Is transferring from Bakersfield College to a UC possible?

I'm considering the University of California system after starting at Bakersfield College. Is this a viable path, and what should I know about the UC transfer process from a community college?

Absolutely, transferring from a community college such as Bakersfield College to a University of California (UC) school is not only possible, it's quite common. In fact, the UC system has a program designed specifically to facilitate transfers from California community colleges.

The program is called "Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)" and it allows students from participating community colleges, who meet certain eligibility requirements, to secure guaranteed admission to one of six UC campuses (UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz). Do note that there are still specific course and GPA requirements that need to be met for each major at each campus.

If you're aiming to transfer to one of the UCs not listed in TAG, or if you want to keep your options open, you can still apply without the TAG guarantee (UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego). Admission will be more competitive, but many students successfully make this transition each year.

The UC system places a strong emphasis on your coursework and GPA from your community college rather than your high school record. This is good news for students who may have struggled a bit in high school or didn't meet the UC's high school requirements the first go-round.

As a general rule, you'll need to complete at least 60 UC-transferable semester (or 90 quarter) units by the time you transfer, maintain a particular GPA (varies by campus and TAG), and complete certain prerequisite courses for your intended major.

Since admission criteria can vary, each UC campus and each major might have different prerequisite coursework and GPA requirements. So I strongly recommend you to check each campus's requirements specifically and to work with both your Bakersfield College counselor and UC campus contacts to ensure you're on the right track.

In terms of timeline, it's common for students to apply for transfer admission while in their second year at community college, to enter the UC system as a junior.

In essence, with careful academic planning and guidance, transferring from a community college like Bakersfield College to a UC is quite achievable and could serve as a viable path to your college degree. Good luck!