How to transfer from De Anza College to UCLA?

I'm currently at De Anza College and really want to transfer to UCLA. Does anyone have experience with this? What are the key steps and requirements I should be aware of?

Transferring from a community college like De Anza to a four-year university like UCLA is quite common, and UCLA has a fair number of transfer students each year. Here's a high-level overview of steps to consider:

1. Understand UCLA's transfer admission requirements: All applicants must hold at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units of transferable coursework; have a competitive GPA (recent admits usually have GPAs above 3.5); and have completed the seven-course pattern by the end of the spring term prior to fall admission. That pattern includes: two courses in English composition, one course in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning, and four courses in at least two of the following subject areas: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences.

2. Work out a roadmap for your studies at De Anza: You will want to check the articulation agreement between De Anza and UCLA to ensure you're taking courses that will count towards your degree at UCLA. Assist.org is a great tool that lets you see which classes at De Anza are equivalent to classes at UCLA.

3. Major Preparation: If there's a specific major you're interested in, pay close attention to major preparation courses. These are classes that a department wants you to complete before transferring, to demonstrate that you can handle the curriculum.

4. Tag Program: UCLA doesn't participate in TAG – Transfer Admission Guarantee. However, it's part of the TAP - Transfer Alliance Program. This honors program gives you an edge when applying to UCLA College (Letters and Science). If you're interested in a major in UCLA College, consider participating in De Anza's Honors Program.

5. UC Application: You’ll need to fill out the University of California application, since UCLA is part of UC system. The application is usually open from August, and the deadline is normally the end of November for fall term admission.

6. Personal Insight Questions: As part of your UC application, you need to answer Personal Insight Questions (essays). Take time crafting your responses to these, as they're your chance to tell your story and show why you'd be a good fit at UCLA.

7. Send your transcripts: You will also need to send official transcripts from De Anza and any other institutes you've attended.

Remember, it's always helpful to speak with your De Anza academic/career counselor. They can support you through the transfer process and help you navigate requirements. Also, try to attend a UCLA transfer admission presentation if you can. Best of luck with your transfer!