College and university remain the dominant academic pathways for graduating Canadian high school students. However, apprenticeships can provide alternative education pathways for a significant proportion of the population. Despite the push to undergraduate programming, some students end up in fields that don't suit their interests. To pursue…

Objective: International reverse transfer students are international students who begin their postsecondary journey at a four-year institution but subsequently transfer to a community college. In this qualitative study, we examine the lived experiences of international reverse transfers to understand the reasons for reverse-transfer and to…

The purpose of this descriptive, exploratory study investigates the number of students who hold a bachelor's degree or higher attending Iowa's fifteen community colleges between fiscal years 2006 and 2008. This group of students is referred to as post-baccalaureate reverse transfer (PBRT) students in the literature and in this paper. This study…

The vast majority of high school students plan to attend college--and believe that a bachelor's degree all but guarantees them a high-paying job. What many of them don't know is that those who are not well prepared are not likely to graduate. They also don't realize that plenty of career-focused certificates and associate's degrees lead to…

This paper describes a study conducted on a group of reverse transfer students (students that enroll at two-year colleges after attending a four-year baccalaureate institution) to increase knowledge about this growing population and address the shortcomings of previous research. Almost 1,400 reverse transfer students were sent surveys. According…

Describes a study conducted to gather information about the number of two-year college students who hold baccalaureate degrees. Finds that, for academic year 1997-98: (1) 12,946 students out of 753,255 already had bachelor's degrees, 2,527 had master's degrees, and 142 had doctoral degrees; and (2) criminal justice development was the most popular…

A study was conducted to provide information on the educational, economic, and personal characteristics of students in the Los Rios Community College District (California) and to compare the characteristics of first-time students (FTS); students who transferred from other community colleges, including noncompleter lateral transfer students (NCLT)…

A post-baccalaureate reverse transfer student is a community college student who has completed a baccalaureate or higher degree prior to enrolling in a community college. This study was conducted to better understand post-baccalaureate reverse transfer students who enroll in community college degree or certificate programs; it sought to…

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) conducts surveys of postsecondary students to inform policymakers and the general public on a variety of issues facing higher education in the United States. An American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) researcher prepared this brief using data from NCES's Baccalaureate and Beyond…

Describes reverse transfers (i.e., students who transfer from four-year to two-year colleges) in terms of demographics, educational goals, and academic performance, using survey and academic data from 13 two-year colleges. Finds significant differences between reverse transfers and two-year natives in terms of race and other demographic…

This issue describes an enrollment pattern emerging in higher education--students who are matriculated at, or have graduated from, a four-year college who then transfer to a two-year school, a process labeled "reverse transfer." The following articles are included: (1) "What Do We Know about Reverse Transfer Students?" (Barbara K. Townsend and…

Describes an ongoing investigation of student mobility from four-year to two-year colleges in Alberta, Canada, presenting a profile of the characteristics of community college students who had previously attended other postsecondary institutions. Includes interview findings related to students' university and community college experiences. (DMM)

Discusses a study of 10,196 Los Rios Community College District students, their characteristics, and reasons for attending and leaving college. Compares first-time students (54.7 percent) with noncompleter and completer lateral transfers (19.2 percent and 7.5 percent) and noncompleter and completer reverse transfers (12 percent and 7.6 percent).…

Describes a study of 525 students attending an Illinois community college having previously attended a 4-year college. Reports findings on reverse transfers' demographic and academic background, reasons for leaving the four-year institution and enrolling in a two-year college, primary educational goal, and evaluation of their educational…

Asserts that the postbaccalaureate transfer student (PRTS) represents a very different type of second-chance student for the community college. Analyzes the life circumstances, goals, and profiles of PRTSs in an urban North Carolina community college. Contains 11 references. (VWC)