What is a Transfer Admission Guarantee at College of Alameda?

I've heard about Transfer Admission Guarantees (TAG) at community colleges. Can someone explain how the TAG program works at College of Alameda? I'm considering attending there, but I'm not sure how the process works.

A Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) is a program followed by many community colleges, including the College of Alameda, that establishes an agreement between the college and a four-year university. This program ensures that students who fulfill certain academic requirements at their community college will have guaranteed admission to the participating four-year institution.

At College of Alameda, students usually need to complete a specific number of credits in chosen fields with a specified GPA (often ranging between 2.8 and 3.4 depending on the four-year institution) by the end of spring term prior to the fall they plan to transfer.

One key component of the TAG process is early planning. Students typically start working with an advisor to discuss their educational and career goals and create an academic plan, as early as their first semester at the community college.

After this, students apply for a TAG with the university they're interested in. This generally occurs one year before the student plans to transfer. Each university has its own set of deadlines, but it's typically in the fall (around September).

Additionally, certain majors might be excluded from the TAG program, depending on the four-year university. For example, popular and competitive programs like nursing or engineering may not be included.

Finally, even though the student gets guaranteed admission, they're still required to submit a regular application to the university during the application period.

Remember, the TAG agreement does not prevent you from applying to other universities or programs in the usual way. So, if you want to keep your options open beyond the institution you have a TAG agreement with, you can (and should) apply to other places as well.

Contact the College of Alameda's academic advising or transfer center for more detailed and personalized guidance. Make sure you understand which courses to take, the GPA you need to maintain, and any other specific conditions like deadlines and excluded majors. That way, you can maximize this excellent opportunity to streamline and secure your path to a four-year university.