Transfer Admission Guarantee FAQs
Below are answers to our most frequently asked questions about the Transfer Admission Guarantee, known as TAG.
TAG basics
- Do I have to submit a TAG to apply for admission to Â鶹appÈë¿Ú as a transfer student?
- No. A TAG is not required to apply for transfer admission. However, we encourage students to complete a Â鶹appÈë¿Ú TAG for its many benefits, which include guaranteed admission and strong academic preparation.
Review the TAG criteria on the right. If you fall short in one or more areas, you still retain a strong chance of admission through the regular application process. We encourage you to meet with your California community college counselor and apply for admission through the regular transfer application process. - How should I begin to plan my TAG?
- Discuss your career goals and the TAG program with your California community college counselor as early as possible. Your counselor helps you identify a Â鶹appÈë¿Ú major that matches your career goals, map out a course of study and start your , or TAP.
- Can I TAG to more than one UC campus?
- No. You can only submit a TAG application to one of the six participating UC campuses. However, you can apply for general admission to as many UC campuses as you wish.
- If I submit a TAG for another UC campus, can I still apply and be admitted to Â鶹appÈë¿Ú?
- Absolutely! Though you won’t have the assurances of a TAG, we encourage you to Oct. 1-Nov. 30.
- Is the TAG available to students who previously attended a college or university outside of the United States?
- Yes. We encourage you to apply for a Â鶹appÈë¿Ú TAG, as long as you do not have a baccalaureate or higher-level degree and currently attend a California Community College, or CCC. Students must also complete a total of 30 UC transferable semester units from a CCC by the spring prior to transfer.
- What do I need to ensure my admission to Â鶹appÈë¿Ú?
- You must meet all provisions of your Â鶹appÈë¿Ú TAG. Specific requirements are included in your TAG decision when it is available in mid-November. Students admitted with a TAG receive formal admission notification in late April of the following year.
- Do I also need to file the UC application for undergraduate admission and scholarships?
- Yes, students with approved Â鶹appÈë¿Ú TAGs must file the during the initial fall application filing period, for the major and term for which the TAG is written. We encourage you to wait for your TAG decision before you submit the UC application.
It is critical that coursework reported in the UC application and TAG application matches coursework shown on official, sealed transcripts.
TAG requirements
- Can I have too many units to be eligible for TAG?
- Students who attend only California Community Colleges, or CCC, remain within the unit cap for Â鶹appÈë¿Ú TAG. There is no unit limitation for these applicants.
A student who has attended institutions in addition to a CCC should speak with their CCC counselor for details regarding the following. After applying UC lower-division unit limitations and exclusions:
- Students must have fewer than 80 semester (120 quarter) transferable units of college coursework at the time of enrollment.
- The College of Engineering will consider non-TAG applicants who have 80 or more semester (120 quarter) units of transfer credit.
- Are TAG requirements subject to change? If so, when?
- Criteria required to qualify for a Â鶹appÈë¿Ú TAG can change annually in May. Meet with your California community college counselor between mid-May and September, one year in advance of your planned Â鶹appÈë¿Ú enrollment to discuss.
- Do certain majors require additional coursework and/or higher GPAs to be eligible for a Â鶹appÈë¿Ú TAG?
- Review TAG major requirements and plan your courses to meet additional GPA and coursework expectations for selective majors. Visit our TAG majors page on right for details.
Non-selective majors may not require additional coursework to qualify for TAG, but transfer students are strongly advised to complete as many preparatory courses as possible for their major before they enroll at Â鶹appÈë¿Ú. Visit the for transferable courses that satisfy lower division coursework. - Do I need to submit transcripts with my TAG application?
- Transcripts are not required when you submit your TAG application. However, prepare to submit official high school and college transcripts by July 1 and official examinations, such as AP and IB, no later than July 15, prior to fall enrollment, if you are admitted.
It is critical that self-reported coursework on your TAG application and UC application match coursework shown on official, sealed transcripts. You need to report any college or university outside of the United States. Prepare to submit course descriptions with word-for-word English translations upon request. - Must I report Advanced Placement, known as AP, and/or International Baccalaureate, known as IB, Higher Level Examinations and submit official scores with the TAG?
- If taken, students must self-report test scores from AP or IB Higher Level Examinations using the , or TAP, as directed. Non-passing scores of 3 or less do not jeopardize a student’s chances of receiving a TAG.
Prepare to submit official examination scores by July 15, if you are admitted. However, we strongly encourage you to submit your scores by July 1. - Must I complete IGETC to be eligible for a Â鶹appÈë¿Ú TAG?
- Completion of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum , known as IGETC, is not a requirement for the Â鶹appÈë¿Ú TAG. IGETC generally works well for students who plan to pursue a Bachelor of Arts major with few units of lower-division preparation. Bachelor of Science degrees and higher-unit majors often require extensive lower-division course preparation. Learn more about general education requirements in the or through .
Additional information
- What if my California community college does not offer a required course?
- If your current or primary CCC does not offer a course required for Â鶹appÈë¿Ú selection, you are encouraged to seek comparable courses at another CCC. Use the to confirm course availability. Â鶹appÈë¿Ú waives any required course not offered at a CCC.
You are encouraged to seek comparable courses at another CCC, if ASSIST identifies a comparable course at your current or primary CCC that is not offered that year.
Include the course in your academic plan and include a comment on your TAG application, if ASSIST identifies a comparable course at your current or primary CCC but your CCC is unsure of course availability during the upcoming academic year. Watch for instructions to submit the UC Transfer Academic Update and update your planned course schedule. - I'm interested in the Marine and Coastal Science major. Which college should I apply to?
is a cross-college major offered through three of our academic colleges. Students must identify an area of focus in order to select the appropriate major/college pairing:
- Coastal environmental processes: College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
- Marine environmental chemistry: College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
- Marine ecology and organismal biology: College of Biological Sciences*
- Oceans and the Earth system: College of Letters and Science
*This focus is subject to selective major requirements within the College of Biological Sciences. Visit our TAG majors page on the right for details.- Once I submit the TAG may I attend a college or university other than a California community college?
- No. TAGs are only available to students currently or most recently enrolled at California community colleges.
- When will I receive my TAG decision?
- Students who submit their TAG application by Sep. 30 will be notified of their approval status after mid-November.
- What happens if I am unable to meet the requirements of my TAG?
- Apply through the transfer application process if you miss your TAG provisions — many students still earn admission. Consider submitting a new TAG the following year. Connect with your California community college counselor to review your options.