Understanding Palomar College's transfer guarantee program

How does the transfer guarantee program at Palomar College work? If I'm aiming for a specific university, how can this program help me? Any experiences with this program would be great to hear about!

Palomar College has transfer agreements, also known as guaranteed admission programs, with several colleges and universities, which provide a pathway to a guaranteed spot at a four-year college after completing an associate degree or a specified set of courses at Palomar.

You start by choosing an intended major and a school you're interested in transferring to, which will determine the specific program plan you'll follow. Each program has different requirements, but generally, they expect you to declare your intent to transfer early on, follow a prescribed curriculum, maintain a certain GPA, and earn a certain number of credits.

For instance, if you want to transfer to a University of California (UC) school, you can participate in the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program which six of the UC campuses participate in (UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz). The specific requirements vary from school to school, but on average you'll need to maintain about a 3.2 GPA and complete certain course prerequisites depending on your chosen major.

Note, however, that not all majors are included in these agreements. More competitive majors at these universities may not be involved in the transfer agreement and will require a traditional application process.

Remember, it's important to closely work with your academic counselor to make sure that you're on track to meet all the requirements of the transfer agreement. They can guide you through the specifics, such as which courses to take each semester and when to submit your application, among other things.

In terms of student experiences, reactions tend to vary. Some find the transfer agreements to help provide a structured pathway to a four-year school, while others find it restrictive because of the need to stick to a specific program plan. However, most students seem to appreciate the assurance that if they meet their requirements, they'll have a guaranteed spot at the university of their choice.