I'm considering starting at a community college but would love to transfer to a UC after one year. Has anyone done this or know if it's possible? What should I plan to make it happen?
Indeed, it is possible to transfer from a community college to a University of California (UC) school after one year. However, admission for transfer students typically favors those who have completed two years (or around 60 semester units) as they are deemed as junior transfers. These students are prioritized because they usually have all their lower-division general education courses and prerequisites for their major completed.
That said, if you're planning to transfer after one year, it's crucial to work closely with the academic advisors at your community college and at the UC you're targeting. They can guide you on the best strategies to meet as many requirements as possible within that year. It's important that your courses are transferable and count towards the general education requirements and prerequisites for your intended major at the UC.
The UC system also has the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program with six of its nine undergraduate campuses. However, this requires community college students to fulfill certain criteria over two years, so it may not be applicable in your case but it's good to be aware of this program.
In summary, while transferring after one year is possible, it could be more challenging, requires careful planning, and might limit the UC campuses and majors that will accept you.
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