Requirements for transferring from a California community college?

I'm thinking about starting my college journey at a community college in California. What are the general requirements I need to meet to transfer to a four-year university, like a UC or Cal State? Want to ensure I'm on the right track!

The University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems have established pathways for California community college students who are interested in transferring.

Firstly, the UC has a program called Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) in seven UCs: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz. Through TAG, you'll need to complete certain courses and maintain a specific GPA to be guaranteed admission.

For the CSU system, community college students can follow the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) path. By earning an ADT in a major-related field, you will be given admission priority when applying to a similar major program at a CSU campus.

Every UC and CSU has slightly different requirements for transfer students, but common requirements include:

1. Complete at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of UC-transferable coursework.

2. Maintain at least a 2.4 GPA. Some selective majors may require a higher GPA for transfer admission consideration.

3. Complete a series of general education requirements, also known as breadth requirements.

For UC schools specifically, you should also complete major preparation coursework to make yourself competitive for your major’s department. You can look this up by searching "(School Name) transfer major preparation."

The UC system does not consider letters of recommendation for most applicants. Letters of recommendation will only be requested for specific applicants, as part of a supplementary review. CSU (Cal State) schools do not require letters of recommendation at all.

Do keep track of your progress using tools provided by your community college and the UC/CSU system. The Assist.org website is particularly useful for seeing how your community college courses may transfer to a UC or CSU campus.

Remember that all this information is a rough guide. You should make a transfer plan with your community college counselor or transfer center to make sure you're on the right track to meet every requirement and deadline. Also, for each school you’re considering, be sure to review the specific admissions requirements on its website to ensure that you're meeting them.

Applying for financial aid as a transfer student is similar to when you were first entering college. You will need to have your FAFSA or California Dream Act application completed by March 2 of the year you are planning to transfer. Do keep in mind that UC and CSU campus deadlines might be earlier.

For those seeking to transfer from a California Community College to either a UC or a CSU campus, it's a well-trodden path with lots of resources and assistance available. Don't be afraid to ask your community college advisors and administrators for help when you need it. Happy planning!