A quarter of all physics majors in the U.S. start their academic careers at two-year colleges. The State of Oregon just enacted legislation that allows all Oregon high school graduates to receive free tuition for their first two years at the community college. With the number of transfer students thus likely to increase, now is a good time for two-year and four-year colleges to investigate how best to serve these students.

I spent last year on sabbatical from Linn-Benton Community College at Oregon State University learning more about the two-year to four-year transfer, as well the Junior level physics experience in general. In this presentation, I will share what I have learned about transfer issues such as articulation agreements, financial aid, and academic socialization. From observing OSU’s innovative “Physics Paradigms” curricula, I will also share my insights as to what makes the Junior Year in physics hard for all students.