We know that you have many questions and concerns about how to prepare for transfer to a four-year institution. Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions!

How do I receive credit for my Advanced Placement test scores?
The credit granted by San Diego City College may differ from the university you plan to attend. First, you will need to identify the university you are planning to transfer to, review their AP policy and meet with the Honors counselors to verify the proper use of the AP test scores to satisfy the general education requirements. Special paperwork is required to receive credit for SDCC college work.

How do I know if a class is transferable?
Semesterly meetings with your Honors Counselor to plan your upcoming schedule will provide an opportunity to double-check on the transferability of all your courses. All students are strongly encouraged to meet with the designated honors counselor as soon as possible to create an Education Plan to use as a guide when registering for classes. All of the honors courses offered at City, Mesa and Miramar Colleges are currently transferable as lower-division courses to the UC and CSU systems, as well as to all of our other transfer alliance institutions. The rare exception would be an Honors “265” course, an experimental course which is not part of the college catalog offerings, which may only be accepted as an elective, or not at all, at certain four-year institutions. Check with your college counselor for information about the transferability of any Honors “265” course you are planning to take.

How much of my major prerequisites must I complete before I transfer?
Most universities require that you have all of the major prerequisite course work completed before transfer.

What is CSU Certification?
By completing the general education course work pattern, Plan B, San Diego City College “certifies” to the CSU that you have completed all or part of the SDCC lower division general education requirements to be honored by all CSU campuses. You must initiate the certification process during the final semester prior to transfer. Course work from other community college will be “passed along” to the CSUs.

What is IGETC Certification?
By completing the general education course work pattern, plan C, “certifies “ to the UCs and CSUs that you have completed the lower division general education requirements for their system (with some exceptions in the UC system.) See the Honors counselor for exceptions. You must initiate the certification process the final semester before you transfer.

Is IGETC Certification enough to get me into the UC or CSU of my choice?
You will also need to complete the required prerequisites for your major. The first step is to identify a major and choose a transfer institution. Each university’s transfer requirements for your major may vary. It is important to work closely with the Honors counselor and Transfer Center to determine the appropriate classes for you to take.
What if San Diego City College doesn’t offer a required prerequisite course for my major?
It depends upon your major and the college or university you intend to apply to. Some may require completion at another community college or university prior to transfer. Work closely with the Honors counselor to determine the university’s requirements.

What is an Education Plan? How often can I change it?
With the help of the Honors counselor, students prepare an Educational Plan that specifies the general education and major prerequisite courses required for transfer to a four-year institution. This plan will help the student determine the courses they should take each semester. It will need to be revised if the transfer institutions change major prerequisite requirements or if the student changes majors or choice of institutions. Meet with the Honors counselor each semester to make sure that you are on the right track.

How can I receive information about financial aid and scholarships for my transfer institution?
Your college Transfer Center is a valuable resource for general financial aid and scholarship information. Students should also contact their college or university of choice to inquire about scholarships and financial aid offered by the school itself. Often, once students are accepted into an institution, financial aid information is included in an acceptance packet.

How do I apply for scholarship funds?
There are many Internet sources and books on the market which offer valuable information about available scholarships. There are scholarship funds available which cover a broad range of topics including special interests, ethnic and cultural backgrounds and future career interests. A word to the wise - plan well in advance if you intend to apply for a number of scholarships. In most cases, you must first make a request via mail for an official application for each specific scholarship, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope. This means an investment in time and money! Each scholarship application, once it arrives, will have specific requirements that must be followed exactly in order for your application to be considered (e.g. essay topic and length, limit on numbers of letters of recommendation, official or unofficial transcripts, etc.). Mail your completed application in early! As in many life circumstances, “first come, first served” is usually the way of scholarship funds. Once monies have been awarded for the year or the semester, that’s it. Be one of the first to apply!

What is the difference between the “T.A.G.” program and the Honors Transfer Alliance Program?
The UCSD and SDSU T.A.G. (Transfer Admission Guarantee) Program offers students guaranteed transfer to these institutions upon the successful completion of the specified TAG requirements. Requirements include a minimum GPA (2.60 at SDSU; 2.80 at UCSD), a minimum and a maximum number of transferable units, California residency, and a declared major. Students who have already received a Bachelor’s degree within or outside of the United States are inelliglible for T.A.G.

All students planning to transfer via the T.A.G. program must submit an official Admission application within the published deadlines for the quarter or semester applicable on their T.A.G. contract (as much as 9-12 months in advance) as well as attend all mandatory T.A.G. workshops.

Now for the BAD NEWS. Admission to the T.A.G. institution of your choice does not insure that you will be accepted into your first-choice major. Many majors at UCSD, such as Biology, Computer Science, Engineering and Literature/Writing, are greatly impacted. Currently, due to the increasing number of students at SDSU and the number of impacted majors there, the average timetable for the completion of a Bachelor’s degree at SDSU is 7.5 years!
( What is the difference between the T.A.G. program and the Honors Transfer Alliance Program?, continued)

The GOOD NEWS is... the Honors Transfer Alliance Program offers the exemplary student priority consideration for admission to an ever increasing number of prestigious academic institutions when that student completes 15 or more units of honors-level credit. Our transfer partners include institutions such as UCLA, UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine, and the University of Southern California, as well as highly esteemed private institutions such as Pomona, Pitzer, Chapman and Pepperdine Universities. Additionally, for those students interested in transferring to San Diego State University, our Transfer Alliance Agreement with SDSU allows qualifying students to transfer directly into the SDSU Honors Program as juniors with the added bonus of receiving priority enrollment status. This means that students transferring to SDSU through the Honors Program, rather than T.A.G., will not have to contend with SDSU’s legendary problems involving impacted classes and majors.

Whether or not your first choice transfer institution is currently one of our transfer partners should not influence your decision to participate in the Honors Program. No matter where you are planning to transfer, having “Honors” on your transcript will only enhance your chances of acceptance and give you the finest preparation possible for the multitude of challenges to be found in a Bachelor’s degree program. After all, academic institutions know that taking on the rigors of honors course work is completely voluntary. The student who chooses to participate in an honors program is almost always one who is bright, curious, goal-oriented, determined to succeed and interested in getting the most out of their education. These are the kind of students that colleges and universities want on their campuses!