TAG, you’re in
The Transfer Admission Guarantee is a program offered by the Saddleback college transfer center to help University of California hopefuls get into their school of choice.
Currently, TAG is available from UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Merced, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbra and UC Santa Cruz.
The application period to apply to UCs for Fall 2012 is Sept. 1- 30, 2011. While this year’s deadline is almost over, it is important to look into the future and begin to think of entering the TAG program for Fall 2013.
The application filing for TAG 2013 will be Sept. 2012.
Each UC has specific requirements to enter their school. One must have met all the requirements before applying to the UC of your choice.
All UCs require students to have 30 transferable units in order to be eligible for TAG.
“The TAG program is a great opportunity for students looking to transfer,” said Barba Benavides, senior transfer center specialist.
Students must also attend school the year before entering their UC of choice and maintain a good GPA. GPA requirements for most of the participating UCs ranges from 3.0-3.5.
“In a time of tough competition it is important that students do very well in ALL of their classes,” said Sara Nieves-Lucas, a transfer center counselor.
Keeping a high GPA is key to getting into any UC. It is also important for students to work on their math, English, and other general education requirements while maintaining a high GPA.
“The math and English classes are really important to get done as soon as possible. Most the UCs ask for them the be completed or at least started,” Nieves-Lucas said.
Also, it is important to decide upon a major while at Saddleback. The UCs require that each applicant for TAG has a major and has taken at least two classes for that specified major.
Visit the assit.org website to verify which classes are transferable to a given school.
The assist website can also help pick classes for future semesters. Also, transfer center counselors can help verify the TAG requirements for each specified UC.
Students can only TAG to one UC, so applications to other schools must be made without the TAG program.
“It is important that TAG students also apply to other Universities. There are so many options out there, they should see where they get accepted and then make the decision,” said Judi Pohl, a transfer center specialist.
Check out the transfer center in the Student Services Center at Saddleback for more information on the University of our choice, or visit them online at http://www.saddlback.edu/transfer.