USC Refuses to Accept Transfer Credits

[u/Queasy-Geologist-999]

Hi everyone! I’m currently having some issues with the articulation department and having my credits transferred. I have my associate’s degree from another university (in the same field) and veteran experience. I believe I had a total of 62 credits. Unfortunately, USC is saying they will only accept 18 of those credits.

Essentially, this is setting me back and potentially costing me thousands and wasting my GI bill on classes that I have already taken at my previous school. Mind you, only the random GE classes I took were accepted and NONE of the classes I took in the field I’m currently studying in.

I petitioned this to the articulation program even being lucky enough to find the syllabi from my previous university. Their response was short and didn’t make any sense.

I’m now questioning if staying at my dream school is even the right choice for me. I could transfer to a state school and finish in half the time.

Another thing upsetting is USC pushes how much they’re a veteran friendly school but didn’t accept any of my credits because they’re considered “lower division”.

Has anyone else dealt with this issue? I can provide more info in DM. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you!

[u/mauisusan111]

Go in person to plead your case and appeal the interpretation. Find the head of your dept and their office hours, or any other in-person avenue. Diff situation but I know a girl who was an accepted transfer coming from a virtual full ride elsewhere and her financial aid package didn't provide enough to attend USC. She went in person after many emails/calls, and told them she simply wouldn't be attending if they couldn't work it out. The school came through at the 11th hour and she has now graduated. With that said, transfer credits can be very difficult to get accepted at many schools - you really need to get in the weeds of the syllabus to demonstrate content knowledge. Best of luck.

[u/the_validated_inane]

"....NONE of the classes I took in the field I’m currently studying in..."

This is fairly normal and fair. If they are going to award you a degree in that discipline, they have a fundamental right to evaluate the quality of education that is the basis of earning that degree. You yourself acknowledge USC > previous school, so the quality of education is not the same.

[u/notnijiatall → u/the_validated_inane]

It’s not fair or normal, some won’t transfer but generally your credits will transfer if you went to an accredited institution. I transferred from university of Kentucky to university of Glasgow in Scotland and they took most of my shit. It’s rare they take NOTHING

[u/Lkwegz]

That articulation office is a brick wall once they slap lower-division on your units. Happened to me too until I just bypassed them and went straight to a department chair who actually looked at the syllabus instead of a spreadsheet.

[u/i-am-so-tired-22]

Have you discussed this with an advisor? They used to be really helpful sorting this stuff out, particularly if they work within the major department. Obviously the new cluster system kind of screwed that up but you might be able to track one of them down. This is an issue worth contacting people in-person for, if you're already here. Even getting financial aid involved might be helpful to see how you can manage or if you should transfer out.

If your university does not have an articulation agreement with USC this tends to be a lot trickier. When I transferred my credits were very close to yours, they accepted 6 classes + an exam for GE, and two classes for my major. Was the lower-division thing the only reason they gave for not accepting? Did they not even accept the 44 credits as electives?

[u/Chris_P_Cream_]

Just out of curiosity, what was your previous university?

[u/jaypalacio]

This is why I didn’t attend as a transfer from oos they were saying I would have to do another year

[u/BooBooDaFish]

Were the classes on the accepted list of transferable courses?

It’s been a while for me but there used to be a list of transferable courses and only those courses would be transferred.

If you’re trying to get around that established list then you’re in for a tough ride.

[u/Efficient-Fall2552]

Have you considered another school to transfer to?

[u/Still-Here-2021]

You can ask your department to give you credit for some of the classes. Even though the articulation office didn’t find them to be equivalent, your academic department can consider them to be close enough. Check with your advisor to find out.

[u/Sea_Onion_9241]

I mean, did you see somewhere online that these classes were supposed to articulate/transfer?

[u/the_validated_inane]

Anyone considering community college then transferring to USC to manage costs should strongly consider JuCos that coordinate with SC for the TTP. Given the priority of the relationship and knowledge of the academic advisors, there is near 100% certainty that credits earned from courses approved and completed will transfer over. Attending any other CC or other 4-year school will be a greater risk of credits not being accepted.