Details on Golden West College's transfer guarantee program

I've been studying at Golden West College and heard about a transfer guarantee program. Can anyone share how this works and what steps I need to take to be part of it? Is it applicable to UC or CSU schools?

Golden West College is part of the California Community Colleges system, which offers guaranteed transfer agreements to several universities, depending on your preferred major and target university. These programs ensure that community college students who complete certain academic requirements are guaranteed admission to a four-year college.

Two main programs come to mind:

1. Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG): Seven University of California (UC) campuses offer guaranteed admission to California community college students who meet specific requirements via their TAG program. To be eligible, students usually need to complete a certain number of UC-transferable units and maintain a specific GPA, among others. The participating UC campuses are Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and, for some majors, UC San Diego.

2. Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT): If you're interested in transferring to a California State University (CSU), the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) guarantees admission to the CSU system, though not necessarily to the specific campus or major of choice. You would need to earn an associate degree at your community college and meet the program’s requirements.

You would typically work with a counselor at Golden West College to map out an education plan aligning with TAG or ADT requirements. A few key steps would likely include: selecting a target university and major, taking the right classes to fulfill degree and UC or CSU transfer requirements, maintaining a strong GPA, and meeting all relevant application deadlines.

Remember to start this process early in your community college career to ensure you're taking the necessary courses. Lastly, it's crucial to note that both TAG and ADT demand completion of admission and financial aid applications for the universities you plan to transfer to within the required timelines.