Transfer Planning and Applying: Tools and Resources for Transferring to Four-Year Colleges and Universities FINAL

TRANSFER PLANNING

AND APPLYING

Tools and Resources for Transferring to

Four-Year Colleges and Universities

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 2

Introduction 4

Prepare (0-15 Credits) 5

Building a Support Network 5

Choosing an Academic and Career Pathway 5

Getting Involved on Campus and in Your Community 5

Financing your Education 6

Determining Transferable Courses 6

Transfer Opportunities 7

Transfer Articulation Agreements 7

Guaranteed Admissions 7

Transfer Databases and Dictionaries 7

Contacting Admissions Representatives to Determine Course Transferability 8

City and State Programs: Mass Transfer, Commonwealth Commitment and Boston Bridge 9

Mass Transfer 9

A2B Mapped 9

A2B Linked 10

Commonwealth Commitment 10

Tuition-Free Community College and Boston Bridge 11

Boston Bridge 12

The 15 Credit Check-List 15

Explore (16-30 Credits) 16

Exploring Four-year colleges 16

Web Research 16

College Events at BHCC 17

Meeting with College Admissions Counselors 17

Meet with a BHCC Transfer Advisor 17

The 30 Credit Check-List 18

Apply (31-45 Credits) 19

Overview of Transfer Application Materials 19

When to Apply 19

Which application to use 19

Common Application 20

College Report and Mid-Term Report 20

College Reports 20

Mid Term Reports 21

Personal Statement/Essay 21

Letters of Recommendation 22

Official Transcript 23

Standardized Tests 24

SAT or ACT scores 24

TOEFL or IELTS scores 24

Résumé/Curriculum Vitae (CV) 24

Complete the FAFSA 25

Complete CSS Profile (for private colleges) 25

The 45 Credit Check-List 25

Decide (46-60 Credits) 27

Finalizing Your Transfer Applications 27

Review: Your Application Check-List 27

Graduation from BHCC 27

Reviewing acceptance letter(s) 27

Reviewing (and appealing) financial aid award letters 28

Officially accepting or declining your institution’s acceptance 28

Submitting Official BHCC transcript 28

The 60 Credit Check-List 28

Introduction

At Bunker Hill Community College, we have many resources to support students in successfully

completing their Associate’s degrees and transferring to a 4-year college or university to

complete Bachelor’s degrees and launch careers. There are great college options out there for

any student who wants to transfer, including adult students, those who work full-time or

part-time, veterans or those active in the military, international students, students with

disabilities, and students who are undocumented, have DACA, or other immigration statuses.

BHCC students have attended public and private colleges in Massachusetts and out of state.

In this resource guide, we have organized the transfer process into four main parts:

Prepare: Choose an Academic and Career Path

Explore: Discover your fit at a potential 4-year institution

Apply: Start applying to transfer institutions

Decide: Make a final decision about what college you will attend.

We encourage you to use this guide alongside BHCC academic, career and transfer advisors each

semester as you embark on this process. It is never too early to start thinking about transfer!

BHCC Transfer Services Webpage: https://www.bhcc.edu/transfer/

Prepare (0-15 Credits)

Building a Support Network

The first step to completing a bachelor's degree is to build a network of support with advisors,

professors and employers. Advisors can assist you in choosing a program of study, exploring

career options, determining transferable courses, and getting connected to co-curricular

opportunities and other supports. We encourage you to build relationships with your

professors, employers, and advisors. Members of your network can provide letters of

recommendation and assist you in your transfer process.

Choosing an Academic and Career Pathway

At Bunker Hill Community College, students can choose from more than 100 Programs of Study.

Programs of Study, also known as majors, are made up of the courses and requirements a

student must complete before receiving their Certificate or Associate’s Degree. Visit the

Programs of Study page to see all the degrees and certificates Bunker Hill Community College

offers.

Many students choose a program of study based on their career plans. To learn more about

what Program of Study is right for you, we encourage you to take advantage of the wide range

of career advising resources that BHCC offers, including career skill and readiness workshops,

individual career advising appointments, career assessments, and more. Exploring careers and

Programs of Study is a process that requires time and commitment. As students learn more

about themselves and their goals, their educational and career development plans may change.

Getting Involved on Campus and in Your Community

Co-curricular opportunities are a wonderful way to grow your skills and experiences, build a

network, and strengthen your resume, making you a more competitive applicant when applying

to transfer. These may include honors programs, community service, internships, on-campus

jobs, athletics, performing arts, study abroad, and clubs and organizations.

