What's the process to transfer from Berkeley City College to UC Berkeley?

I'm currently looking at attending Berkeley City College first, then transferring to UC Berkeley. How does this transfer process work? Are there special requirements or agreements between the colleges that I should be aware of?

The transfer process from Berkeley City College (BCC) to UC Berkeley involves a series of steps that will move you from your current institution to your new university. Here's a brief overview:

1. Complete Required Coursework: UC Berkeley and other UC schools require you to complete a set of general education or breadth requirements before transferring. To meet the prerequisites for your intended major, you can follow the IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum), a series of courses that community college students can use to fulfill lower-division general education requirements at any UC campus.

2. Get Good Grades: UC Berkeley is a highly competitive school and you need a strong GPA to be a competitive applicant. While there is no official cut-off, successful transfer applicants usually have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

3. Use ASSIST: This is a student-transfer information system that displays reports of how course credits earned at one California college or university can be applied when transferred to another. ASSIST is an online student-transfer tool that can give you an idea of which classes at BCC will transfer to UC Berkeley for credit.

4. Take Advantage of Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) Programs: UC Berkeley doesn't participate in the TAG program, but completing TAG with another UC can serve as a backup plan. TAG offers guaranteed admission to students at participating community colleges, including BCC.

5. Apply to UC Berkeley: You'll fill out UC Berkeley's application online and submit it.

6. Send Your Transcripts: Once you've received your acceptance letter from UC Berkeley, you will need to send them your final official transcripts from BCC.

One key thing to remember is that while BCC and UC Berkeley are part of the same broader system and located in the same city, there's no official agreement guaranteeing BCC students admission to UC Berkeley. Each application is reviewed on its own merits. Resources like BCC's Transfer Center, UC Berkeley's admissions office, and potential academic advisors can provide further guidance about specific program prerequisites and planning your course load to optimize your chances.