How does the Santa Monica College transfer guarantee work?

I'm considering attending Santa Monica College because I heard they have transfer guarantees to certain universities. How does this guarantee program work, and which universities are involved? I'm hoping this can improve my chances of transferring successfully.

Santa Monica College (SMC) has established an impressive transfer agreement program. Their program assures qualified students a spot at one of several participating universities. However, it's crucial to note that meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not always guarantee admission to all programs at the partner universities, especially for competitive majors.

To be eligible, students often must complete a certain number of units at SMC within a specified timeframe and meet minimum GPA requirements. The exact criteria can vary from one university to another, or even among different departments within the same university.

As for the participating universities, SMC has transfer agreements with several schools. While the specific list can change from year to year, it often includes select University of California and California State University campuses, as well as a variety of private universities. You should check with SMC's Transfer Center or the counseling office for the most up-to-date list.

To take advantage of these transfer guarantees, students usually need to sign a "Transfer Admission Guarantee" or "Transfer Admission Agreement" and explicitly declare their intention to transfer to the specified institution. In most cases, this needs to occur a year before the anticipated transfer date. However, it's good practice to start the process earlier to ensure you complete all required coursework in time and follow any specific course pathway if applicable.

While these transfer guarantees can be an excellent opportunity, remember it's not the only way to transfer. If a student doesn't qualify for a guarantee, or their desired school isn't on the list, there are always traditional transfer pathways. Just keep up with those grades and extracurriculars, and you will be well-positioned!