Students who get involved on campus at a community college have a better adjustment to the

new environment at a four-year college. And it shows four-year colleges that you have been

involved with your community. For instance, you may consider joining Phi Theta Kappa which is

an honors society specifically for community college students. Through your membership, you

can network, find resources and scholarship opportunities. We also encourage students to join

the Commonwealth Honors Program at Bunker Hill which provides students opportunities for

excelling academically in a rich and challenging environment, enhancing transfer and

scholarship applications, and being part of an inclusive community of scholars that builds on the

strengths of our College’s diverse communities.

See below for more information on:

Student Clubs and Organizations: https://www.bhcc.edu/activities/clubsandorganizations/

Internships: https://www.bhcc.edu/internships/

Volunteering and Civic Engagement:

https://www.bhcc.edu/community-engagement/co-curricularvolunteerismandcivicengagement

Many students who work long hours find that they are not able to participate in student clubs

and organizations. For students in this situation we recommend working with a transfer advisor

to get support describing the skills and leadership you have built through your paid work

experiences and/or supporting your family. There is so much that students learn through work

experiences that are an asset to colleges and universities.

Financing your Education

One way to help pay for your education is to obtain scholarships. While some funding is

available to students based on financial need, applying for scholarships and grants is a

multi-step process. Finding scholarships involves doing research, achieving high grades, and

being involved with your community. We encourage you to check out the BHCC Scholarships

page, Money for Four Year Colleges Resource Guide, and sign up to receive weekly Scholarship

Newsletters, which provides a list of external scholarships compiled by Advising & LifeMap staff.

When signing up, please use your Bunker Hill Community College email address.

Determining Transferable Courses

We strongly encourage students to complete an Associate’s degree prior to transferring to a

four-year institution. There are many benefits to earning an Associate’s degree including: saving

money on your education, eligibility to certain scholarships, eligibility to participate in

MassTransfer and Transfer Partnership programs, and earning an Associate’s degree is an

accomplishment that can provide you with better job opportunities. Finally, an Associate’s

degree is a great way to prepare for earning a Bachelor’s degree.

Students who complete an Associate’s Degree are often able to transfer to a Bachelor Degree

program with only 2 years of full-time college coursework remaining. In other words, students

complete their freshman and sophomore years at community college and then transfer to

complete their remaining junior and senior years at the Bachelor degree-granting institution.

Throughout your Associate Degree program at BHCC, you will take 100-level and 200-level

courses within your major along with General Education requirements. After you transfer, you

will take more advanced 300-level and 400-level courses which will primarily focus on your

selected program of study or major.

An important piece of this process is making sure your classes transfer into a corresponding

bachelor’s degree. For that reason, we encourage you to work with an advisor and four-year

colleges to determine transferability so that you are not taking unnecessary classes (such as

classes that do not count towards your degree). Make sure you save all class syllabi (the

documents that professors give students that explain course requirements and assignments) in

case you need them later to help you get credit for the courses you have taken.

While we at Bunker Hill cannot confirm how your classes will transfer, there are a variety of

tools that can help, including BHCC Transfer Partnerships and Articulation Agreements,

MassTransfer, transfer databases, and admissions counselors at four-year colleges. Students

who transfer at least 90% of their credits from community college are much more likely to finish

their Bachelor’s degree.

Transfer Opportunities

Bunker Hill has various Transfer Partnerships with four-year colleges that may guarantee

admission of our students if they meet certain requirements, and/or guarantee transfer of

credits for certain programs and majors.

Transfer Articulation Agreements

Through Transfer Articulation Agreements, students complete an Associate’s degree at BHCC,

meet all eligibility and admissions requirements, and are guaranteed admissions into the

specified major. All eligible BHCC credits transfer toward the specific Bachelor’s degree.

Explore BHCC’s Transfer Articulation Agreements

Guaranteed Admissions

Through Guaranteed Admissions, students complete an Associate’s degree at BHCC, meet all

eligibility and admissions requirements, and are guaranteed admissions into select majors

within a bachelor degree-granting institution. Credits are guaranteed for transfer but

applicability into specific majors may vary.

Explore BHCC’s Guaranteed Admissions Programs

Transfer Databases and Dictionaries

Transferology.com is a tool that shows exactly how your credits will transfer to certain colleges.

Click here for an instructional video on how to use Transferology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIfGd4a2Jxw.

