AA Transfer from Community College to Cal State

I'd love to transfer from a community college to a Cal State school. What requirements should I be aware of when transferring an AA degree? Any advice on what makes applications stronger?

When transferring from a community college to a California State University (CSU), there are several requirements worth noting:

1. You should aim for a GPA of at least 2.0 as a resident or 2.4 as a non-resident or private school transfer.

2. Completion of 60 or more transferable semester units (90 or more quarter units) is necessary. Remember that not every credit or course taken at a community college is transferable, so check with a counselor or the online articulation agreement to be sure.

3. Completion of Golden 4 requirement courses (with a grade of C- or better): oral communication, written communication, critical thinking, and a math/quantitative reasoning course above intermediate Algebra.

4. Finally, you must be in good standing at the last institution you attended (most recent college or university).

One piece of advice to make your application stronger is to complete an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) if possible. The ADT guarantees admission into the CSU system (although not necessarily to a specific campus or major), and many of CSU's popular programs give priority to ADT students.

Another suggestion is to choose your classes wisely. Make sure they are transferable and contribute to your intended major at the CSU. You can use resources like ASSIST.org to see which courses fulfill requirements for specific majors at CSU.

Lastly, make sure to share your experiences outside of the classroom. CSU may consider factors such as leadership, community service, special talents, or even compelling life circumstances. So, if you have meaningful experiences in these areas, be sure to highlight them in your transfer application.

Remember to keep close tabs on application deadlines and reach out to university transfer advisors to ensure you are on track and all your questions are answered. Good luck on your journey!