Cerritos College AA degree and transfer process

Does earning an AA degree at Cerritos College simplify the transfer process to a four-year university? I'm looking for any insights or experiences from past students who have gone this route.

Earning an Associate's degree at a community college, like Cerritos College, can indeed facilitate the transfer process to a four-year university. The AA degree can signal to universities your readiness to handle upper-level college coursework, since you've already completed the first two years of a college education.

More directly, Cerritos College has articulation agreements with a variety of four-year colleges. These agreements basically lay out which courses at Cerritos will count for which courses at the university, ensuring you're on the right track to meet your intended university's general education and major requirements.

It's also worth noting that California community college students have added benefits if they're aiming for a California State University or University of California school. To facilitate transferring from a community college to a four-year institution, California has established the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) program. If you pursue an ADT path, you will be guaranteed admission to at least one of the CSU institutions.

Just be aware that the process requires some planning. Make sure you're regularly checking in with your academic advisor and staying on track with your course selections. Lastly, the requirements for transfer can vary widely depending on the university (as well as the major) you hope to transfer into, so research your intended transfer universities early in your community college career. Work with your counselor to ensure you're satisfying not just the requirements for your AA, but also those for the specific four-year colleges you are interested in.