Time is running out for students who are anxiously applying to the universities that look appealing to them. October is transfer month at City College and just like every year, changes are made in the academic calendar and in the requirements catalog.
“My best advice for students submitting applications is to obtain key pieces of information necessary to apply to colleges. For the CSU system, students will need to know their transferable GPA, how many transferable units they have, and the ‘golden four’ general education areas. The application period for CSU is in October and November for fall 2013 admission. For the UC system, students will apply in November for fall 2013, and they will need to write a personal essay. Students can obtain more information on transfer applications through the Career/Transfer Center in room A-111, and we have a lot of information, resources, and online help for college applications on our counseling blog,” counselor Ray Wong said.
“For future transfer students, they need to get a clear picture of their career by working with a counselor by appointment to identify a career goal. Then they need to focus on finding the right major and researching a college that suits them. With these things in place, they should work with a counselor to plan their transfer and application to the college in a timely fashion. The best time to see a counselor is usually two weeks into the semester up to the halfway point of the term.”
Erin Charlens, Ed.D., Associate Professor/City Counselor said, “As you may know, many of the UC and CSU majors have been, and remain, impacted. Because of this, many colleges are more strict about completing an appropriate general education pattern and preparatory courses for the major.” Charlens also adds, “In some cases, GPAs for admission into the major has increased. There are still many transfer guarantee options within the University of California system. Locally however, UCSD will be eliminating its (Transfer Admission Guarantee) after the fall 2014 admission cycle. SDSU has eliminated TAG for some majors due to the passage of SB 1440. While the TAG is generally still in existence at SDSU, students should not assume guaranteed admission into their major.
“Transfer requirements are changing rapidly statewide. As always, students who receive an educational plan should stay connected with their counselors and with the Transfer Career Center for updates,” Charlens said.
Charlens also warned future students, “There are many other discussions at the state level with regard to student success. Newly admitted students to the San Diego Community College District should carefully follow the matriculation process within the first semester: assessment, orientation, and educational planning. These steps are crucial to ensuring that students understand how to successfully navigate their way to their respective academic goals. Immediately upon entry, students should begin thinking about their career goals, the educational process they should follow to reach their career goals, and partnering with the counseling office to develop an educational or career plan.”
