by the same deadline of the enrollment confirmation.  For more information you may call the Housing Department directly at 408-554-4900
9. How can I figure out whether my classes will transfer in to Santa Clara University?
   If you are attending a community college located near SCU, you can check the admissions web site to see if your school has a transfer guide.  If they do, you can use the guides to see if classes you have taken are listed on it and figure out what SCU core requirements you have met.  If your school does not have a transfer guide, you can use the planning tool on this website which provides you with tips on how to select courses that will meet various core requirements, links to the descriptions for each requirement, and the list of courses that fulfill them at SCU.
10. How can I figure out how to register for classes that will definitely transfer in to Santa Clara University?
    SCU has transfer guides for many local community colleges which categorizes transferable courses by core requirement.  If a class is not on the guide, there is a good chance that SCU will accept it as elective units, it just means it does not fulfill a core requirement.  If you follow the guide closely you will maximize your coursework when you transfer to SCU and will have met a great deal of the general education core.  If your school does not have a transfer guide, it is important to become familiar with SCU’s core requirements and the courses we offer that fulfill them because that will provide you with a good idea of what you can look for when you register.  Make sure to read over the planning tool on this website to get specific tips on what you should be looking for in course content.
11. How many units can I bring in from my other schools?  Are my grades transferable?
    If you are applying to either the College of Arts & Sciences or the Leavey School of Business, you can bring in up to 88 units, which is approximately half of the 175 units you will need to graduate.  If you are applying to the Engineering School, you may bring in up to 93.5 units for the number of units needed to graduate is slightly higher (and varies by major).  SCU does not accept grades from previous institutions, only units.
12. When will I know how my prior coursework will transfer in?
    When you are accepted to Santa Clara University you will receive a document called the “Tentative Transfer Credit Evaluation” of your coursework along with your acceptance letter that will outline what courses have transferred in and what, if  any, core or major requirements they have fulfilled.  Please go to the “After you have been Accepted” section of this website and click on the “How to Read my Transfer Credit Evaluation” for further information.
13. What if I feel that certain courses should have been accepted—is there an appeal process?
    If you attended a school that has a transfer guide and you took a course that was on it and it is not listed on your evaluat8ion (or is listed as fulfilling a different core requirement then you think it should), please contact the transcript analyst in the Drahmann Academic Advising and Learning Resources Center in order to have the correction made.  Once you become more familiar with the SCU Core and you feel that you took a course previously that should fulfill a particular requirement, please do not hesitate to contact the transcript analyst and ask to have the course reviewed.  Many times there is only a short description to initially make the course assessment so you will be asked to provide a course syllabus in order to have as much information about the class’ content as possible.
14. What do I need to do if I have AP test credit?
    If you received a four of five on AP tests, you should order your scores to be sent to the Office of the Registrar, Attention: Carol Bonney, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053.  You will receive four units of credit for each test, and depending on the subject matter, will possibly fulfill a core requirement.  Units accrued with AP test credit will be included in the 88 total units you can transfer in with.
15. When do I register for my classes at Santa Clara University?  How will I know what to register for?
    You will register for your classes at your two-day orientation session in September.  The Drahmann Advising and Academic Learning Resources Center will host several informational workshops throughout the summer to assist incoming transfer students.  Topics that will be reviewed are: the SCU core requirements, how to read the SCU schedule of classes, how to read your transfer credit evaluation and use it to fill out your major requirements checklist so you know exactly what classes you will have left to take, tips on how to make sample course schedules.  If you should have any questions after attending a workshop, you are welcome to make a follow-up appointment with and advisor.  If you do not live locally and cannot attend a workshop, you can make a phone appointment with an advisor to review this information. 
    
    Individual major requirements will not be reviewed.  A good plan is to make an appointment with the department chair or your major before your Orientation so you can have a better understanding of your major requirements, if there are any courses you need to take in a specific sequence, and have your questions answered.
16. What happens if I have taken more than eighty-eight units?
    If you take over eighty-eight quarter units previously, all of your coursework will be evaluated.  Upon receiving your transfer credit evaluation, the Office of the Registrar will select the best courses to meet the core (general education) and major requirements to post on your SCU transcript.   If, after reviewing how your credit is posted to your SCU transcript, you would like to have other courses you took credited instead for some reason (i.e. you changed majors), you may work with them or the transcript analyst to rearrange the posting of your transfer credit.
17. What happens if I fail a class, then I retake it?  Do I receive the better grade?
    If you get a C in a class, and retake it, we will average all the grades for the class.  If you did not pass the class, and you retake the class and obtain a C or better, you will be given the higher grade. 
18. If I come in as Junior, will I definitely be able to graduate in two years?
    If you came in with a significant amount of transfer credit that fulfilled core requirements, plan wisely and meet regularly with your academic advisory, graduating within two years should be a definite possibility.  Every student who has come in with the 88 quarter units necessary to be a junior, however, has fulfilled a different number of core requirements, something that affects the graduation timeline.  A good thing to remember is that summer school is offered at SCU which is a good opportunity to “catch up” with a course or two to get you on track.  Another item that affects your graduation timeline is if you change your major for each school/major has a variation of core requirements to meet.
19. Can I still apply if my GPA is lower than 3.3. (College of Arts and Sciences and School of Engineering) or 3.5 (School of Business)?
    Yes, we encourage you to apply.  Although, we mainly look at the academic achievements of an applicant, we also look at the personal section of your application.  See the application evaluation link for more information.