Transferring from Pasadena City College with an Associate Degree

If I complete an associate degree for transfer at Pasadena City College, how does this affect my ability to transfer to a CSU or UC? Does it guarantee admission into certain programs?

Completing an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) from a California community college, like Pasadena City College, provides several advantages if you're looking to transfer to a California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) campus.

First off, students who complete an ADT are guaranteed admission to a CSU, but that doesn't mean they will be accepted into their first-choice campus or program. The guarantee is often to a non-impacted campus that has capacity, rather than to a specific major or campus of choice. Still, many students with an ADT applying to CSU have a good success rate into their first-choice campus.

Additionally, students with an ADT are given priority admission consideration over other transfer applicants to their local CSU campus. And when applying to a CSU program that is deemed similar to the student's community college major, the student is given a special GPA advantage.

On the UC side, there is not a similar "guarantee" with an ADT. However, the UC system does have the Transfer Admission Guarantee program with several of its campuses, allowing California community college students to secure a spot at a UC school if they meet certain requirements. You would still need to apply and adhere to all the usual deadlines.

Please bear in mind, when you transfer, how many and which credits will be accepted is always at the discretion of the institution you are transferring to. So, it is always prudent to reach out to the admissions office of the CSU or UC you are interested in to get an idea of how your credits would transfer.

Ultimately, the ADT pathway can be very helpful in transitioning to a four-year university in California, but it is important to understand the specific benefits and restrictions that come with it.