Many colleges have their own transfer equivalency tools called “transfer dictionaries.” See if

your school does by doing a quick google search. For example, you may search: “Northeastern

University Transfer Dictionary.”

Contacting Admissions Representatives to Determine Course

Transferability

Finally, you are encouraged to contact the Admissions office at the college you are applying to

to set up a meeting with a counselor to discuss how your credits will transfer.

You can sign up for a Virtual College Visit to speak with admissions representatives

https://www.bhcc.edu/transfer/ who are visiting BHCC, or contact admissions representatives

directly.

Before contacting admissions representatives we encourage you to do the following:

● Check the college website for transfer credit policies. What grades do they accept? How

many credits?

● Create a spreadsheet of course equivalencies based off of transfer databases (i.e., show

you've done some work).

● For courses not available in databases, look at the curriculum of certain programs. What

are the course requirements and descriptions? Is there something similarly offered at

BHCC?

● What else are colleges looking for transfer students? (I.e., MIT says they will not accept

transfer students who don't complete calculus and physics).

Here is a sample email you can use to contact admissions representatives:

Dear [MR., MS., MX., NAME],

I hope you are well.

My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am a current student at Bunker Hill Community College. I am

writing to you because I am very interested in transferring to [COLLEGE NAME] to study

[MAJOR]. I am currently studying at [YOUR PROGRAM] and plan to graduate in

[SEMESTER/YEAR]. As part of the transfer process, I was hoping to learn what courses would be

accepted to your institution.

May we please set up an appointment to discuss the transferability of my courses? I am happy

meet in your office or to talk on the phone if that is more convenient.

I have attached my unofficial transcript and am providing a link to the catalog of BHCC course

descriptions: https://selfservice.bhcc.edu/Student/Courses.

Thank you for considering this request.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

City and State Programs: Mass Transfer, Commonwealth Commitment and

Boston Bridge

After completing an Associates degree at BHCC, many students choose to attend one of

Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities to complete their Bachelor's degrees.

Massachusetts has many excellent public universities to choose from, and often these are the

most affordable options. To help you leverage those savings toward completion of a State U or

UMass bachelor's degree, Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities have joined together

to offer a variety of cost-saving transfer pathways to reduce the cost of a State U or UMass

bachelor’s degree.

Additionally the City of Boston offers tuition benefits to students participating in its Tuition-Free

Community College program when they transfer to a State U or UMass through the Boston

Bridge program.

Mass Transfer

MassTransfer seeks to reward community college students who complete associate degrees at

Massachusetts community colleges before they enroll in linked bachelor’s programs at

Massachusetts state universities or University of Massachusetts campuses. Not only does

MassTransfer guarantee full transfer of a minimum of 60 credits but, depending on their final

GPA and/or prerequisite coursework, students who complete A2B Degrees (Associate to

Bachelor’s) may also receive guaranteed admission and tuition discounts.

A2B Mapped

A2B Maps guarantee that courses listed and taken as major requirements will be accepted as

major requirements at the receiving institution. Full-time students following A2B Mapped

agreements may also choose to participate in the Commonwealth Commitment to achieve the

highest possible cost savings among all MassTransfer options.

A2B Linked

Although A2B Linked agreements guarantee 60 credits will transfer, whether the credits are

applied in your major, or as general education or electives is at the discretion of the receiving

institution.

Commonwealth Commitment

Through Mass Transfer’s Commonwealth Commitment program, students commit to:

● Begin at one of Massachusetts' Community Colleges

● Complete associate degree within 2.5 years

● Transfer to one of Massachusetts' State Universities or UMass campuses

● Complete bachelor's degree within 2 more years

● Maintain full-time, continuous enrollment and a cumulative 3.00 GPA- 12 credits at the

community college - 14 credits at the state university or UMass

As a benefit students will receive:

● Freeze on all tuition & mandatory fees on program entry-Valid until student successfully

completes or leaves Commonwealth Commitment program

● A 10% rebate off tuition & mandatory fees payable at the end of every successfully

completed semester

● Additional MassTransfer Tuition Credit on bachelor’s program entry

● Guaranteed admission, space permitting in the major and college

● Guaranteed transfer of credits

● No application fee or essay

If you are interested in receiving Mass Transfer benefits, we encourage you to meet with an

advisor as soon as possible.

Tuition-Free Community College and Boston Bridge

The City of Boston has committed to pay for up to three years of college for low-income eligible

students pursuing an associate degree through its Tuition-Free Community College (TFCC) Plan.

