Transferring from City College of San Francisco to UC

I'm at City College of San Francisco and looking to transfer to a UC. How do the credits transfer in the UC system? Are there specific courses that will not transfer, and what's the best way to plan my classes accordingly?

The good news is that the UC system has a strong partnership with the California community college system, so many (if not most) of your credits should indeed transfer seamlessly. However, not every course will necessarily transfer, so you're wise to seek out some guidance on this.

To get started, give ASSIST.org a try. ASSIST is an online student-transfer information system that shows how course credits earned at one California public college or university can be applied when transferred to another. You can plug in City College of San Francisco and the UC to which you're considering transferring, and the site will help provide guidance about whether and how specific courses will transfer.

Many aspiring UC students also follow a path known as the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). By completing IGETC, you can satisfy the lower-division general education requirements for all UC campuses, and enter directly as a junior as if you had been there all along! Consult your community college adviser or use an online tool like ASSIST to see if your courses fit into the IGETC.

As always, reaching out to an advisor or a transfer representative from the specific UC you're aiming to transfer to can help clarify any lingering uncertainties. Each UC campus has dedicated staff to help students navigate the transfer process, so don't hesitate to utilize them!

Ideally, you would also consider which UC campus and which major you're most interested in. The more specific your end goal, the easier it will be to work backwards and make sure the classes you're taking now will be applicable later, as specific transfer policies can vary from school to school, even within the overall UC system.

Remember: planning is everything. Map out your goals and courses as early as possible to ensure a smooth transfer process. Have regular meetings with your educational counselor or academic adviser to keep track of your academic progress, connect with advisors at your target UC campus, and to adjust your plan if needed. Good luck!