More than nine million students enroll in community colleges annually (Fink et al., 2023) making them accessible entry points for individuals of diverse backgrounds (Fink et al., 2023). Upward transfer from community colleges to four-year institutions creates critical pathways to baccalaureate degree attainment, but only 33% of community college students succeed in transferring to four-year institutions (Velasco et al., 2024). Transfer success from community college to four-year institutions is further confused by the disconnect between the measures of time to completion rates and common terminology that exists among community colleges versus four-year institutions (Burridge et al., 2023). This study investigated the knowledge and confidence first-semester transfer-aspiring Northeast Community College students had about navigating the transfer process at the start of their transfer journey. This study also sought to increase first-semester transfer-aspiring Northeast Community College student confidence and knowledge about the transfer process through a communication plan. Utilizing a mixed methods design, 48 new aspiring community college transfer students were introduced via a communication plan to terminology, institutional agents, types of agreements, benefits, and academic planning needed to successfully transfer to four-year institutions. Analysis of anonymous, matched pre- and post-surveys revealed that aspiring transfer students were overconfident in their general transfer knowledge, while most students did not know specific transfer knowledge, especially related to institutional knowledge needed to successfully transfer. Results from a focus group revealed that the communication plan helped students identify gaps in transfer knowledge to help build early momentum to better navigate the transfer process. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]