The Newark campus in 2017, a satellite campus where students commonly transfer from. Credit: Courtesy of The Ohio State University at Newark
Before Callie Beary ever stepped into a classroom at Ohio State, she was already mapping out how to get there.?
As she prepared to transfer from Columbus State Community College, she spent hours checking whether each credit she had earned would count toward the degree path she hoped would lead to dental school.
For transfer students, getting into Ohio State is only the first step, as many then have to navigate credit evaluations, degree requirements and course planning, with advisors saying early meetings and tools like Transferology can help them stay on track and maximize previously earned credits.
When a student transfers to Ohio State, all credits are audited by the university’s registrar. As the credits are allocated they are placed into three different categories; direct-equivalent, general or special.
Ryan Hunt, an associate registrar said that this depends on how closely the course aligns with Ohio State’s curriculum and how it may be applied toward a degree.
Advisors recommend meeting before your first semester starts to see how your credits count toward your major, and create a degree course plan that makes sense for the student.
“Ohio State does not restrict the number of credit hours that are accepted,” Hunt said. “Some majors do restrict the amount of transfer credit that can be applied toward a degree.”
This was a primary concern for Beary, who entered as a third-year student and needed her credits to align with dental school application requirements.
“If you know you took classes elsewhere, be prepared to talk about what that class was, what course number it was,” Nicole Vangas, an advising manager in University Exploration, said.
Beyond auditing credits, academic advisors often help students navigate long-term professional goals. Major-specific advisors can guide students toward courses that align with their career objectives.
“We happen to see some kind of opportunity or a new class or some kind of internship that we think would be a really good fit,” Vangas said.
Advisors within a major also provide insight into the broader scope of specific course offerings.?
To assist with this process, Ohio State offers an independent scheduling tool called the Buckeye Degree Planner, which students can use alongside their advisor to build a long-term schedule.
Kyle Gilbert, an advisor in University Exploration, said he uses several tools to help students who are interested in a class but do not understand how it applies to their major, including Buckeye Degree Planner.
Advisors can also assist transfer students with departmental petitions when building a schedule.?
This was the case for Laine Shaw, a third-year student who transferred from the University of Cincinnati.
Shaw’s calculus credit did not initially transfer, but her academic advisor helped her secure the necessary approval to bypass the requirement and stay on schedule.
Successful transferring depends on proactive planning. By using university tools and meeting with advisors early, students can ensure their previous credits count and stay on the fastest track to graduation.
“I think my advisor has made my time here easier,” Beary said. “I am thankful for all they’ve done.”
