Transfer & Career Services

Frequently Asked Questions

 

  • How do I transfer/ know I'm ready to transfer?
    • Meet with an academic counselor to discuss your transfer timeline and plan out your classes for your time at LMC
    • If you are an undecided major, book an appointment with our career counselor, Mark Isham, through our website or call the Transfer & Career Services front desk phone number at (925) 473-7444
    • By the time you are ready to transfer, you must have 60 units completed, completed all your major-prep courses (check for classes that articulate on assist.org) and completed all your general education requirements (refer to IGETC or CSU GE Breadth requirements)
      • By the end of the spring semester before you transfer for fall transfers
      • By the end of the fall semester before you transfer for spring transfers
  • Should I transfer for fall or spring?

    Transfer students can choose to transfer either fall or spring semester. However, this depends on the following factors:

      • Their major, some schools do not accept certain majors for spring semester
      • If their transfer school accepts for both terms
      • When they complete all the requirements needed to transfer
  • How do I start my application?

    FOR CSU:

    -create an account through CSU Apply

     

    FOR UC:

    -create a UC TAP account. A TAP account keeps you up-to-date on important information regarding the UC application and allows you to transfer all your information over once the UC application opens. This account can also be created in your first semester at LMC and maintained throughout your time in college.

  • Can you look over my application?  

    Yes and no. We are not able to look through the ENTIRE application but we will look over areas you are most concerned about and areas where students tend to make mistakes. This help can be found in Application Labs or simply asking a student ambassador at the desk. You can also double check your applications by looking through application guide videos and text. This information can be found on the “Apply to transfer” Tab? Link: https://www.losmedanos.edu/transfer/howtoapply/

  • Am I taking the right classes to transfer to X school?  

    To ensure you are taking the right classes to transfer, meet with an academic counselor.  You can also use assist.org to see which major-prep classes articulate with LMC and your transfer school of choice

  • What school should I transfer to?  

    Transfer & Career Services does not advise students on which transfer schools to choose as this is a subjective decision based on your personal goals. However, we encourage students to research transfer schools and attend university tours to see which school matches their educational and transfer goals best. You should also discuss your transfer goals with your academic counselor as they can advise you on what to look for in a school. To find resources on transfer school research, visit our website or front desk, which is located on the second floor of the Student Services building. For more information on university tours, visit our website.

  • How do I know if a school offers my major?  

    Visit LMC Transfer Bound to see which UC and CSU campuses offer your major. Not all schools offer certain majors. For private and out-of-state schools, you will need to search individual school websites.

  • What is UC TAP/UC TAG?  
    • UC TAP is a tool for tracking and managing your transfer application process.
    • UC TAG is a guarantee of admission to certain UC campuses for eligible community college students who meet specified criteria.

    Eligibility: To be eligible for TAG, students must be from a California community college and have completed specific requirements, such as completing a certain number of transferable units and meeting GPA thresholds for the campus they are applying to.

    Participating Campuses: Not all UC campuses participate in TAG. The participating campuses are: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, And UC Santa Barbara

  • Should I apply to a CSU or a UC?  

    A student could apply to both CSU and UC schools. However, it depends on your career goals and educational priorities. Always check to see which school offers your major before applying (you can do this by visiting com) and discuss your choices with an academic counselor.

  • Do I have to be a part of Transfer Academy to transfer?  

    NO! Transfer Academy is a cohort based learning community for students new to Los Medanos College. It is not a requirement to be a part of the community to transfer!

  • How much does it cost for applications?  

    UC applications cost $80 per application and CSU applications cost $70 per application though this can change from year to year. You may be eligible for the cost to be waived! You will know once you have reached the payment portion of your application! DON'T FORGET the UC TAG application is free!

  • Where can I find workshops for transfer help?

    Just visit our ‘Transfer Activities and Events” tab on our website and look through our calendar of events and register to attend! Link: https://www.losmedanos.edu/transfer/TransferWorkshops.aspx

  • Do you offer transfer counseling?  

