Counseling FAQsNew Student FAQs


  1. Do "D" grades transfer?
  2. Do credit/no credit grades transfer?
  3. What is an impacted major?
  4. What is a competitive GPA for transfer?
  5. How can I improve my chances for admission to the school that I want to attend?
  6. What courses should I take before I transfer?
  7. What is the IGETC?
  8. What are the filing periods?
  9. Is there an application fee?
  10. What is the difference between a CSU and a UC?
  11. What is the best school for my major?
  12. Do I have to declare a major before transferring and can I change it after I transfer?
  13. Can I transfer to a UC/CSU and continue taking general education courses at the community college?
  14. How do I make an appointment to meet with a four-year college representative?
  15. How do I apply to a CSU or UC?

1.  Do "D" grades transfer?

A grade of "D" in a transferable course is acceptable and may be counted toward units. In some cases, grades of "D" are not acceptable in courses used to satisfy major or general education requirements.

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2.  Do credit/no credit grades transfer?

A course in which you earn a grade of pass or credit may be used to clear a subject requirement if your college certifies that a grade of pass or credit is equivalent to a grade of "C" or better.

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3.  What is an impacted major?

Some undergraduate programs, such as engineering, computer science and business administration, are oversubscribed at many campuses where they are offered.

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4.  What is a competitive GPA for transfer?

The average grade point average (GPA) of transfer students admitted to the University of California is 3.3 and 2.8 of the California State University. However, the average GPA varies widely by campus and by major. The GPA is only one factor by which an applicant is evaluated.

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5.  How can I improve my chances for admission to the school that I want to attend?

Because the level of competition for admission to certain campuses and programs is very high, you should consider applying to more than one campus and to programs that, while not your first choice, will allow you to fulfill your educational goals.

You may also want to consider filing for a TAG for transfers to the UC schools. Check out the TAG information by clicking here.

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6.  What courses should I take before I transfer?

Your counselor can explain which classes you must take to prepare for specific university programs. You should also discuss requirements with an academic advisor (representative) at the campus you wish to attend. The earlier you seek counseling, the earlier you will know what to take and the more time you will have to plan your program.

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7.  What is the IGETC?

The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is a series of courses prospective transfer students attending California community colleges may complete to satisfy the lower division breadth/general education requirements at both the University of California and the California State University systems. For the University of California system, if you choose to follow the IGETC, you must complete it before you transfer, otherwise you will be required to satisfy the specific lower division general education requirements of the college or school at the University of California campus you attend. Courses taken at more than one California community college may be used to fulfill the IGETC. Certain students, however, will not be well served by following IGETC. If you intend to transfer into a major that requires extensive lower division preparation, such as engineering or the physical and natural sciences, you should concentrate on completing the many prerequisites for the major that the college screens for to determine eligibility for admissions.

Your counselor can give you additional information about IGETC and advise you on which path is best for you. You should also bear in mind that IGETC is not an admission requirement. Completing it is not required nor does it guarantee admission to the campus or program of your choice.

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8.  What are the filing periods to submit application?

The filing periods for the University of California systems are as follows:

Fall Semester/Quarter - November 1-30
Winter Quarter - July 1-31
Spring Semester/Quarter - October 1-31

The filing periods for the California State University systems are as follows:

Fall Semester or Quarter - October 1 - November 30
Summer Semester or Quarter - Feb 1-28
Winter Quarter - June 1-30
Spring Semester or Quarter - August 1-31

Note: Students applying for admissions after November 30th should contact the Transfer Center, Counseling office or the individual college for the policy before they submit an application.

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9.  Is there an application fee?

The application fee is $70 for each UC campus to which you apply. You must include the fees with your application or it will not be processed.

If any of your campus and/or major choices are closed to new applicants for the term to which you apply, you will receive a refund for each closed campus and/or major. Otherwise, application fees are not refundable.

The fee for the California State University is $55 per campus.

UC  and CSU will waive application fees for up to four campuses for qualified students who would otherwise be unable to apply for admission. The fee waiver program is for United States citizens and permanent residents only.

Students who qualify for fee waivers and who select more than four campuses must pay the regular fee for each additional campus applied to.

Apply for a fee waiver:
You can apply for a fee waiver within the online application and be notified immediately whether you have qualified. You will need to provide your family's income and the number of people supported by that income.

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10.  What is the difference between a CSU and a UC?

The University of California includes ten general campuses throughout the state: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. All UC campuses operate on a quarter system, except Berkeley and Merced which operate on a semester system.  A quarter is about 10 weeks long and the academic year is three quarters. At Berkeley and Merced, the academic year is two semesters, each 16 to 18 weeks long.

The California State University is the largest four-year university in the country. More than 21,000 faculty teach over 370,000 students on 23 CSU campuses and seven off-campus centers extending from Humboldt Country in the north to San Diego in the south.

The CSU offers more than 1,600 bachelor's and master's degree programs in some 240 subject areas. Many of these programs are offered so that students can complete all upper division and graduate requirements by part-time late afternoon and evening study. In addition, a variety of teaching and school service credential programs are available. A limited number of doctoral degrees are offered jointly with the University of California and with private institutions in California.

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11.  What is the best school for my major?

To choose the best school, you must first identify those aspects of academics and campus life that are most important to you. Some examples include the academic programs, the physical setting, the size of the student body, climate, student activities and organizations. You must consider how far from home the campus is, the accessible cultural and recreational activities. To help you determine which particular campus suits your needs and personality, the Center offers field trips every Fall and Spring to different campuses. Attend their open house sessions and Preview Day events (off-campus events). If you are unable to visit a particular campus, the Transfer Center provides a variety of university videos, catalogs, and compact discs that can assist you in learning more about the campuses. In addition to visiting the campus, you should also consider talking to college representatives that will help you make the right choice and are available to answer your questions.

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12.  Do I have to declare a major before transferring and can I change it after I transfer?

For the University of California system, if you haven't yet decided on a major you may apply at all campuses with an undecided, undeclared major. You usually have until your junior year to select a major if you enter undeclared.

For the California State University system, you may transfer without declaring a major. To be admitted to impacted programs, however, you must apply to the program. The California State University system strongly encourages students to declare a major by the time they have 75 (semester) units earned.

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13.  Can I transfer to a UC/CSU and continue taking general education courses at the
community college?

For some University of California campuses, they may not accept community college work to satisfy certain requirements once you have enrolled. The dean of the college in which you are enrolled may impose other unit and/or course audit restrictions.

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14.  How do I make an appointment to meet with a four-year college representative?

Representatives regularly visit the University Transfer Center to provide transfer information to students, conduct workshops and hold individual academic advising appointments.

Check out the University Representatives page for dates and information.

Call the University Transfer Center at (805) 289-6411 to make an appointment or email us at: vctransfercenter@vcccd.edu

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15.     How do I apply to a CSU or UC?

Applications are completed online only.

For applications to a UC please click here.                  

For applications to a CSU please click here.

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