To enroll in TFCC, you must:

● Be a Boston resident

● Receive your high school credential (diploma, HiSET, or GED) within 18 months of

starting the plan

● Have a grade-point average of at least 2.0*

● Require no more than three developmental courses by the start of the semester

● Be eligible for a Pell Grant, per the FAFSA

● Have low to moderate household income, per HUD guidelines

* Does not apply to HiSET/GED completers

The following costs are covered for most TFCC students:

● Any remaining tuition or mandatory fees after the Pell Grant has been applied

● $250 each semester for up to three years of college-related expenses, such as books or

transportation

https://owd.boston.gov/tfcc/apply-to-tfcc/

Boston Bridge

The Boston Bridge combines the benefits of the

Tuition-Free Community College Plan with the

benefits of Commonwealth Commitment, a state

plan that makes the continuation to four-year

college more affordable. Through the Boston

Bridge, you can attend one of TFCC’s

participating community colleges and then

transfer to one of Massachusetts’ four-year state

schools to finish your bachelor’s degree at no

cost.

As a Boston Bridge student, you will earn all the benefits of the Tuition-Free Community College

Plan, as well as:

● A financial contribution each semester to help with school-related expenses. This

contribution is equal to 10% of the costs of your school’s tuition and mandatory fees.

● Complete payment of your tuition and mandatory fees during the final two years of your

bachelor’s degree.

To be eligible for the Boston Bridge, you must:

● Meet the requirements of the Tuition-Free Community College Plan

● Attend one of TFCC’s public community colleges (BHCC, RCC, MassBay or Massasoit)

● Have no more than 15 community college credits to start

● Finish your associate degree in 2.5 years

● Finish your bachelor’s degree in another 2 years

● Attend school continuously, full-time

● Maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA

● Commit to one of 16 eligible majors

Interested in the Boston Bridge? On your Tuition-Free Community College Plan application,

check the box that says, “I’m interested in the Boston Bridge.” You will then receive instructions

on meeting with an academic advisor at your community college in your first semester. Your

advisor can help you fill out the necessary Commonwealth Commitment participation form,

which must be completed prior to earning 15 community college credits.

Unsure if you can meet the Boston Bridge requirements? Don’t worry: You should still apply!

There is no penalty for enrolling in the Boston Bridge and then falling short of requirements. You

would no longer be enrolled in Boston Bridge, but you would still be a part of TFCC for as long as

you meet its eligibility requirements.

Overview of City and State Programs

Program

Requirements

Benefits

● Finish Associate’s Degree

● Attend college full-time OR

part-time

● Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA

● Guarantee Transfer of Credits

(2.0 GPA)

● Guaranteed Admissions (2.5

GPA)

● MassTransfer Tuition Credit (3.0

GPA)

● Go to College Full-Time

● Maintain 3.0 GPA

● Graduate in 2.5 years at most

● Be eligible for in-state tuition

● Sign up before you attain 15 credits

● All MassTransfer Benefits

● 10% refund on Tuition and Fees

each semester!

● Price Freeze on Tuition and Fees

● MassTransfer Tuition Credit

● There is no penalty for

discontinuing--whatever refund

checks you earned, you keep,

and you can still do

MassTransfer!

● Be a Boston resident

● Receive your high school credential

(diploma, HiSET, or GED) within 18

months of starting the plan

● Have a grade-point average of at

least 2.0*

● Require no more than three

developmental courses by the start

of the semester

● Be eligible for a Pell Grant, per the

FAFSA (DACA and TPS students ARE

eligible)

● Have low to moderate household

income, per HUD guidelines

● Complete FAFSA on an annual basis

to continue to receive the Pell grant

and maintain eligibility

● Make "satisfactory academic

progress" according to your college

See this video more info:

https://youtu.be/je5ABB9WwpY

● Any remaining tuition or

mandatory fees after the Pell

Grant has been applied for up to

three years

● $250 each semester for up to

three years of college-related

expenses, such as books or

transportation

Same protocol as Commonwealth

Commitment. But only available to

students in the Free Tuition Community

College Program.

See this video on Boston Bridge:

https://youtu.be/Ng2JChdV9d4

Earn all the benefits of the Tuition-Free

Community College Plan, as well as 10%

of the costs of your school’s tuition and

mandatory fees.

