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Transfer Students

Education Evolution

It Doesn't Matter Where You Started, It Only Matters Where You Finish

As a transfer student at USV, get ready to unlock hidden achievements, delve into the lore of code and creativity, and find your tribe among fellow gamers, geeks, and tech sorcerers. Getting here takes three easy steps:

  1. Complete the online application.
  2. Send your official high school and college transcripts.
  3. Speak to an Admissions Advisor.

Transferring from a school outside the United States? Find your quest log over here.

Apply Online
Admissions
 

The Transfer Process

Here, Your Journey Doesn't Just Resume: It Levels Up

Calling All Adventurers!

Bring your past achievements! Collect and submit all your college transcripts. No skipping this level, it's mandatory.

Applicants for admission must submit official college transcripts, an official high school transcript, or an official report of scores earned on the General Educational Development (GED) test, or proof of completion in a home schooling program or equivalent, the University does not accept Ability-to-Benefit students. 

SAT or ACT scores are recommended for freshman applicants.

Official transcripts should be mailed to:

University of Silicon Valley
Attn: Registrar’s office
191 Baypointe Pkwy
San Jose CA 95134

For Electronic transcripts, Please send them through Parchment, or request your school to send the e-transcript to our Registrar’s office directly at registrarsoffice@usv.edu

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your admissions advisor.

Transfer Credit Evaluation

Official transcripts are required for credit transfer quests! But if you don't, unofficial transcripts are cool too.

Award of transfer of credit toward program completion is based upon 1) comparability of transfer credit to the requirements of a specific course in a selected program of study, and 2) compliance with stated criteria for this credit at University of Silicon Valley.

Criteria for the consideration of transfer of credit are contingent on the following conditions:

  1. For undergraduate students, coursework completed must have a minimum grade of “C.” For graduate students, coursework completed must have a minimum grade of “B”. Courses taken for credit with a “P” grade may be transferred if a clearly defined institutional policy identifies the “P” grade as equivalent to a “C” or better for undergraduate work, or a grade of “B” or better for graduate study.
  2. USV does not award credit for work experience, physical education, English as a second language (ESL) or Preparatory courses.
  3. USV will consider foreign postsecondary official transcripts if evaluated and translated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association for International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).
  4. Courses completed beyond ten (10) years prior are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
  5. Coursework must have been completed at the same level (upper or lower division) as, or a higher level than, a USV course deemed comparable.
  6. Coursework must be awarded for credit value equal to, or greater than, that required for the comparable USV course (i.e., semester or quarter converted basis must equal or exceed that required by USV).
    • Conversion of quarter credit to semester credits is as follows:
      –3 semester credits equate to 4.5 quarter credits (multiply semester credits by 1.5)
      — 4.5 quarter credits are equal to 3 semester credits (divide credits by 2/3rds)
  7. Official Transcripts must be sent directly to the Registrar’s Office within 14 calendar days of the start of a term. Transcripts marked “Unofficial” or “Issued to Student” will not be considered for evaluation for transfer credit.

ACT and SAT scores may be used to waive placement exams but are not required for admissions. Scores will be reviewed on a case-by-case.

Placement Assessments

Want to show us what you can do? Go for it by conquering the placement assessments! But only if you feel like showing off.

USV requires placement tests in Mathematics, English and Music Theory (if applicable) to assess the competency level of each subject. Placement tests may be waived for ACT, SAT scores or transfer of credits in one of the above mentioned subjects. Placement tests are available to be taken via online/remotely or on-campus.

ACT and SAT scores may be used to waive placement exams but are not required for admissions. Scores will be reviewed on a case-by-case.

Subject Passing Scores Engineering
English
70%
Mathematics*
75% Online Test
70% Paper-based Test
Music Theory
N/A
Subject Passing Scores Non-Engineering
English
70%
Mathematics
65% Online Test
70% Paper-based Test
Music Theory
60% for DAT Non-Engineering

* Engineering students that score between 40-74% on the online, or 30-69% on the paper-based test, will be placed in MATH116. Engineering students that score 39% or less on the online, or 29% or less on the paper-based test, will be placed in remedial MATH003.

Math–Intermediate Algebra

Multiple choice test including exponents and polynomials, equations and systems of equations in one and two variables, functions and graphs, and exponential and logarithmic functions. 

English–Grammar and Composition

The test has three parts. The first one is multiple choice testing grammar and sentence clarity. The second part is also multiple choice testing reading and vocabulary. The third part of the test requires a one page written essay on a given topic. Selection among three topics is provided.

Music Theory (For Digital Audio Technology students only)

The Music Theory Placement Exam tests for basic musical literacy. The ability to read treble and bass clefs and basic rhythmic notation as well as understand common music notation symbols are required to pass the exam and to be placed in Music Theory 1. Only available on-campus.