How does the Cypress College Transfer Agreement work?

I'm considering transferring from Cypress College to a university, and I've heard about transfer agreements. Can someone explain how the transfer agreement process works here and what I should be doing to prepare for it?

The transfer agreement, often called a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) or an articulation agreement, is a contract between Cypress College (community college) and a four-year college or university. This agreement outlines the courses that you need to take at the community college level in order to be guaranteed admission at the four-year school.

Cypress College has transfer agreements with a few California State Universities (CSUs) and Universities of California (UCs) as well as some private institutions. It's crucial to check the specific requirements for each as they can vary.

Here's a simplified version of the process:

1. Identify your target schools: Explore which schools Cypress College has transfer agreements with and, from those, identify the ones you're interested in.

2. Plan your coursework: Take a look at the specific requirements for each university. This often involves completing a certain set of general education requirements, plus major-specific courses. Also, maintaining a specific GPA is typically part of the agreement.

3. Meet with an advisor: A counselor at Cypress College can help you make sure you're meeting all of your coursework and GPA requirements, and that you're on track for the timeline outlined in the transfer agreement.

4. Apply for the TAG: This is often done a year in advance of when you plan to matriculate at the four-year institution.

5. Send in your applications: Even with a transfer agreement in place, you still need to go through the regular application process at the four-year school.

6. Maintain your standards: Even after you've been accepted, you need to maintain your grades and continue to meet all outlined prerequisites. Otherwise, the school might rescind the offer.

Remember, by fully understanding your chosen universities' requirements and frequently speaking with an advisor, you can achieve a smooth transfer process. Even if you don't get accepted through TAG, you can still apply through regular transfer admissions. The coursework you've done to meet your TAG requirements will bear significance in your transfer application.

It's also important to note that the application deadlines and requirements for these agreements can change from year to year, so always stay up-to-date with the most recent information available.