Is it very difficult to transfer to a university after two years in a community college?

Question

I'll be attending a community college where I live here in CA next year, but I really want to go to an actual university. I would go right after my senior year is over, but I don't have the grades. So after my two years at the community college are over will I be accepted to a university such as SDSU or any of the other CSU's? How does that work anyway? Thanks for the advice =]

Also, when you're a transfer student, do the universities focus mainly on the two years you just completed at the community college, or on your high school grades/gpa?

Answer 1

My experience is that just about every student who graduates from a community college and wants to go on, manages to do so. The only problem is if you are very limited in where you are willing to go. Assuming you did reasonably well at your college, transfer to a CSU shouldn't be a problem at all, but if too many people want to go to SDSU that year, they could limit the number of transfers they will take, so you need to have potential back-ups.

Make sure that you are taking academic track classes at your college (things like cosmetology and auto mechanics won't transfer, and neither will some other classes; for example, I teach marketing at a 4-year college as an upper division - junior or senior-level - class, and we don't accept marketing from a community college as a substitute) and talk to your advisor, to make sure that you are taking the things you need in order to make that transfer. There are agreements, called articulation agreements, between the community colleges and 4-year colleges that specify what kind of credit you will be able to transfer for each course from one school to the other).

In the second year of community college, you then need to apply to the school(s) in which you are interested as a transfer student. How easy that will be may depend upon the size of the freshman class that year at the 4-year college. If they have a lot of freshmen, they may take fewer transfer students, while if the numbers of freshmen are down, they may take more. If you have an unpopular major, your chances of transferring may be greater than if you want to major in something that everyone else wants too.

Answer 2

Once you enter a CC, you start with a clean slate. In other words, as a transfer student, your high school record does not count. You will probably hear about it when you start at a CC but the best way to transfer is to sign a transfer agreement that guarantees you admission at many of the UCs and CSUs. Yes, you are guaranteed admission if you take two-years worth of assigned courses and maintain a GPA of slightly less than a B.

I don't know if you live in the San Diego but all CCs in the area should have an agreement with SDSU as well as UCSD. Before you choose your CC, take a look and see what schools they have the agreements because they are not all the same. Look for the term TAG or Transfer Admission Guarantee. Of course, you can take a chance and not sign a transfer agreement but having specific goals and rewards will keep you motivated. Just think of it as your second chance. Good luck.

Answer 3

No, its not difficult to transfer to an university.

Go to www.assist.org and find out what classes you need to transfer to SDSU or the other CSUs. That website will tell you what classes you need to take at your community college and which classes at your CC is almost the same at the CSUs. If you do pretty well in those 2 years, then you will most likely be accepted into a CSU.

Answer 4

I live in CA also and am transfering in the fall. Just work hard and get good grades in community college. Be very organized, get a calendar and write down all your assignments. Get a tutor when you need it, many colleges have free math and english tutors in math lab or library, use all of these tools that are available to you. Keep your grade point average up, Some Universities actually have aggreements with community colleges, where if you meet the required grade point average, you are guaranteed acceptance.

Answer 5

You would most likely be accepted if your GPA meets the minimum requirements. Most of your credits should transfer. Ask at the community college they may have transfer agreements with SDSU.