Story By Arlette Validiva, Staff Writer
Photo By Emely De Haro, Co-Editor-In-Chief
Students who applied for transfer last fall took crucial steps to ensure a smooth transition to a four-year university. Students had various things to consider: what academic transfer plan they would abide by, what final classes they needed to complete in Spring to fulfill transfer articulation agreements, what schools best fit their needs, and what their college-specific applications entail. Through careful planning and dedication, students observed essential steps to successfully transfer and graduate.
Students discerned what colleges appealed to their major-specific needs and personal preferences (campus life, cost, prestige, diversity, etc.) whether that was applying to a California State University (CSU) or a University of California (UC).
Depending on their major and transfer goals, students had the option to apply to both–or one or the other. However, it’s important to note what the universities dilate on. UCs are more theoretical and research-focused, whereas CSUs are more career-oriented. The students who were interested in both utilized the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) academic plan, which allows students to complete lower-division courses that satisfy both CSU and UC general education requirements.
Students who are only interested in California State University (CSU) are recommended to follow CSU GE Breath academic plan, which focuses only on California State University (CSU) general education requirements. Moreover, ADT: AA-T is another source for students to get a degree in two years with transferable credits to a California State University (CSU).
To avoid taking unnecessary classes, students met with an academic counselor and used websites such as assist.org to research transfer alliances Cypress College has with four-year universities. Articulation agreements are specific to every university; it is recommended to be mindful with the classes displayed on assist.org when selecting classes with the IGETC/CSU/UC academic plans. Some may have also taken classes such as COUN 140–which is a required course to be a part of the Charger Experience’s two-year tuition-free program–to help develop an academic plan.
Noting that deadlines for private school transfer applications are mostly in the Spring semester, focus on CSUs/UCs was a crucial component. Unlike CSUs, UCs and private universities require formal essays as part of the application. Though students can submit four essays that are sent to all selected UCs, each private university has its’ own distinct essay prompts that cannot be shared with one application. Ultimately, students would have to ensure they pass all their classes with a “C” or better, maintain a GPA over 2.0, and have 60 transferable units by graduation day.
Students also attended workshops online or in person that the Cypress Transfer Center hosted. The center hosted CSU/UC application tutorials and workshops with questionnaires; moreover, they invited representatives/admission counselors from multiple universities to explain their specific universities in depth.
For instance, they’ve invited a University of Southern California (USC) representative for an info session, an academic counselor from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and CSU/UC advising appointments.
During the last week before the UC applications were due, students were welcome to have applications reviewed by the center’s counselors by appointment or walk-in. Transfer students would then apply to their desired schools and send transcripts as requested. Additionally, students had to update their fall grades at the beginning of the spring semester on their application.
As graduation approaches, transfer students have also applied for graduation as early as November 4, 2024, and will still have until February 21, 2025, to apply for graduation at Cypress College. Soon they will be wearing their caps and gowns and celebrating their hard work as they also take the next step in their academic journey.
