Transfer Students

Transfer Students

Transferring to a new college can be exciting, thrilling, but also nerve-wracking! Whether you are transferring from a community college to a 4-year university or from a university to another university: you must be prepared!

Transferring to a UC

How To Transfer From Community College To UC

Using the UC Transfer Admission Planner can help you track your coursework, progr

ess toward meeting UC admissions and can also serve as your application for the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG).

The basic requirements to transfer to a UC: At least 60 semester (90 quarter) units of UC-transferable credit must be completed. A GPA of 2.4 in UC-transferable units must be earned (or 2.8 if you’re a non-resident).  You will also need to complete the following 7-course pattern by the end of the Spring term prior to fall enrollment: 

  • Two transferable courses in English composition
  • One transferable course in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning
  • Four transferable college courses from at least two of the following subject areas:
    1. Arts and humanities
    2. Social and behavioral sciences
    3. Physical and biological sciences

Things to Keep in Mind:

Transfer Students

If you have decided on a major but want to keep your UC campus options open, UC Transfer Pathway is for you! With transfer pathways, you choose your intended major and a list of courses that are required will be listed. This will give you clear guidance on what courses you need to take and will be competitive to get into any UC campus. 

General education & IGETC

The general education requirements give a broad background to UC undergraduates in all academic disciplines. Although these requirements need to be fulfilled before graduating from UC, it is strongly recommended to start taking general education at community college. 

There are two ways to satisfy general education requirements: 

    • IGETC: A series of courses certified by the California community college that you may complete satisfying the freshman/sophomore level general education requirements at UC.
    • UC campus-specific requirements: Each school and college at every UC campus has its own set of general education classes

Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)

Six UC campuses (Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz) offer the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program for California community college students who meet specific requirements. By participating in TAG, you may receive an early review of your academic records and early admission notification. 

Transfer Admission Planner (TAP) 

UC TAP helps prospective UC transfer students track and plan their coursework.

Transferring to a CSU 

To be considered an Upper-Division Transfer Student (UDT) applicant, you will need to have at least 60-semester units (90 quarter transferable units) completed by the time you enter a CSU. You may use ASSIST to see what courses from your community college are CSU transferable.

Admission requirements for UDT students:California State University (CSU) | Glendale Community College

    • Overall college GPA of at least 2.00. Keep in mind that in some high-demand majors and campuses a GPA of 2.00 may not be sufficient to be admitted 
    • Be in good standing at the last college or university attended 
    • Have completed 10 general education courses of basic skills courses with a grade of C- or better
    • Additional information about dates, deadlines, checklist, and application guides can be found here

The California Community College (CCC) Associate in Art for Transfer (AA-T) and the Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) degrees are two-year associate degrees that are transferable to the CSU. With the Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT), students who meet the CSU’s minimum eligibility requirements are guaranteed priority admission to a CSU campus. 

Admission requirements for ADT:

    • Have earned or be completing an approved Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) at the time you apply
    • Have completed a minimum of 18 semester (27 quarter units) in a major or area of emphasis and an approved set of general education requirements 
    • Submit your application for admission to CSU campuses by the published deadline
    • Submit all requested transcripts and documents by published deadlines
    • Meet CSU admission eligibility requirements for the programs to which you are applying
    • Comply with any other prescribed admission requirements 

Advice for transfer students starting at CC:

  • Connect to the transfer center at your CC campus 
  • Check if your chosen UC/CSU campus has a respective transfer student support center, reaching out can provide clarity on support for transfer students
  • First years: the CA College Promise Grant permits enrollment fees to be waived. Making an appointment with an advisor is helpful as they can pinpoint what classes are transferable. 

Transferring to a Private 

The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) comprises 85 independent, nonprofit colleges and universities. 

A full list of AICCU institutions with articulation agreements, click here. For information about admission, academic, and course requirements, please refer to this handbook

Unsure if you want to transfer

If you are unsure you want to transfer, it is recommended that you choose the AA/AS-Transfer track as this ensures you have an Associates and/or transfer in the near future. 

Backwards transferring

Backwards transferring is when a student from a four-year university transfers to a Community College. Here is an article with more information about backwards transferring. To see the requirements for backwards transferring, contact your school as each school has a different process or agreement. 

Black History Month – Scholarships and Resources for You

Black History Month – Scholarships and Resources for You

February 1st marks the start of Black History Month. To all Black students paving the way, you’re doing a great job! The Let’s Go team has compiled a list of resources catered for you and your college success, you can learn more below: 

Scholarships For You 

Black Students of California United Scholarship

The BSCU is offering scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 to dedicated and committed youth leaders currently in the 12th grade. All applications must be received by 11:59 pm on Monday, February 20, 2023. All required documents must be submitted via the designated Google portal to be considered.

