How does the community college transfer guarantee to UC schools work?

I'm looking into the possibility of transferring from a community college to a University of California school. I've read about some kind of transfer guarantee program. Can anyone explain what it is and how to benefit from it?

Absolutely, I'd be happy to explain. You're probably referring to the "Transfer Admission Guarantee" (TAG) program that is provided by the University of California system. Under the TAG program, participating community college students in California are guaranteed admission to one of six participating UC campuses if they meet certain eligibility requirements.

The six UC campuses participating in the TAG program are: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz. The more selective UC campuses, specifically UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego, do not participate in the TAG program.

To qualify for TAG, a student must meet several criteria:

1. Hold a California community college attendance record: To be part of the program, you would need to be enrolled at a California community college. The UC system has an established network of community colleges that actively participate in the TAG program.

2. Fulfill the GPA prerequisite: Each UC campus sets its own GPA requirement for TAG, which tends to be higher than the minimum transfer GPA. For example, UC Davis requires a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 in all UC-transferable college coursework, while UC Irvine requires a minimum GPA of 3.4.

3. Complete 60 semester or 90 quarter UC-transferable units by the end of the spring term prior to fall admission: These units should include required courses in both general education and your intended major.

4. Fulfill coursework in English and Mathematics: This includes two English composition courses and one course in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning.

Once you are positive that you meet all the requirements, the next step would be to create an account on the UC Transfer Admission Planner (TAP) and input your academic history. This is an online tool designed to help prospective transfer students to track their progress towards meeting TAG requirements. In September, you would formally submit your TAG application through the UC TAP.

Afterwards, you would need to submit a UC application for undergraduate admission and scholarships during the standard UC application filing period which is from November 1–30. Remember to indicate in your application that you have a TAG.

Tagged students must also satisfy English language proficiency and meet all coursework and GPA requirements.

Remember that TAG isn't the only pathway to transfer to a UC school. Many students successfully transfer to UC schools, including the more selective ones not in the TAG program, without a TAG agreement. Each UC campus (except for UCSF, which is only for graduate-level study) has a comprehensive review process where they're looking at coursework and GPA, but also extracurricular involvement, essays, and potential to contribute to the campus community.

Hope this gives you a clear idea about the TAG program and its benefits. Make sure to also consult with your community college transfer center or counselor, who can provide more guidance based on your specific situation. Good luck!