Community College Transfer Success Stories at Montclair State University

Twin brothers Craig and Brian Scott have always relied on each other – growing up together and working side by side in TV and sports broadcasting. Now seniors majoring in Film and Television, they’ve found their creative home after transferring in to complete their degrees, discovering firsthand both the challenges and rewards of moving from community college to Montclair State University.

“We’re together pretty much 24/7 so it helps to get feedback from each other. Just having him in the same major helps a lot. We’re each other’s biggest advocates – even having my class with him makes a difference,” says Craig.

After graduating from Livingston High School in 2020, the brothers took separate paths – Craig to Connecticut, Brian to another New Jersey college. The pandemic kept them mostly confined to their dorms with classes held remotely. Both soon realized they needed a change.

They regrouped at home and enrolled at County College of Morris. Craig earned his associate degree in May 2024. Brian followed in December 2024. Both worked for Big State Sports, a media platform for New Jersey high school athletics.

“Community college, in my opinion, is probably one of the best decisions I made,” says Brian. “If you’re unsure about college in general, your best bet is to go to community college so you can actually get an understanding of how college works. And from there, you decide.”

Why Montclair?

“I knew I wanted to come to Montclair to finish my degree,” Craig says. “Honestly, the only school I really considered was Montclair. We visited (the College of Communication and Media) and were impressed by the modern facilities. I absolutely love it and it’s really close to New York City, which was a big selling point for me.”

What I found helpful is that Montclair professors care where you come from. They’re accepting of everyone. They treat you the same no matter what path you took. That’s important because it’s nerve-wracking coming into a new school where people already know each other. The professors do a really good job communicating and being proactive with students, making sure everyone feels comfortable.” – Brian Scott

Seamless Transfer – Montclair’s 2+2 Program

For the Scotts, the transfer route made sense both academically and financially. “Even spending just a year at community college to get prerequisites done makes a big difference,” Brian says. “Once that’s done, you can go to a four-year school to continue what you want to do.”

Montclair’s partnership with community colleges through a 2+2 Program offers a supportive pathway:

• Work with advisors from Montclair and your community college to complete your AA or AS in two years
• Upon graduation and meeting program criteria, transfer to Montclair with junior standing and all general education requirements waived
• Begin upper-level courses right away

Honors and Flexible Learning

Transfer students are encouraged to apply to Montclair’s honors programs:

• John Martinson Honors EDGE, which offers creativity, leadership and community engagement opportunities plus a $5,000 stipend.
• Tau Sigma Honor Society, exclusively for transfer students, provides scholarships, leadership opportunities and national networking. Members with a 3.5 GPA or higher in their first 12 Montclair credits are eligible for $2,000 per year for two years.

Montclair also offers accredited online programs for transfer students with 45+ college credits, including Business Administration, Economics, Family Science and Human Development, Liberal Studies, Psychology and RN to BSN.

What’s Next?

With graduation on the horizon – Craig in winter 2025, Brian in spring 2026 – the Scott twins are setting their sights on careers in television, film and sports broadcasting.

They say they quickly found their place at Montclair, joining the Red Hawk Sports Network to produce live sports broadcasts and getting involved in campus life.

“Just putting myself out there, volunteering and making connections with other students and the professor who runs the sports broadcasting club was a life changer,” Craig says. “It helped me feel connected.” 

Are You Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?

Prospective transfer students: For a full list of GPA and application requirements, visit our Transfer Students Guide. 

Plan your visit and take your first step in applying to become a Red Hawk!