The 15 Credit Check-List

❏ Attend Transfer 101 Workshop

❏ Begin to identify faculty and supervisors who can serve as references

❏ Attend the College Transfer Fair and Visiting College events

❏ Work with your Advisor to understand Mass Transfer programs and BHCC Transfer

Partnerships

❏ Explore co-curricular programming and internship opportunities

❏ Sign up for Commonwealth Commitment and/or Tuition-Free Community

College/Boston Bridge

❏ Save all syllabi

Explore (16-30 Credits)

Exploring Four-year colleges

During your time at Bunker Hill, we encourage you to research and connect with four-year

colleges. As you start to explore four-year colleges that might be a good fit for you, here are

some questions to consider:

● What do I want to do for a career?

● What degrees and areas of study are required for this career?

● What do I value in a college?

● When will I transfer to a four-year college?

● Do I want to attend college nearby or out-of-state?

● Will I be applying for scholarships?

● Do I want to attend full time, part time, during the day or at night?

● Will I finish my associate’s degree at Bunker Hill?

● How much can I financially contribute to my education?

● Will I commute or live on campus?

Web Research

Sometimes the research begins by Google Searching colleges in Massachusetts that have

bachelor degrees in your major or your desired program. Websites like MassTransfer or College

Board's Big Future are other great places to start your research.

Looking at college websites and speaking with college officials will help you find what you value

in a school, such as diversity, internship opportunities, and student support services. College

websites have vast information for students. You use the websites to explore information such

as:

● Programs and areas of study offered

● Application requirements and Deadlines

● FAFSA Deadlines

● Activities for transfer students, such as open houses, campus tours, and on one on

appointments

● Cost of attendance

Keep track of your research on our Transfer Research Worksheet

College Events at BHCC

Many colleges work closely with Transfer Services to facilitate visits to the campus for fairs,

tabling, one-on-one appointments, and creating articulation agreements. Please visit our

Transfer Services page to register for a Visiting/Virtual College Visit.

Meeting with College Admissions Counselors

When attending college events at BHCC, we encourage you to come prepared with a list of

questions you might ask the admissions counselors. You can refer to our Getting Ready for the

Transfer Fair document for examples of well-informed questions to ask an admissions counselor.

Some questions may include:

● Can you tell me about internships offered to students in certain majors?

● What careers do students pursue upon graduation?

● Are there scholarships available to transfer students?

● Is there a minimum GPA required for my program?

● What activities support services are available to students?

● Why should I apply to your college?

Remember, this is a time for you to learn more about the colleges, and for their staff to learn

about you. In fact, many admissions counselors work closely with members on selection

committees, and can advocate for your application if you make a good first impression.

Meet with a BHCC Transfer Advisor

Between 16-30 credits is a good time to meet with a BHCC Transfer Counselor to discuss your

plans.

Before meeting with a BHCC Transfer Advisor, we ask that you answer the following

questions:

□ Identify 1 to 3 colleges of interest

□ Will I use a MassTransfer pathway, Articulation Agreement or another way to determine

how my credits will transfer?

□ Does the college have the major I want?

□ What is the deadline to apply?

□ Does the college have virtual tours, meetings, open houses, or other events for

prospective students?

□ Will this college be hosting an onsite or virtual information session, or is there an

admissions counselor I can contact?

□ Identify at least one professor who can write you a letter of recommendation. If you

don’t feel you know someone who can, what are ways that you can begin building that

relationship with professors?

The 30 Credit Check-List

□ Attend Transfer 101 Workshop

□ Prepare for a meeting with a transfer advisor

□ Determine if you will participate in a Mass Transfer pathway or BHCC Articulation

Agreement

□ Identify faculty and supervisors who can serve as references

□ Identify 2-3 colleges of interest and understand how your credits/major will transfer

there

□ Participate in student organizations and internship opportunities

□ Save all syllabi

Apply (31-45 Credits)

Overview of Transfer Application Materials

When Applying, we recommend you follow this list of needed materials. While this is a reliable

list, it is not complete. We recommend students visit college admissions websites for specific

application requirements and instructions.

⃞ Common Application or College Application

⃞ Personal Statement/Essay

⃞ Letters of Recommendation

⃞ Official Transcript

⃞ Standardized Tests (TOEFL, SAT, etc.)