Study.com Scholarship for Black Students

This opportunity provides a $2,000 academic award to a Black student who is pursuing their undergraduate college degree. All applications must be received by Monday, May 1, 2023. All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements listed.

Resources For You

Black Students of California United

If you’re ever in search of additional scholarship opportunities, the BSCU is an excellent source to tap into.

Go For Yours

Go For Yours is an amazing initiative dedicated to celebrating the academic accomplishments of Black students all across the world. Check out their website to learn more about the programs, scholarships, and additional funding opportunities that they offer.

 On-Campus Resources 

Currently a student at a CSU campus?

The CSU website has compiled a list of resources for Black students to access during their college careers. Visit their website to learn how you can connect with other Black students on campus!

To learn more visit: https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/community/Pages/african-american-communities-resources.aspx

Currently at a Community College?

Did you know that CA Community Colleges currently partner with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to offer guaranteed transfer to students who receive at least a 2.0 GPA and 30 transferable units.

To learn more visit: https://icangotocollege.com/student-support-services/black-african-american-student-success

     

     

     

    California Community College Students Deserve More Support: How You Can Help!

    California Community College Students Deserve More Support: How You Can Help!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    By Changemakers Student Advocacy Fellow Veronica Liu
    College: University of California, San Diego

    For California Community College students, community college is a time to explore passions and potentially save money compared to immediately attending a 4-year university. For those hoping to transfer into 4-year colleges, the challenges of paying application fees, writing essays, and applying without support can be daunting as they navigate the application process. But, for the nearly 69,000 California community college students enrolled in Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), matriculating at a community college and applying to 4-years is not a challenge they must face alone.

    Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) is a state-funded opportunity program at California Community Colleges aimed at supporting low-income and educationally-disadvantaged students to enroll in and graduate from community colleges and transfer into 4-year institutions. Established in 1969, the California Education Code states that EOPS “encourage[s] local community colleges to establish and implement programs directed to identifying those students affected by language, social, and economic handicaps, to increase the number of eligible EOPS students served, and to assist those students to achieve their educational objectives and goals, including, but not necessarily limited to, obtaining job skills, occupational certificates, or associate degrees, and transferring to four-year institutions.” EOPS was designed with disadvantaged students’ successes in mind.

    My fellow Changemakers student advocate, Jessica Hernandez-Beltran, expands on her experience as a community college student in EOPS. She credits EOPS for her successful transfer path, thanks to the program’s financial assistance for textbooks and support with transfer applications.

    Through providing resources like textbook reimbursements/free textbooks, advising, and more, EOPS has provided students with the support and guidance needed to excel in community college, empowering students to transfer. Although EOPS students are more likely to complete transfer-level Math and English, earn higher GPAs, stay in school, and earn college credentials, EOPS only supports around 3.71% of the total community college student population–a discrepancy that does not mirror the demographics and eligibility of community college students state-wide. Think about it: how many people do you know qualify for EOPS? Who identifies as low-income, underrepresented, California resident, with Pell Grant eligibility? California is the top state in the U.S. for the most Pell Grant recipients–938,931 college students in CA qualify for the Pell Grant, including around 420,000 students across the 116 CCC campuses, a drastic contrast to the nearly 69,000 students enrolled in EOPS in Community College. Think how many folks you may know that qualify–only around 3-4% of them may be in EOPS, while others are shut out due to insufficient funding.

    Funding has always been key in allowing more students to enroll in EOPS and set themselves up for success in college. In 2015, Assembly Bill 490, which increased funding for EOPS, stated that “inadequate state funding in recent years has caused many EOPS and CARE programs to reduce the amount of financial aid, textbook support, and child care grants provided to eligible students in need, to prematurely close the application deadline for acceptance to the program, to deny program services to eligible EOPS and CARE students, or to do a combination of these.” Seven years later, it seems that much still has to be improved upon, especially in regard to funding.

    If you would like to show your support, please sign our letter (Deadline to sign on: November 30, 2022) and learn more about our advocacy through the link below:

    Sign on here!: https://tinyurl.com/EOPSFunding22

    Advancing College Opportunity for Justice-Impacted Students

    Advancing College Opportunity for Justice-Impacted Students

    Building a strong prison-to-school pipeline is necessary as we continue fighting for equal access to higher education. As more institutions begin to diversify their student populations and highlight the several student identities that tend to overlap, there is still one group that is often left out of many significant conversations — those who have been negatively affected by the carceral system. Formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted students are often left feeling unwelcome in spaces of higher education because of the many barriers present for them. Barriers to college access include background checks and inadequate student services, leading to a decrease in retention rates amongst this student population. A justice-impacted student includes someone at risk of being incarcerated or who has been formerly incarcerated, someone who has been legally, economically, or familially affected in a negative way by the incarceration of a close relative; this also includes people who have been arrested, and/or convicted without incarceration.

