What are the transfer opportunities at Diablo Valley College?

I'm currently attending Diablo Valley College and looking into transfer opportunities. What kind of pathways or programs are available to facilitate transferring to a four-year university? Any tips on making the most of these opportunities?

Diablo Valley College (DVC) is known for its robust transfer programs and has established relationships with many universities. Be sure to utilize all of the transfer resources available to you at DVC to maximum benefit.

One popular pathway from DVC is to the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. DVC has agreements with these universities to facilitate the transfer process. These agreements, known as Transfer Admission Guarantees (TAGs) or Articulation Agreements, often simplify the journey towards transferring by offering an outlined path of required courses and a guaranteed transfer upon the completion of certain requirements (such as maintaining a minimum GPA).

Another pathway to consider is the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT). This pathway guarantees admission to a CSU campus with junior status. An ADT earned at DVC can make you a more competitive candidate to the CSU system and may help you transfer into a similar major at a CSU faster.

DVC also has transfer partnerships with private schools, including many in the Bay Area. For example, DVC has agreements with Saint Mary’s College of California and University of San Francisco to assure DVC students’ admittance, providing certain criteria are met.

To make the most of these opportunities, a few tips include:

1. Speak with an Academic Counselor: DVC has dedicated counselors who can guide you through the transfer process. They can help you understand all the resources available to you and assist you in college selection, as well as course mapping, to fulfill all necessary prerequisites for a smooth transfer.

2. Attend Transfer Workshops and Fairs: These are great places to connect directly with university representatives, learn more about various institutions, and get answers to your college-specific questions.

3. Use Assist.org: Assist.org is an online tool that shows how course credits transfer between California Community Colleges and four-year universities in the UC and CSU systems. This can be useful in course planning and ensuring you’re meeting your target university's requirements.

4. Maintain a strong GPA: A high GPA can increase your likelihood of acceptance to your desired college. Prioritize your studies to make sure you’re meeting (or exceeding) the minimum GPA requirements for your chosen transfer pathway.

5. Start early: The transfer process will be less stressful if you plan ahead. Familiarize yourself early on with deadlines for the colleges you’re interested in.

Making the most of these steps will help ensure you're taking the right steps towards transferring to a four-year institution from DVC.