University of California
10/17/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/17/2024 13:18
Want help transferring to UC? A new website streamlines the information you need
Of the 233,000-plus undergraduates at the University of California, close to a third started their higher ed journey at a California community college. Now, a brand-new online transfer hub will help even more students chart their path to UC.
UC launched the new website this fall as part of its efforts to increase the number of California community college students who enroll at one of its nine undergraduate campuses.
"The new transfer hub is intended to make planning for transfer as simple as possible. It provides students with information, resources and planning tools, all in one place," said Yvette Gullatt, UC's vice president for Graduate and Undergraduate Affairs.
"If you are considering transfer as a path to a four-year degree, we want you to know that there is a place for you at UC," she added. "For starters, 75 percent of transfer applicants get in. We know that cost can be a major barrier, and that's why we have robust financial aid to help you get here - in fact, more than half of our transfer students get enough aid to cover all their UC tuition. And once you're on a UC campus, there are specialized resources to help you succeed."
Who are UC transfer students?
45% are among the first in their families to earn a four-year college degree
30% are low income
35% learned English as a second language
57% pay no tuition
69% get grants and scholarships to help with UC costs
The new transfer hub is built for the whole range of UC transfer students, from high school students starting their higher ed journey at a community college to military veterans, parents, and other seasoned learners looking for a career change or a fresh start.
One of the most difficult parts of making the jump to a four-year university can be just figuring out how to do it. What classes do you need to take for a particular major? How will you find financial aid? The list goes on. Before, you might have needed to visit several websites to track down the information, but now the transfer hub is a one-stop shop for links to all things transfer.
Transfer students succeed at UC
UC transfer students graduate at high rates: 89 percent of transfers complete their degree, compared to 86 percent for UC students who started as first-years, and 55 percent for transfer students nationally.
What's more, UC transfers go on to excel in the workforce. Within a decade of completing their UC degree, most community college transfer students working in California count among the top third of income earners in the state.
The hub and planning tool are part of a larger drive to boost the number of transfers at UC by addressing the most common challenges students face when attempting to transfer. But it's only part of the picture of how UC supports transfer students.
All nine undergraduate campuses offer a range of programs and supports for students considering transfer. These include events at high schools and community colleges, as well as programs that bring students interested in transfer to a UC campus. Yearlong transfer prep programs offer students support throughout their transfer process, with individualized advising, workshops, peer counselors, and more. Potential transfer students can get a deeper dive by signing up for immersive programs where they stay in dorms to find out what it's like to be on campus and learn all about transfer, like Journey to UC, a multicampus experience at UC Berkeley and UC Davis.
For enrolled transfer students, a wealth of resources awaits on campus. UC Berkeley, for example, just opened Anchor House, a 14-story dorm just for transfers that prioritizes students' well-being and potential for success. UC's other undergraduate campuses also offer a range of community spaces and academic supports tailored to transfer students. For instance, transfer students can enroll in summer programs before they begin their first term to help get up to speed on academic expectations, make friends and start to feel at home on campus. Each UC also has a transfer center where students can socialize, do homework, and find specialized resources throughout the year.
"Transfer students come to the University of California from all backgrounds imaginable, bringing invaluable perspectives and a passion for learning that are part of what makes our university great," said University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D. "The new online transfer hub will bolster resources and support programs for our transfer applicants, making it easier for California Community College students to pursue a life-changing education at the University of California."