How to transfer from San Diego Mesa College to a four-year university?

I'm at San Diego Mesa College right now, and I'm aiming to transfer to a UC school. Can someone explain how the transfer process works, especially regarding credits and prerequisites?

Sure, happy to help illuminate the transfer process from a California Community College like San Diego Mesa College over to a UC institution.

The best place to start is with the UC system's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) Program, which offers guaranteed admission to one of six UC campuses for California community college students who meet certain criteria. Each UC campus's TAG requirements can be found on their websites.

For the rest of the UC schools, it's still important to plan your coursework to ensure you're meeting the prerequisites and graduation requirements for your intended major at the UC institution. This is where Assist.org is very useful. This online tool makes it easy for you to check which courses at San Diego Mesa College are transferable to the UC campuses.

The general rule is that you need at least 60 semester (or 90 quarter) UC-transferable units by the end of the spring term before transferring. You must also have a minimum GPA of 2.4 for California residents. However, the requirements might be higher for your particular major or campus, so do check the specific information.

It's recommended to meet with an academic advisor at San Diego Mesa College early on to discuss your transfer goals and create an academic plan. They can make sure you are taking the required courses needed to transfer and advise you on the application process.

When it comes to applying, you'll need to apply during the filing period, which is typically the month of November for fall admission. The UC application will ask about your coursework, GPA, and extracurricular activities, and also contain a personal insight questions section. You should emphasize your academic journey, your major interest, and what makes you a unique candidate.

At San Diego Mesa College, you should consider getting involved in the Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society which can give you priority in the application review process at some UC campuses.

The last piece of advice would be to make sure to submit the Transfer Academic Update in January, where you'll update your fall grades and confirm your spring coursework.

One final note, the IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) can be completed to satisfy lower-division general education requirements at any UC campus, so you may want to consider completing this as part of your transfer plan. But again, consult with an advisor.

Remember that the most important thing is to keep track of deadlines and to consult with your academic advisor regularly to make sure you're on track. Good luck with your transfer process!