⃞ Résumé/Curriculum Vitae (CV)

⃞ Complete FAFSA

⃞ Complete CSS Profile (for private colleges)

You can use this Transfer Application Tracking Worksheet to keep track of required materials and

your submission progress

When to Apply

We strongly encourage students to complete their Associate’s degree before transferring to a

4-year college. However, there are a few reasons that you may want to transfer before you earn

your Associate’s degree:

● The program you are interested in is not offered at BHCC. For example, pilot school,

veterinary assistant, dental hygienist, and more. You can usually complete the General

Education requirements or prerequisites here at BHCC, but will need to transfer in order

to maximize your transferable credits.

● Your new institution is a better fit for your lifestyle. Whether it is a better location or

they have different types of activities (athletics, for example) and classes you want to be

involved in, a new institution can be a better fit for your lifestyle.

Whatever your timing is, you should connect with a counselor to review your best options for

your unique situation.

You will submit your applications during your final semester at Bunker Hill.

Be sure to check the transfer admissions deadlines for each college you apply to. Colleges with

fall-only admission often have earlier application deadlines, which means you would need to

start working on your applications almost a year before you plan to attend.

Some universities offer rolling deadlines which continue throughout the summer. Still, we

encourage you to apply as early as possible to ensure you have the greatest chance of

admission and opportunities for scholarships and financial aid.

Which application to use

The transfer admissions website for each college should tell you which application to use.

● Many colleges use the Common Application (see below).

● Some colleges will have their own application.

Common Application

Many colleges use the Common Application, a free service that is required by nearly 900

colleges in the United States, including 57 in Massachusetts. A benefit to the Common App is

that you can see all the requirements of the application when you select the colleges of your

choice. It is important to check the college Admissions website to see if they use the Common

App or another service.

First time users must create a Transfer profile by going to CommonApp.Org

The Common App has a youtube Channel with videos that guide users on each section.

In addition, users can live chat with or email a Common App staff person in the Help Center of

the website.

When you create your Common App profile, be sure to select Transfer Student for accuracy.

College Report and Mid-Term Report

The College(s) I am transferring to require a College Report and/or Mid-Term Report. How do I

submit those documents?

If you are applying to colleges for the Fall or Spring, some four-year colleges require the College

Report and/or Mid-Term Report through the Common Application.

College Reports

1. Fill out the section of the College Report labeled “To the Applicant” on the first page.

Please note that for a representative of BHCC to complete the College Report on your

behalf, you will first need to complete the "To the Applicant" section and sign the

document before submitting the College Report to BHCC.

2. Fill out the Transfer Cover Sheet by listing all the colleges you are applying to that

request the College Report.

3. Please upload both the College Report and the Transfer Cover Sheet to the secure

student upload portal on the Financial Aid Form Upload. (If you print anything to fill out,

you can scan or take a picture of the form to upload it).

4. The form will be directed to Academic Records and the appropriate offices for

completion. Once completed, Academic Records emails the form to the colleges that the

student listed on their Transfer Cover Sheet. Then Academic Records will send the

student an email letting them know their college report has been completed and sent to

the colleges.

Mid Term Reports

● Mid-Term Reports need to be completed by your current professors; please email your

professors and ask that they print and fill out the attached document and send it back to

you. Send the Mid-Term Report to the contact information found on the Common

Application.

Personal Statement/Essay

Personal Statements or essays are an opportunity to use your voice. Take the opportunity to

humanize your candidacy beyond the grades, test scores, and other information. This can make

a big difference in your application. You can always start by meeting with a transfer advisor who

can provide feedback on what a college would be looking for in an essay.

Where can you get help at BHCC with writing your essay?

● The TASC (Tutoring and Academic Support) room E174, E Building, Charlestown Campus.

● The Writing Place, room E142, E Building, Charlestown Campus.

Links to sites with helpful information about essay writing:

● https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays

● https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/college-essay

● https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-to-write-a-college-essay

The Transfer Essay is a part of your transfer application, but not the only thing that will

determine whether you get in. The essay does, however, give you a chance to tell your future

college why you are a good fit, something your transcript doesn’t really do. Many students have

excellent GPA’s. BHCC students have interesting lives and inspiring dreams; the essay is where

you can express these.

● The essay allows you to take responsibility for less than perfect grades. You have an

opportunity to explain grades that aren’t representative of the work you can do, but be

careful to not complain or place blame on others.

● You have an opportunity to explain the academic challenges you have had to overcome, be

specific.

● The essay is the place where you can explain WHY you want to attend. What are your goals?

How will this college help you reach those goals?

● How has your time at BHCC helped you? Did it help you find your way? Become

academically prepared? Is it where you discovered or confirmed your career/educational

goals?

Make sure to:

● Take your time and start well in advance of the deadline.

