Navigating the UCLA Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)

Gaining admission to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a transfer student can be highly competitive. For California community college students, the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program offers a valuable pathway to guarantee admission to one of six participating UC campuses. While UCLA does not directly participate in the general UC TAG program, it offers the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) for students at select California community colleges. Additionally, a new state law is influencing transfer pathways, making it crucial to understand the various options and requirements.

Understanding the UC TAG Program

The UC TAG program provides guaranteed admission to one of six UC campuses for students who meet specific requirements. Before applying, students should consult the TAG matrix to understand the individual requirements of each campus. The UC Transfer Admission Planner (TAP) is a valuable tool for filling out the TAG application. Students are encouraged to review their application with a community college counselor or a UC TAG advisor. The TAG application must be submitted online via UC TAP by September 30.

UCLA Transfer Admission Criteria

UCLA seeks transfer applicants who demonstrate strong academic preparation and performance. The average GPA of admitted transfer students is above 3.5, and successful applicants have typically completed most or all major preparatory courses. UCLA gives highest priority to applicants from California community colleges.

To be considered for admission to UCLA, applicants must:

Have graduated from high school and completed college-level coursework in a regular session at any college or university since graduation. It's important to note that applicants cannot disregard their college record and apply as a first-year student.
Be in good academic standing at their previous UC campus, if applicable.

UCLA admits students for the fall quarter only.

Key Factors in UCLA Transfer Admission Review

UCLA conducts a comprehensive review of each transfer applicant, considering a range of factors, including:

Junior-level standing: Completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter transferable units by the end of the spring term before transfer.
GPA: A GPA of 3.2 or higher earned in transferable courses.
7-Course Pattern: Completion of the following coursework by spring prior to transfer:
- Two transferable courses in English composition or critical thinking and writing.
- One transferable math course with a prerequisite of intermediate algebra or higher.
- Four transferable college courses in at least two of the following subject areas: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences.
Major Preparation: Progress toward completion of major preparation requirements by spring prior to transfer. It is crucial to apply to a specific major and fulfill its preparatory requirements. Transfer admission is contingent on completing this coursework with a competitive GPA. If a major does not have specific prerequisites, students should demonstrate interest in the academic study by completing related coursework.

Applicants who were admitted to another UC campus as a first-year student and enrolled in a regular term are not required to complete the 7-course pattern, as they are considered UC-eligible based on their prior admission. All coursework from any UC campus is transferable.

The UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)

The UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) offers an opportunity for students at participating California community colleges to enhance their transfer prospects to UCLA at the junior level.

Participating Community Colleges:

Fullerton College (Fullerton, CA)
Glendale Community College (Glendale, CA)
Irvine Valley College (Irvine, CA)
Las Positas College (Livermore, CA)
Long Beach City College (Long Beach, CA)
Los Angeles City College (Los Angeles, CA)
Los Angeles Harbor College (Wilmington, CA)
Los Angeles Mission College (Sylmar, CA)
Los Angeles Pierce College (Woodland Hills, CA)
Los Angeles Southwest College (Los Angeles, CA)
Los Angeles Valley College (Valley Glen, CA)
Los Medanos College (Pittsburgh, CA)
MiraCosta College (Oceanside, CA)
Mission College (Santa Clara, CA)
Moorpark College (Moorpark, CA)
Moreno Valley College (Moreno Valley, CA)
Mt. San Antonio College (Walnut, CA)

TAP students who are not admitted to their first-choice major may have their application reviewed for an alternate major, subject to certain restrictions:

The alternate major must be specified on the UC application by January 31.
If admitted to the first-choice major, the application will not be reviewed for the alternate major.
The TAP alternate major review policy applies only to certain majors in the College (excluding restricted majors) and Public Affairs.

Restricted Majors for TAP Alternate Major Consideration:

Biology
Pre-business economics
Communication
Pre-economics
Education and social transformation
Global studies
Human biology and society (B.A. and B.S.)
Mathematics/economics
Mathematics, financial actuarial
Political science
Psychology
Public Health B.A. and B.S.
Sociology
Statistics and data science

TAP applicants cannot select an alternate major in the Samueli School of Engineering, the School of Arts and Architecture, the Herb Alpert School of Music, the School of Nursing, or the School of Theater, Film and Television, as these schools do not participate in the Transfer Alliance Program.

Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA

Assembly Bill 1291 and Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT)

Assembly Bill 1291, which went into effect on January 1, aims to prioritize the admission of students who have completed an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) at a California Community College and meet the UC transfer curricula requirements. While the program is being first implemented at UCLA, the UC system must designate at least five campuses to implement the program by the 2028-2029 academic year. UCLA must incorporate eight majors into the CCCs’ transfer model curricula by the 2026-2027 academic year and expand that number to at least 12 by the 2028-2029 academic year. The bill intends to give more attention to the ADT pathway.

Additional Resources for Transfer Applicants

ASSIST: California’s statewide transfer information site provides UC Transfer Course Agreements, selected Major Preparation Articulation Agreements for all California community colleges, and Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) course lists.
Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP): CCCP works to increase the academic preparation and competitiveness of community college transfer students, particularly those who are first-generation, low-income, or historically underrepresented.
Student Transfer Outreach Mentorship Program (STOMP): STOMP is a volunteer student organization that provides outreach services to motivate and inspire California community college students to consider the University of California as a viable transfer option.
Transferology: This tool allows students to view how their coursework articulates from their school to UCLA. It helps find equivalents to UCLA courses. However, Transferology is advisory only and does not guarantee transferability. Actual course transferability is subject to change without notice, at the discretion of the UCLA Registrar’s Office and Undergraduate Admission.
UC Transfer Admission Planner (TAP): An online tool to help prospective transfer students track their progress toward meeting UC admission requirements.
UC Transfer Pathways: Information on a single set of courses to prepare for a specific major.

General Tips for Transfer Applicants

IGETC: Consider completing the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), which allows California community college students to complete UC general education requirements before transferring. While not a requirement for UCLA, it is strongly recommended for students applying to all schools except the Samueli School of Engineering.
Course Reporting: Report courses exactly as they appear on your transcript, including non-transferable courses and withdrawals. Report all courses completed at any post-secondary institution.
Transfer Academic Update (TAU): Provide your fall grades and planned spring coursework in January by logging in to your application and creating a Transfer Academic Update (TAU) by January 31.
Withdrawals and Incomplete Grades: Withdrawals, incomplete grades, and academic renewals are not necessarily viewed negatively.
Letters of Recommendation and Transcripts: UCLA does not require or accept letters of recommendation or official transcripts during the admission selection process, except for applicants to majors in certain specialty schools (Arts & Architecture; Music; Nursing; Theater, Film and Television), who may be required to submit additional materials. The review is based on the self-reported information provided on the UC Application.

Guaranteed Transfer Admission Program (GTAP)

Guaranteed Transfer Admission Program (GTAP) and you’ll be admitted. to all majors except nursing and engineering, which have separate requirements. receive a merit scholarship of up to $17,000. a regionally accredited college or university. Earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. We admit GTAP students in both the fall and spring semesters.

Read also: Understanding UCLA Counselors

tags: #ucla #transfer #admission #guarantee #requirements