I'm considering starting at De Anza College for computer science before transferring. Does anyone have experience with how well the credits transfer to four-year schools, particularly those in the CSU system? Any tips would be appreciated!
De Anza College has a broad range of accredited courses that generally transfer well to four-year institutions. Their computer science program is well-regarded, and many students have successfully transferred from De Anza to CSU schools, as well as to UC schools and other institutions.
De Anza College is a part of the California Community College System, which is intended to work smoothly with both the California State University (CSU) System and the University of California (UC) System. As a result, many courses at California community colleges are designed to fulfill lower-division (i.e., freshman and sophomore level) requirements at CSUs. This is formalized through a system called the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG), which outlines which courses will transfer and how they'll be credited.
Regarding the transfer procedure, you have to pay close attention to articulation agreements, which are essentially agreements between De Anza and the CSU schools outlining which De Anza courses can be used to satisfy certain requirements at the CSU school.
Specific to Computer Science, De Anza offers something called an Associate in Science Degree for Transfer (AS-T) in Computer Science. This is a special degree created by a statewide agreement between the community colleges and CSU schools. If you earn this AS-T degree, you will have priority admission consideration for your local CSU campus and are guaranteed admission somewhere in the CSU system.
In terms of successfully transferring, it's crucial to maintain a high GPA and connect with a counselor at De Anza who can help with your specific transfer plan. They will help to ensure you're taking the correct courses and meeting all the requirements needed to transfer.
In summary, De Anza's Computer Science credits often transfer nicely, but you need a carefully planned out schedule and good advising to ensure you're covering all required courses.
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