The most common transfer path is to complete your first two years at a community college (two-year institution), then transfer to a university (four-year institution) where you would enter as a junior. However, regardless of if you are at a community college or at a university from your first semester/quarter, you will still need to take general education classes, lower-division electives, and classes related to your major.

Here is some information on what each of those mean:

General education (G.E.) classes

These are classes taken in the first two years that every student will need to take regardless of major. They cover a variety of subjects or categories from English to Math to History and you will typically have options to choose from in each category. The purpose of G.E. classes are to “teach diverse skills that every person should master in order to lead a productive life, become a knowledgeable citizen, and communicate ideas as a useful member of society, regardless of her chosen course of study.” G.E. classes can be especially helpful for students unsure of what major they’d like to pursue, as it invites them to learn about different academic areas.

Lower-division electives

No pressure, but the earlier you know what you’d like to major in and which school you’d like to transfer to, the more favorable it will be for you, because you will be able to plan out your courses from your first semester/quarter. These courses include lower-division electives that can pertain to your major or focus, or they can be general electives that fulfill the university’s requirements.

Classes that are related to your major/upper-division courses

This category mainly pertains to when you enter a university as a junior because your courses as a junior and senior will almost exclusively be courses for your major. However, if you know early on that you’d like to major in Psychology, for example, taking an Intro to Psychology course will not only fulfill a G.E. requirement, but will also fulfill a requirement for your major and you don’t have to wait until junior year to take it.

What you should avoid while at a community college:

Taking classes with no plan in mind. This will not only lengthen your time at a community college but will place you in a position where some of those classes will not be transferable to a four-year institution. You want to be able to transfer over a maximum number of credits. Doing so will save you money and time.

Always be sure to meet with your advisor prior to selecting your classes. They will ensure that you’re on the right track.