Understanding CSU Ventura College's transfer guarantee

I'm a student at Ventura College and heard about a transfer guarantee with CSU campuses. How does this program work, and what are the eligibility requirements? I'm hoping to make my transfer as smooth as possible.

You're referring to the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) program, which is a special degree offered through the California Community Colleges (CCCs) that guarantees transfer to a California State University (CSU). As a Ventura College student, if you earn an Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T), you are guaranteed a spot at a CSU campus, though not necessarily your top-choice campus or major.

The requirements for ADT completion are as follows:

1. Obtainment of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.

2. Completion of IGETC or CSU GE-Breadth.

3. Completion of a minimum of 18 units in an AA-T or AS-T major as detailed in the course catalog.

4. Certified completion of either the California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) pattern or the Inter-segment General Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), each of which requires 37-39 units.

Remember, not all degrees and majors have an associated ADT pathway, and not all CSU campuses offer all majors, so you will need to research which campus and major align with your future educational goals. Also, you need to file the transfer degree by a certain deadline, which varies by institution, so ask your advisor or the school's transfer center to make sure you stay on top of key dates.

An important aspect to understand is that this guarantee works slightly differently for each CSU, so it's wise to get familiar with your prospective CSU institutions' specific policies around transfer students. However, the fundamental concept is that by completing a qualifying AA-T or AS-T, you have a streamlined path to a CSU campus. The goal of the program is to provide a clear pathway to further your education and facilitate the transfer process. It is a fantastic initiative that smooths the transition for many students.