Is it hard to transfer to UCLA from a community college?

I'm currently at a community college and really want to transfer to UCLA. I've heard it's tough, so I'm trying to get an idea of the requirements. Any advice from those who have successfully transferred would be awesome!

Transferring to UCLA from a community college can be challenging due to the competitive nature of the admissions process, but it's certainly not impossible! The first thing to keep in mind is that UCLA (along with all UC schools) follows a pattern of specific courses that prospective transfer students need to complete prior to transferring. This generally involves fulfilling the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), which lays out the specific courses required in areas like English, math, and the social and natural sciences.

Another important factor is your GPA. While the minimum GPA requirement for transfer students is 2.4 for California residents (and 2.8 for non-residents), the average GPA of admitted transfer students is typically much higher, often above 3.5. Certain programs may have even more competitive GPAs. Courses relevant to your intended major are particularly important, and should be a focus of your academic efforts.

Another factor that can play into your application is the completion of a major preparation coursework. Students are strongly recommended to complete all lower division prep courses for their chosen major/s of interest prior to transferring.

Additionally, special consideration is given to students who are a part of the California Community College Transfer Agreement Guarantee (TAG) Program, which guarantees admission for students from participating community colleges who meet certain criteria. Keep in mind that TAG is applicable to only certain UC campuses, and unfortunately, UCLA is not one among them.

Lastly, UCLA (like all UC schools) does not consider letters of recommendation as part of the application review process.

Overall, with strong academic performance, completion of the necessary coursework, and a compelling personal statement, numerous community college students successfully transfer to UCLA each year. Remember, start early, plan diligently and make use of the resources available to you!