2. Meet Four Amazing Students
Alma went to a local high school.
Had no papers.
Didn’t have funds to go to four year
college.
Went to local community college.
Began taking classes right away in her
interest-political science.
Began volunteering for an outreach
organization on her campus and
joined the ASI which got her
priority enrollment.
Interned in a local non-profit office
with immigrants like her and her
parents.
Completed all of her requirements and
received a Jack Kent Cooke
Scholarship that covers two years of
4 year college.
Now a full time student at USC.
3. Dan
Dan was a dad by the end of high
school.
He worked at Target, while
taking classes at two community
colleges at night.
He discovered his passion for
engineering and got an
internship for a private
engineering company.
He transferred to UC San Diego
through EOP.
4. Arlene
Arlene went to a local high
school.
She began to work as a
teacher’s assistant out of high
school.
Had four kids.
At age 32, began going to
community college.
Took part in ROPES, a program
for moms
It took her seven years but she
is now a senior at Cal State LA.
5. Mark
Mark went to a local high
school.
Had a 2.8 GPA.
Started in one remedial English
class but took a full load of
classes at three community
colleges his first year.
Completed his GE classes first
and then his major. Started
interning in a law office and
then protesting on campus. Got
a summer job in a dental office.
Now a junior at UCLA.
6. 1. What Do Four Year Colleges
Want From CC Students
Academics-Grades
GE
Major Prerequisites
Essays
Recommendations-Professor, Community Members
Activities-Consistency, Development, Leadership,
Initiative
Special talents, race, culture, obstacles overcome,
passions
7. What Do I Do?
Keep a master chart of all requirements.
Each college has different prerequisites, and you
need to track the following info.
Visit colleges and meet with transfer
specialists. Some have transfer days. Attend
transfer workshops at community colleges.
8. Deadlines
Know the application and requirement deadlines for each
school.
Some have fall and spring deadlines.
Some only have fall. Some take freshmen spring transfers,
some take sophomores and juniors, while other take only
juniors.
The CSUs and UCs are due November 30. You apply the fall
of your second year.
USC is due February 1 but earlier for some selected majors.
9. Academics
GE and Major requirements
Take the assessment test seriously. They affect your
entire CC experience.
Only take classes that count.
Make sure you confirm drops and withdraws so you don’t
get unexpected fails. Make sure you repeat exact classes
if you get a grade below a C-.
10. ASSESSMENT READINESS
Review free sample test questions (Provided by the College Board)
Review Reading Comprehension, Sentence Skills, Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra and
College Level Math sections.
If English is not your first language or if you have difficulty communicating or reading in
English review Reading Skills and Sentence Meaning sections.
iPhone Users may purchase the new ACCUPLACER APP at iTunes Store for
$1.99. (Provided by the College Board)
Take free Math Diagnostic Exam (ALEKS) - Your ALEKS trial will allow you to
explore the ALEKS Student Module for three hours anytime during the next 48
hours. Follow the instructions below for ALEKS Exam Access. (Provided by ALEKS
Corporation)
Install ALEKS Plug-In
Under Student Module Option Click on Try ALEKS Now Button (User Agreement will
need to be accepted to take exam)
1) Enter Name, Email, etc. 2) Select I'm a Student, 3) Select Higher Education Math 4)
Select Beginning and Intermediate Combined Option
14. SCHOOL/MAJOR SPECIFIC
Check with each school to see their major requirements. Each UC and Cal
State has its own requirements along with private colleges. www.assist.org
works for CA public colleges. This provides some major requirements for
UCs.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/transfer/preparation-
paths/major/index.html.
Privates follow their own rules. Make sure you complete general education
pathways and check with major prerequisites.
Unit counts. The UCS and Cal States requires 60 semester (90 quarter) units.
Other colleges have different requirements. Count on 15 semester units per
semester and 15 quarter units per quarter. You will need to take winter and
summer classes and consider enrolling at multiple schools. Make sure you
don’t go over new UC caps on units.
Decided if you want to do a TAG program and its requirements for the one
UC and multiple Cal States. You choose a TAG, after you complete 30 units,
have a minimum GPA set by the university, and certain core classes
completed. https://uctag.universityofcalifornia.edu/index.cfm.
15. What Other Have to Say
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?
q=community+college+success&view=detail&mid=3
E857D25C7BC7A39A75B3E857D25C7BC7A39A75B
&first=21&FORM=NVPFVR
16. PLAN
TAKE A MIX OF GE AND MAJOR CLASSES
NEVER TAKE TOO MANY HARD CLASSES AT A
TIME
CHECK OUT PROFESSORS
DON’T SUFFER IN CLASSES THAT YOU WON’T
DO WELL IN
17. Get FREE Help
Go to office hours of professors
Go to writing and math centers
Join EOPS or other programs for first gen kids,
PUENTE, CARE. CHECK WITH EACH COLLEGE
Be part of study groups
JOIN THE SCHOLARS/HONORS PROGRAMS
18. GET INVOLVED
Get involved on campus—
Athletics, Student Government, Work, Service
Volunteer/Intern in your community or with a
certain profession. Go to Career Services office.
Work. Be active with work. But don’t let it interfere
with your grades.
19. PAYING FOR CC
CC CAL GRANTS ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 2
COMPLETE FAFSA
GO TO FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AND ASK FOR
BOG FEE WAIVERS. UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS CAN GET THESE TOO NOW
BUDGET FOR BOOKS—OFTEN $150 TO $200 PER
CLASS—GO TO LIBRARY, RENT, OR BUY USED.
BUDGET AROUND $2000 PER YEAR WITH
TUITION AND BOOKS IF NO AID.
20. Community College Students
It is not too late.
You get a fresh start.
But get into only the classes you need.
Get actively involved on and off campus.
Attend as many transfer meetings as possible.
Top, top kids talk to me about the Jack Kent Cooke
Foundation.
Again, research colleges that take lots of transfer
students.
21. PREPARE TO TRANSFER
WHEN YOU ARE GETTING NEAR 30 UNITS,
BEGIN TO PLAN TO TRANSFER
ATTEND TRANSFER WORKSHOP. UCLA HAS A
PROGRAM TO HELP TRANSFERS STUDENTS
DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO TAG-MATCH UP WITH
A PARTICULAR COLLEGE
PREPARE POWERFUL ESSAYS AND
APPLICATIONS
GATHER ALL MATERIALS—TRANSCRIPTS,
LETTERS OF REC AND MORE
22. For more information
Dr Rebecca Joseph
Email: rjoseph@calstatela.edu
FB: getmetocollege freeadvice
FB PAGE: GETMETHOUGHCOLLEGE
Website: getmetocollege.org/hs
Twitter: getmetocollege
Youtube: getmetocollege