Transfer Basics: The Six Steps to Transfer
How do you know when you are supposed to apply to transfer? And what is involved? Follow the six steps below to keep yourself on track and on the path to transfer.
Step 1`: Choose your major
Step 2: Choose your school
Step 3: Plan your classes
Step 4: Prepare to apply
Step 5: Apply
Step 6: After you apply
Step 1: Choose your major
Not sure what your major is yet? Need help figuring out who you are, what you want, what you don't want, and how to find your future career path. Meet with Mark Isham, LMC's career counselor, to learn more about yourself and how to choose the major that is right for you.
What to do some more exploring on your own? Check out these major exploration tools:
Take a Career Assessment Major Exploration Resources
Choosing a major is one of the most important decisions you'll make in college, but how do you know what's out there and what's a good fit for you? Watch this video to learn how to use a free online tool called Career Coach to identify your top occupational interests, which is helpful in choosing a major. You'll also learn about another free online tool called Transfer Bound to help you choose a CSU or UC campus that offers the major you
Watch Choosing a Major and a Transfer University
Do you really want to unpack who you are and what career options are out there for you? Sign up for a Career Exploration & Preparation Workshop.
Step 2: Choose your school
After you have selected your major you can begin to look for which school(s) you are interested in. One useful tool to begin this search is found on the LMC website. Check out Transferbound to see what CSUs and UCs offer your major, and majors related to yours.
What are my options? What if I want to stay in California? What if I don't? Check out all of your options so that you can make an informed decision about the next step in your transfer journey.
Once you have a few options in mind it is time to hit the road and visit those schools in person. Why not join us on a free university tour to get a feel for which school might be best for you? Check out this semester's tours:
Step 3: Plan your classes
Now that you have a major and you know what your dream school is (or let's be real, dream schools), you will need to determine what classes to take and your transfer timeline. Meet with an academic counselor to get your education plan started or updated:
Depending on if you are looking to transfer to a UC, CSU, private or out-of-state school will dictate which classes you need and which general education pattern you may need to follow Here are the two most common patterns for you to discuss with your academic counselor:
Not only will you have to determine your general education (GE) classes, depending on your major and your school, you will also need to register for your major preparation classes to round out the units/courses needed to transfer. Assist.org is a great tool to begin this search but should be used in partnership with counseling and other tools to create the full picture of your transfer path.
If you are completing an associates degree at LMC it might be an associate degree for transfer (ADT) which can also be referred to as an AA-T or an AS-T. To determine if your degree is an ADT and what classes you need to complete to earn this degree you can check out LMC's current list of ADT's:
Are you UC bound? Do you want to guarantee yourself a place at the UC of your choice? Then check out the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program to learn about eligibility requirements, participating UCs, and application procedures:
Have questions about your dream school? Still not sure what classes to take, what life at the campus might really be like, or what you need to be a competitive applicant? Make an appointment or email one of our University Representatives to find out more and make that personal connection.
Step 4: Prepare to apply
How do you know if you are ready to transfer? Meet with a couselor and/or transfer coach, complete a degree audit, attend a Transfer Basics workshop, or talk to a university rep.
Attending a Transfer Basics workshop is a great way to see where you are in your transfer path and what the next steps are. These workshops are offered monthly year round. Check out our workshop page to see when the next one is being held.
Book an appointment with an academic counselor to make sure that you are on track and determine when you will be ready to apply.
Did you know that you can see which classes you have taken and what classes you still need to complete in InSite. In fact, you can complete a degree audit to get a clear picture of where you are at and what you still need. Check out the degree audit function and more in InSite.
Not sure when to begin applying? It all depends on if you are a spring or fall transfer. Here are the two timelines for students who are applying this year to begin at their new transfer school next year:
Determining when you need to apply can be a bit confusing. Check out our How to Apply page to learn what your application deadlines may be:
Have specific questions about your specific school's requirements or deadlines? Meet with a university rep to get some answers.