● Follow directions exactly. Pay attention to details.

● Be aware of and stick to any word-count restrictions. Some colleges have character counts,

not word counts. Be sure you know which you need to follow.

● Be specific. Use facts and examples. Be honest.

● Use vivid details. Do not make statements anyone could write, for example, “I want to

transfer to complete a degree in accounting because there are many good jobs in

accounting.” This is accurate but shows nothing about you. Here is an example of the

opening of a successful essay: “I have taken all the engineering courses I can at my two-year

college. I am transferring to complete a degree in chemical engineering. With my degree, I

will return home to Sri Lanka to clean up the water pollution that has made me angry since I

was a child.”

● Edit and then edit again. Make sure to have multiple people help proofread. Make sure

there are no typos or errors.

● Meet deadlines.

Letters of Recommendation

Each college that requires letters of recommendation will need at least one from a professor.

Ideally, Letters of Recommendation should come from professors who can speak to your

abilities as a student who will be academically successful at the receiving institution. Other

letters can come from academic or club advisors, employers, athletic coaches, or others that can

speak to your professionalism, diligence and commitment to academic excellence. Make sure to

give your references at least one month before your earliest deadline to complete and send

your letters. Most importantly, be sure to pick someone who will be enthusiastic about writing

the letter for you.

We encourage you to use this Request Form

Please note:

● Professors do not have to write you a letter of recommendation and may decline your request.

● Make your request in writing at least 30 days before the deadline for the letter. Professors may

decline requests with shorter deadlines.

You want the professor to say something such as: “Maria told me she wanted to be a doctor when she

was in my biology class in the fall of 2013. Her A in my course and the lab work she did indicate to me

that she will succeed in her plan to major in biology at your school.” Provide your professor with enough

details to write a recommendation that could only be about you.

When asking for a recommendation, please give your professors the following information in writing:

● Your full name

● Your BHCC ID

● Your BHCC Email

● Your BHCC major

● Number of college credits you have earned

● Your BHCC GPA

● Course or courses you took with the professor(Course name and number, with date and section)

● Grade you received in the course

● Describe work from those courses that demonstrates your academic ability. For instance, remind

them about a paper you wrote, a lab or a project you participated in, give them details that will

remind them about you as a student.

● Anything you want the professor to know about you. For example, if you earned an A in the

professor’s class while working 25 hours a week outside of school, it is fine to say so. Provide

details: Where did you work? What was your job?

● The names of the colleges the recommendation is for

● What you plan to major in when you transfer

● What you plan to do with your undergraduate degree

● Deadline for the recommendation

● Directions on what the professor needs to do with the recommendation.

o If the professor needs to mail it, you should provide an envelope that has the address

where the recommendation should be sent.

o If the professor needs to submit it online, to the Common Application or somewhere

else, you must provide your professor with the links and specific directions.

Official Transcript

You will need to submit an official transcript to the College you transfer to twice:

1. When you submit your application so the college can verify your grades and coursework

2. Once you decide to enroll in that college in order to transfer your credits with your final

semester grades

Some colleges allow students to submit unofficials in the initial application. You will also need to

send all transcripts of institutions you attended prior to BHCC.

Bunker Hill has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide official academic

transcript ordering via the Web. For convenience, we recommend sending the transcripts

directly to the colleges of your choosing, rather than having them sent to you. Remember that

you will have to order one transcript per college. Be sure to know the mail or email address of

the admissions office prior to placing the order, and check the college website to see how they

prefer to receive transcripts.

Order an official BHCC transcript here.

Standardized Tests

SAT or ACT scores

Most colleges will not require SAT or ACT scores for transfer students, but be sure to confirm if

this is a requirement for the college you are applying to, or if high scores might enhance your

application.

TOEFL or IELTS scores

If the colleges require TOEFL or IELTS scores, you can get help preparing and take practice tests

through the BHCC Language Lab.

If you are an international student, It is recommended that you look at the requirements for

international applicants first, and then the requirements for transfer students. Some colleges

may have all information on one page, whereas some may have separate pages. Just be sure to

follow all instructions.

Résumé/Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Including a Resume or CV in an application is not always required for an application. If given the

option, it could provide reviewers valuable information on how you have spent time being

involved in your community or building transferable skills in the workforce through full time or

part time jobs.

We recommend doing some research to see which colleges accept, require, or consider

resumes. At times, resumes may be used for scholarships and applications for honors programs.

