Transferring from a Los Angeles community college to the University of California is a common route to a UC degree, and it rewards students who plan early and keep up every term. Blackburn Mentoring pairs a community college student with one dedicated mentor who meets with them every week, in person in Los Angeles or by video, to keep the transfer plan on track: the right courses each term, the GPA it needs, the deadlines and the habits that make it work. The first step is a free 20 minute intro call.
Community college in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County has several public community college districts. The largest, the Los Angeles Community College District, reports nine colleges and about 205,000 students, and other community college districts serve communities across the rest of the county. Each college has its own counselors, transfer center and course options, so the plan is always built with the student’s own college.
For many LA students, cost is part of the decision. The district’s LA College Promise waives tuition for the first two years for first-time and returning full-time students who complete the steps, which include an interest form, the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application, orientation and counseling. Students at participating colleges may also ride free with Metro GoPass. Check current eligibility on the official pages.
What UC transfer takes
The University of California transfer requirements for California residents include 60 semester (90 quarter) units of transferable credit with at least a 2.4 GPA, and a seven-course pattern: two English composition courses, one math course and four courses across the arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences, each with a C or better. That is the minimum; many majors and campuses expect more, including major preparation courses and a higher GPA.
Six UC campuses offer a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) for students who meet the GPA and coursework terms in their agreement; the TAG application window is September 1 to 30 for the following fall. Requirements change, so always confirm with your college’s transfer center and the official UC pages. Our guide on community college to UC transfer explains each step in depth.
Where transfer plans usually go wrong
- Taking courses that count toward an associate degree but not toward the UC major.
- A rough first semester that pulls the GPA down, followed by too many units the next term to make it up.
- Working long hours and commuting across the county, with study time squeezed in at the end of the day.
- Missing one deadline, such as the TAG window or the application, because nobody had it on the calendar.
- Seeing a counselor once and never again.
What a mentor does
- Turns the counselor’s plan into weekly steps. The education plan from the college counselor becomes a term calendar and a weekly schedule.
- Protects the GPA. A study plan for each course, early warning when a grade slips, and a realistic unit load around work and commuting.
- Keeps the deadlines. Counseling appointments, Promise steps, TAG, financial aid and the UC application, all on the calendar months ahead.
- Builds the habits a UC campus expects. Office hours, long reading loads and independent study, practiced before the transfer.
- Checks in between sessions. A text or call on the days that usually slip.
A mentor does not replace the college counselor or transfer center, and does not choose courses or advise on admissions. The mentor makes sure the student follows the plan they built with their counselor. After the move, see transfer shock and mentoring for transfer students.
In person in Los Angeles or by video
Mentors meet students in person in Los Angeles at a convenient, appropriate place worked out on the intro call, and use video when work or commuting make meeting impractical. Sessions are usually 60 minutes, weekly or several times a week, with early morning, evening and weekend times that fit around a job. With the student’s permission, parents receive regular progress updates.
What mentoring is not
A mentor is not an academic counselor, a transfer or admissions consultant, a tutor or a therapist, and mentoring does not promise admission or grades. If a mental health concern is part of the picture, a licensed professional should come first. In a crisis, call or text 988.
For probation rules, ADT and Cal-GETC basics, see our guide for California community college and LACCD students; after transfer, our guide for UC students covers the first terms.
Related
- Community college to UC transfer
- Mentoring for transfer students
- Mentoring for community college students
- Starting community college
- College student mentoring in Los Angeles
- Free education resources for Los Angeles students and families
- Mentoring and coaching in Los Angeles
Common questions
What does it take to transfer from a community college to a UC?
For California residents, UC lists 60 semester (90 quarter) transferable units with at least a 2.4 GPA and a seven-course pattern with a C or better. Many majors and campuses expect more, so confirm with your transfer center and the official UC pages.
What is TAG?
The Transfer Admission Guarantee is offered by six UC campuses; students who meet the terms of their agreement are guaranteed admission under it. Check eligibility with your transfer center. The application window is September 1 to 30 for the following fall.
Is community college free in Los Angeles?
The LA College Promise waives tuition for the first two years at Los Angeles Community College District colleges for first-time and returning full-time students who complete the required steps.
Does a mentor replace my college counselor?
No. The counselor builds the education plan and advises on transfer. The mentor helps the student follow that plan every week and keep the deadlines.
Can sessions fit around work?
Yes. Mentors offer early morning, evening and weekend sessions, in person in Los Angeles or by video.
How do I start?
Book a free 20 minute intro call. After the call you are matched with one dedicated mentor within 2 business days.
Get started
Want to talk through a transfer plan? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free 20 minute intro call.
Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.