    All LMC’s academic counselors are trained to help you transfer! You can visit counseling for transfer. Our student ambassador can help answer general transfer questions and help support you with your applications.

  • How do I attend a university tour?  

    All you do is register on our “University tour” tab. Apply fast before spaces run out! All tours are free to all students : https://www.losmedanos.edu/transfer/CampusTours.aspx

  • What are the Golden Four?  

    The “Golden Four” are the general education requirements for students applying to CSU campuses. They are: Oral Communication, Written Communication, Critical Thinking, Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning. Meet with an academic counselor to see which classes at LMC will satisfy these requirements.

    For more information on the “Golden Four” and when these classes need to be completed, refer to the CSU “Golden Four” Completion Chart

  • How long does it take for me to transfer?  

    There is no set time it takes for a student to transfer. Every student has a different transfer timeline depending on their major and their educational goals. We recommend meeting with an academic counselor to discuss your transfer timeline.

  • What GE classes do I take?  

    This question can be answered by a counselor! Either call (925)473-7449 to make an appointment or visit https://www.losmedanos.edu/counseling/index.aspx to make an appointment online. You can also visit them on Pittsburg campus in the Student Services Complex, Level 4

  • How do I apply to graduate?

    Did you know that you have to apply to graduate to get your degree and walk on graduation day?

    1) Go onto your insite portal ---> 2) press the RED graduation tile---> 3) press the first box “Petition for Degree or Certificate”---> 4) press APPLY next to the Degree or certificate you are trying to apply for---> Fill out the following information (make sure the graduation term is inline with when you are graduating---> 5) press submit and your all done!

  • Do you offer help at the Brentwood campus?  

    Yes, there are academic counselors who can support you at the Brentwood Center! We occasionally will hold workshops there as well! To look for Brentwood workshops/support look at our event website! : https://www.losmedanos.edu/transfer/TransferWorkshops.aspx

  • What’s the difference between the semester and quarter system?  

    Depending on which school you choose to transfer to, some transfer schools will be on the semester system while others on the quarter system. The semester system usually consists of two 15-weeks terms throughout one school year and students typically take 4-5 classes per term. The quarter system consists of four 10-week sessions throughout one school year and students typically take 3-4 classes per session.

    Some examples of schools on the semester system are UC Merced, UC Berkeley, and most CSU campuses. Some examples of schools on the quarter system are Cal Poly SLO, and all the UC campuses besides Berkeley and Merced.

  • What is the difference between an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) and an Associate Degree (AA/AS)?  

    An ADT is designed to streamline the transfer process from a community college to a four-year university. Therefore, receiving your ADT at a community college makes you a more competitive applicant in the admissions process. On the other hand, an Associate Degree (AA/AS) is more general and can prepare students for a variety of careers. Visit this website to learn more about California State University’s ADT admissions guarantee program: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/transfer/pages/ccc-associate-degree-for-transfer.aspx.

  • Do I follow IGETC and the CSU GE Breadth?  

    Students who are certain they will apply only to CSU schools, should follow the CSU GE Breadth as a guide to complete their general education requirements for transfer. Students who plan to apply to both UC’s and CSU’s, should follow IGETC. Meet with a counselor to further discuss your Education Plan and plan out your classes to ensure you are meeting the general education requirements necessary to transfer.

  • What do I do after I apply?  

    After applying to your transfer school(s) of choice, frequently check your email to stay up-to-date on the next steps you will need to take. This will vary per school. Most schools expect you to set up an account or portal with the Student ID or email they give you. Even if you do not plan to commit to a specific school, be sure to set-up a portal or account with them until you file your final admissions decision in May. Some schools may also request you send your Community College transcripts. This can be done through com. If you are sending transcripts from multiple community colleges, you will need to send each transcript from each school separately. For assistance on sending your transcripts, visit us in-person at the Transfer & Career front desk.

  • Can I take a gap semester/ year before transferring?  

    Yes, some students may want to take a gap year or semester before they transfer to a 4-year university. Make sure to speak with your academic counselor about this to ensure you will be on track once you return from your gap semester/ year and are ready to transfer.

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