Step 5: Apply
Are you ready? Have you met with a counselor, attended a Transfer Basics workshop, completed your degree audit, and determined that this is your time to apply? Well, good news! We have an workshop that can help you get started, answer your questions, and make you feel confident before you hit submit. Attend an application workshop/lab for help on your UC or CSU application:
Need help completing your application? We have the tools you need for your application questions. Explore the application support tools available on our How to Apply page:
Are you ready to apply to a state school. Visit Cal State Apply to get started:
CSU Application Instructional Video
Are you UC bound? Then visit the UC Transfer Admission Planner page to take the first steps in completing your UC Application. And don't wait! You can create your TAP account and begin completing it from your very first semester!
Are you applying to a private or out-of-state school? Then it is possible that you will need to complete the Common Application. Get started here:
Common App Instructional Video
Step 6: After you apply
You did it! You submitted your application(s) by the deadline and you are on your way to your dream school. But you aren't done yet! There are still a few steps that you need to complete to finalize your transfer.
Colleges will ask for more information, including fall transcripts, tax documents, and more. Check the handouts below to see when things are due:
CSU: After You Apply UC: After You Apply
The most important step that you need to take after submitting your application is checking your email on a regular basis (weekly if not daily). Each school that you applied to will send you information, next steps, and deadlines, and you don't want to miss them. So be sure to check your email, follow up on to-do items quickly, and don't miss any deadlines.
Application Update
Possibly one of the first requests that you will receive after the initial emails from each school will be for you to update your applications in January. Now that your fall grades are posted you will need to sign in to your applications and update your grades, as well as your spring classes. Each school will instruct you on how to do this. Just be sure that it is completed by the deadline, which for most schools is January 31st.
UC January Update Instructional Video
Receiving your degree
To be able to receive your associates degree, walk at graduation, and get your IGETC/CSUGE certified you will need to submit a petition. Here are your deadlines and the link to the form which is found in InSite:
| Term | Start Date and Deadline to Apply | Notification of Eligibility Sent to All Semester Applicants via InSite Email | Date Diplomas Will Be Mailed No Later Than |
| Summer | April 1-July 15 | InSite Email/Graduation Tile | October 15 |
| Fall | August 1-October 15 | InSite Email/Graduation Tile | February 15 |
| Spring | November 1-March 1 | InSite Email/Graduation Tile | September 15 |
Transcripts
Once you have submitted your application for transfer you will receive emails from each school confirming the receipt of your application, and in some cases they will ask you to create an account in their student portal (like our InSite). In this student portal you will find a checklist of what to do next with deadlines. Be sure to complete each item by their deadline or else you may find that your application has been cancelled. One of the more common requests is to submit a copy of your official transcripts. You can order these in InSite and most schools are set up for electronic submission. Don't send your transcripts until they are requested, but when you are ready, you can learn more about how to submit your transcripts here:
Housing
Whether you are going to a UC or CSU, if you are planning to move out of the area then you are going to need some place to live. Check out these resources to help you apply for On or Off-Campus Housing:
CSU Family Housing Resources UC Family Housing Resources
Submitting your Intent to Register
The last step that you will take once you have received your admission decision(s) - most CSUs release decisions in October for spring transfers and March for fall transfers, while UCs release decisions in April for fall transfers - will be to commit to the school you intend to transfer to. You will need to submit your Student Intent to Register (SIR) but the deadline set out by each school. This deadline is typically May 1st for CSUs and June 1st for UCs.
Waitlist & Appeals
Sometimes our dreams don't come true on the first try. If you are denied or waitlisted for your dream school there are things that you can and should do. Find out more about next steps and what you can do...
UC Waitlist Frequently Asked Questions
Most colleges will offer an opportunity to appeal if your application is rejected. There's a strict timeline for appeals- read this and act ASAP to have the best chance of success!
Didn't Get In? Appeal Your Admissions Decision