How can I transfer credits from community college to CSUF?

I've taken a bunch of courses at my local community college and was wondering how to transfer those credits to CSU Fullerton. What steps should I be aware of, and are there any common issues I should avoid?

The process of transferring credits from a community college to CSU Fullerton (CSUF) primarily involves following a few key steps:

1. Meet with your counselor: Your community college counselor can provide vital help in the transfer process. They can guide you to select the transferable courses that will align with your intended major at CSUF.

2. Check course articulation agreements: Articulation agreements are arrangements between institutions detailing how specific courses will be transferred between them. CSUF provides a Transfer Evaluation System tool through which you can check the transferability of your courses. Alternatively, you can use Assist.org, which provides official transfer and articulation information for California's public colleges and universities.

3. Submit your transcripts: After you have applied and have been accepted to CSUF, you need to send your official transcripts from your community college to the CSUF Admissions and Records office. Be sure to include all of the institutions you have attended.

4. Complete a transcript evaluation: CSUF evaluates your transferred courses to see if they meet the requirements for your intended major or general education.

5. Enroll in courses: After your transcripts have been evaluated, you can meet with an academic advisor at CSUF and enroll in the appropriate courses.

A common issue to avoid is assuming that all your credits will automatically be applicable at CSUF or count towards your desired degree. Not all courses from a community college may be transferable, or they may not satisfy the major, minor, or general education requirements at CSUF. For instance, remedial or vocational courses often don't transfer.

Stay organized with your paperwork, keep communication open with both your community college and CSUF advisors, and start this process early. Also, keep track of transfer deadlines at CSUF to avoid any last-minute hassles.