     

    While it is important to note that higher-ed institutions still have a lot to learn when it comes to serving justice-impacted students, there are current programs already in place dedicated to helping such students succeed. These programs are essential and vital to increasing retention rates amongst formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted students. 

     

    Here is a list of current programs available: 

     

    CC Level: 

    CA Community Colleges: Rising Scholars Network

    To find further information on a specific Community College 

    use this program directory to learn more:  

    Rising Scholars Network Program Directory 

     

    CSU Level: 

    Currently, 14 CSU campuses have Project Rebound programs working with formerly incarcerated students. To find information on a specific college campus, scroll down to the bottom page 

    Cal State University: Project Rebound

     

    UC Level: 

    Currently, there are 9 UC campuses that have the Underground Scholars Initiative working with formerly incarcerated scholars throughout the state. We have listed the main page to learn more about the program’s mission and history along with links to each UC chapter available across CA. 

    The Underground Scholars Initiative 

     

    USI UC BERKELEY:

    Link to Join: https://callink.berkeley.edu/organization/usi

    Facebook: facebook.com/undergroundscholars

    USI UCLA:

    Bruin Underground Scholars Program Website: https://undergroundscholars.ucla.edu/

    Bruin Underground Scholars Program Email: undergroundscholars@saonet.ucla.edu 

    USI UCLA Student Org Email:  undergroundscholars@gmail.com

    USI UC IRVINE:

    Email: uciundergroundscholars@gmail.com

    Facebook: USIatUCI

    USI UC RIVERSIDE:

    Website: https://highlanderlink.ucr.edu/organization/usi-ucr

    Email: undergroundscholarsucr@gmail.com

    Facebook: Underground Scholars Initiative, UCR

    Twitter: @undergroundSch3

    USI UC SANTA BARBARA:

    Email: undergroundscholars.sb.ucsb@gmail.com 

    Facebook: Underground Scholars Santa Barbara 

    USI UC SAN DIEGO:

    Website: https://usiucsd.org/ and https://oasis.ucsd.edu/programs/USI-folder/index.html

    Email: usi.ucsd@gmail.com

    USI UC SANTA CRUZ:

    Website: https://undergroundscholars.ucsc.edu/

    USI UC DAVIS:

    Email: undergrounducd@gmail.com

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/undergrounducd

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/undergrounducd

    UC MERCED:

    Intake Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pFqOamyMuhhFuHCLeOO855quhtJTypWIuQTNuuFs_a8/viewform?edit_requested=true

              Email: eramirez226@ucmerced.edu 

    Edith Ramirez, Underground Scholars Program Coordinator

      Applying to Community College

      Applying to Community College

      By MONICA AGUILERA

      Boba-drinking, Zelda-playing, Horror-watching brown girl from Oaxacalifornia.

      Welcome to Community College! Community college is a great option for students who are looking to save money, want to explore different career options, hoping to raise their GPA to transfer, etc. In addition, community colleges offer affordable summer and winter courses that can help you speed up your GE requirements if you already attend a UC or CSU! In California, there are over 116 community colleges you can apply to. 

      According to the CCC Chancellor’s office: 

      • Nearly half of students earning a bachelor’s degree from a University of California campus in science, technology, engineering and mathematics transferred from a California community college.
      • Twenty-nine percent of University of California graduates and 51% of California State University graduates started at a community college.
      • Students earning a degree or certificate from a California community college nearly double their earnings within three years.

      If these stats are something that you want to be a part of, great, keep following along! 

       How to Apply

      1. The first thing you want to do when applying to community college is visit https://www.cccapply.org/en/apply. This helpful source lets you easily go down the list of 116 community colleges in California.
      2. After selecting the college that interests you the most, (visit our college list if you’re still searching for your just right college), you will be redirected to the college’s personal application.
      3. While every application is different, a majority of applications will consist of:
        • Your Full Name
        • Mailing Address
        • Social Security (SSN)
        • Driver’s License Number
        • High School Transcripts
        • Latest English and Math Classes Completed
      4. After the application is finished, you then complete your FAFSA or Dream Act Application and connect the school you are applying to using their school code.

        If you need support applying for FAFSA, find our guide here 

      5. After finishing your application, your college will most likely request for you to attend orientation, take a math/ english placement test (if you were not able to send in your high school transcripts), and meet with an academic counselor to plan out your courses.
      6. Finally, you start registering for classes and wait for the semester to begin. You are now a college student!

      Here are some important dates:  

      FAFSA: Opens October 1st- Closes June 30th, 2020

      Class Registration: Varies per Campus (check on their personal website)

      Other Important Sites to pay for Community College:

      CCC Money 

      CCC California Promise Grant