Transferring from Santa Monica College to a UC?

Can anyone share their experience transferring from Santa Monica College to a UC school? I'm specifically concerned about the courses I need to complete and any special requirements.

I'll be happy to provide some guidance on the transfer process from Santa Monica College to a UC school. The required courses will depend on your desired major at the UC school you are intending to transfer to, but there are some general education requirements that you'll need to fulfill. These are known as IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) requirements, and they're meant to ensure that you've taken a broad range of classes before transferring.

For all majors, you'll typically need to complete two English composition courses, a mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning course, and four courses from at least two of the following subject areas: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences. Additionally, you'll need to meet the requirements for language other than English, which is proficiency equivalent to two years of high school language other than English.

Next, you'll need to complete some major-specific lower division coursework. The specific courses required will depend on your intended major, which you can identify in the ASSIST website. This website provides comprehensive information about which courses at Santa Monica College are equivalent to lower-division major courses at different UC schools.

Apart from coursework, the UC schools typically want to see a minimum GPA (usually around a 3.0 or higher), but keep in mind that more competitive programs will have higher GPA expectations. Some programs may also have supplementary application requirements, such as personal statements or portfolios.

Lastly, make sure to also fulfill the seven-course pattern which requires two transferable college courses in English composition, one transferable college course in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning, and four transferable college courses chosen from at least two of the following subject areas: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences.

During your time at Santa Monica College, it would be beneficial for you to make use of resources such as academic advising and the transfer center to guide you through the process and ensure you're meeting all necessary requirements.

Remember that the transfer process can be competitive, so it's important to excel in your coursework, keep your grades up, and show that you're prepared for upper division coursework in your chosen major. Good luck in the transfer process!