California Community CollegesCalifornia’s community college system is a great place to start your college experience. The benefits include:
• More time to explore universities or a major.
• Save money on tuition (and housing)
• Higher chance of being admitted (or guaranteed admission) to a selective CSU or UC campus; and
• Opportunity to explore vocational program or 2 year degree careers.
If you are interested in starting your college experience at a community college, we recommend taking a community college course during high school. Community college courses are FREE to high school students and gives high school students access to start earning community college credit (UC/CSU transferrable courses) without having to take AP exams.
To enroll in a community college course, talk to your high school counselor or visit the College Center for a Concurrent Enrollment Form.
Transfer ProgramsIf you plan to transfer to a UC or CSU campus from a community college, you do not have to take SAT/ACT.
Once you are ready to transfer, your high school GPA and grades are not a part of your UC or CSU transfer application. This means that community college is a fresh academic start!
How long does it take to transfer?Many high school graduates plan to transfer to a UC or CSU campus after attending a community college for approximately two years. However, the number of years it takes to transfer depends on how long it takes a student to complete transfer requirements.
We recommend students challenge themselves in English and math every year in high school so that they are prepared to take placement test that allows them to enroll in college-level transfer courses after graduating from Carlmont.
UC’s Transfer Guarantee Admission (TAG)There are six UC campuses (Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz) that offer transfer guarantee admission to students from California community colleges who meet campus-specific requirements. Transfer students can TAG to one of these six UC campuses yet also apply to other UC campuses that do not have a guarantee admission program (such as UCLA, Cal, UC San Diego).
Click here to learn about UC's TAG program
CSU Transfer Guarantee ProgramsCommunity college students who wish to transfer to a CSU campuses are guaranteed admission if the campus and/or major are not impacted and the student earns a two-year degree.
Click here to learn more about CSU’s guarantee transfer program.
How to apply to a community collegeThere will be several workshops at Carlmont to help seniors get ready to enroll at a community college. Students who are 18 years old or have a high school diploma or equivalent are eligible to apply.
Seniors begin their application at
CCCApply.
After you apply, check email for next steps. In most cases, steps will most likely include:
• How to log into your Web Smart account, using your G#, to register for placement test
• When to take an English and/or Math placement test
• Attend orientation or meet with a community college counselor after you get your placement test results
• How to register for classes, check financial aid status, and pay registration fees.