Transferring from California community colleges to UCs?

I'm in high school and considering going to a community college in California first. What is the process like for transferring from a CC to a UC? Any specific programs or pathways I should look into?

The process of transferring from a California community college (CC) to a University of California school (UC) is quite streamlined through something called the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program. Six UC campuses offer guaranteed admission to California community college students who meet specific requirements. Those campuses are UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz. Note that UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego do not participate in the TAG program.

To be eligible for TAG, you must complete a specific number of UC transferable units (usually around 60 semester or 90 quarter units) composed of your general education and major prerequisite courses. Additionally, you will need to maintain a specific minimum GPA, which can range from 2.4 to 3.4, depending on the UC campus and major.

The application for TAG is usually due one year in advance of your planned transfer date. So if you plan to transfer in the fall term, you would submit your TAG application the prior September. Once you've submitted the TAG application, you continue to focus on maintaining your grades and taking the specified courses in your TAG agreement.

In addition to TAG, there is also the UC Transfer Pathways program. This is a roadmap for students planning to transfer to any UC campus in one of the most popular majors. The Transfer Pathways guide you in what classes to take to be competitive within those specific majors.

Both TAG and the UC Transfer Pathways are great resources to help simplify the transfer process and increase your odds of admission. Remember to regularly consult with academic advisors at both your community college and prospective UC campuses to ensure you're staying on track.