Can anyone guide me on transferring my community college classes to a university in the Cal State system? Are there specific agreements or pathways that make the process easier?
When transferring from a community college to a Cal State university, the most effective way to ensure your credits transfer smoothly is via the California State University (CSU) General Education Breadth Certification or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) Certification.
These are specific programs that, upon completion at a community college, will fulfill the lower-division general education requirements at any CSU facility. However, keep in mind that obtaining this certificate does not guarantee admission, and you must apply for it before you transfer, typically through a counselor at your community college.
Additionally, there's a program called Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT). When you earn an ADT at a California Community College and meet the CSU's minimum eligibility requirements, you're guaranteed admission into a CSU. However, the catch is that you're not guaranteed admission to your specific major or campus of choice.
You should visit the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office website to find out more about how to plan your courses to ensure the course credits earned at your community college can be transferred to a Cal State university. Also, Assist.org is a California state-supported website that will show you which classes at a California community college will satisfy the specific prerequisite requirements for your intended major at Cal State.
Be advised to also reach out to the admissions or counseling office of both your community college and your desired Cal State university. They will be able to give you more bespoke advice based on your course and career plans.
Remember deadlines are important in this process, so you would want to ensure that all materials, like your application and transcripts, are submitted on time.
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