If you decide to use a resume, consider attending a Resume Workshop that is offered by

Advising and LifeMap.

Complete the FAFSA

Eligible students should complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Include

the school codes for all the schools you are applying to on your FAFSA application.

● Be aware of each college’s deadlines for applying for financial aid, they may be earlier

than the application deadline.

Complete CSS Profile (for private colleges)

The College Board’s CSS Profile™ is an online application that collects information used by

almost 400 colleges, universities, professional schools, and scholarship programs to award

financial aid from sources outside of the federal government.

After you submit your application, the College Board sends it to the colleges and scholarship

programs you have chosen.

Not all colleges and scholarship programs require the CSS Profile. Check with the ones you’re

interested in to see if they require it.

Please note, that unlike the FAFSA, the CSS Profile is open to all students this include both

domestic and non-residential students, including international students, students who are

undocumented, and DACA recipients.

Many colleges using the Common Application also require that you complete the College Board

CSS/Financial Aid Profile. Click here for directions on how to complete the CSS/Financial Aid

Profile.

Please visit our Money for Four-Year College page to begin research on scholarships.

You may also visit MassEdCO for information about application fee waivers, scholarship

opportunities, and assistance with financial planning such as completing FAFSA and the CSS

Profile.

The 45 Credit Check-List

❏ Attend Transfer 102 workshop

❏ Attend a Visiting College event and the College Transfer Fair

❏ Document and reflect on your experience in participating in a club, organization and/or

volunteer experience.

❏ Meet with a transfer counselor

❏ Research and apply for scholarships

❏ Research and finalize list of potential colleges – know the application deadlines

❏ By your second to last semester be prepared to submit transfer applications

❏ Attend visiting college events/transfer fairs

❏ Confirm faculty and supervisors who can serve as references

❏ Get support with your application/scholarship essays

❏ Save all syllabi

Decide (45-60 Credits)

Finalizing Your Transfer Applications

Once you have collected and finalized all your materials you are ready to submit your

applications!

Upon completion, you will receive confirmation messages that your application has been

submitted successfully. You will have a short time frame to wait to hear of acceptances.

While we encourage you to explore colleges before applying, you might take this time to revisit

some of your notes and past conversations with admissions counselors and other advisors.

Review: Your Application Check-List

⃞ Common Application (or other platform)

⃞ Personal Statement/Essay

⃞ Letters of Recommendation

⃞ Official Transcript

⃞ Standardized Tests (TOEFL, SAT, etc.)

⃞ Interviews (if offered)

⃞ Résumé/Curriculum Vitae (CV)

⃞ Complete FAFSA

⃞ Complete CSS Profile (for private colleges)

Graduation from BHCC

Remember to apply for graduation from BHCC during your last semester through your online

self-service account. You can take up to 6 credits over the summer and still participate in BHCC

Commencement.

Reviewing acceptance letter(s)

Perhaps the most important part of the transfer process is deciding which college you will

attend. This decision requires careful consideration. When you receive an acceptance, you will

likely have new information that may affect your decision.

Your acceptance letter will include the good news of your admissions decision and an outline of

next steps. This includes the deadline to decide if you will attend their college and when to

submit the non-refundable deposit.

Reviewing (and appealing) financial aid award letters

It is also important to review the financial aid award letter. This letter will outline the financial

support you will receive, including federal financial aid, federal loans, MassTransfer benefits (if

applicable), and institutional grants and scholarships. Remember that private colleges will

determine financial need as reflected in the FAFSA and CSS Profile.

You are also encouraged to appeal your financial aid awards to see if you can get additional

funding. Learn more about strategies for doing this here:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertfarrington/2019/05/30/how-to-successfully-appeal-a-finan

cial-aid-award/?sh=6e6da28c2e26

Officially accepting or declining your institution’s acceptance

Once you feel comfortable with one college, be sure to adhere to the deadlines to accept or

decline.

Submitting Official BHCC transcript

As a final requirement for your admittance, you will be required to send in an official transcript

again, this time, with all your classes completed with final grades. If you will be taking additional

courses to complete your degree prior to attending (such as summer classes), be sure to discuss

this with the college of your choosing.

The 60 Credit Check-List

❏ Apply for Graduation

❏ Submit transfer applications

❏ Review acceptance letters and financial aid awards

❏ Officially accept or decline institution’s acceptances

❏ Send thank you notes to faculty and supervisors who served as references

❏ Save all syllabi

❏ Submit official BHCC transcript