Frequently Asked Questions

I took courses years ago at another college. Do they still apply?
Be sure to ask the following: Where did they take the courses? Was it at an accredited college? Technical school courses, etc. may not transfer. If the student is currently at BCC, she/he should send an official transcript to the Registrar. If s/he is applying to the College, they should contact Admissions (ext. 2516). The student should have an official transcript sent in for evaluation.

Do I have to have a major and concentration to graduate?
Yes, many majors have concentrations- every student must have a declared major and (when applicable) a concentration. S/he can change their major or declare a concentration in G208, or at the Enrollment Center.

How do I know if I'm in academic difficulty?
Are you failing classes? Do you have a number of Withdrawals or Incompletes? Were you referred to the Connections Center? If the student has more than one D or F warning at midterm, they will receive a letter telling them about it.

Where does a student go to apply for internal transfer to a competitive program (such as Nursing or Dental Hygiene)?
Students must go to the Admissions Office (D106) and fill out an application. There is no charge. The application deadline for a competitive program is usually around January 15th.

Is there any guarantee that if a student applies early enough to a competitive program she/he will be granted admission?
No, order of application is irrelevant; additionally, students must reapply to the program every year if they wish to be considered. These programs are competitive, and usually have many more applicants than spaces.

How do I get my Access BCC account number?
You can go right on line to the College's main web page, and click on accessBCC - follow the instructions for opening your account (or if you forgot your password).

How do I read a student's transcript?
Follow this link to see a sample student transcript.

What does the little "E" I see by the side of some courses on the student's transcript refer to?
This means that this course is excluded under the student's current major - (that is the course is not required in their current program)

Do developmental courses ever count towards graduation?
No- MTH01, MTH1N, MTH4N, MTH07, MTH08, CHM10, RDG09, RDG10, and ENG10 do not count towards graduation or program completion.

Which Reading course does count for degree credit?
RDG12 (It also can be used to satisfy a cultural diversity requirement).

Which students get assigned to an advisor?
Students taking more day than evening credits (classes after 4pm, or on weekends), or an equal number of day and evening credits get assigned an advisor. Students with more evening than day courses can see evening advisors and make appointments at their convenience.

What do the S's and U's mean on a transcript?
The S means a student is making satisfactory progress in the completion of a developmental course and must re-enroll. A "U" means the student has made unsatisfactory progress in a developmental course and may not repeat the course in the QUEST lab (they must repeat it in a lecture course).

Can a student move on to ENG11 if they receive a C- in ENG10?
NO, they must have at least a C or better.

Can a student move on to MTH19 or MTH25 if the get a D in MTH1N?
No, the student must get a C- or better.

Is a student beholden to the present catalog if they were admitted 3 years ago?
No, provided the student hasn't changed his/her major or dropped out for more than 3 consecutive semesters. S/he can choose to fulfill the requirements in the catalog under which s/he was admitted, or the current catalog.

Where does a student go who asks about credit for life experience?
The student should make an appointment with Michael Vieira (Prior Experiential Learning), ext. 2123.

What are the cutoff passing scores for the college placement tests?
Click here to download placement test information (.doc).

A student is nearing the completion of his/her program- what does the student need to do at this point?
They need to fill out an Intent To Graduate Form, available in the Records Office- this generates a "degree audit" which determines if the student has all the necessary courses/credits for the degree.