Pierce College is guaranteeing students a spot into the UC system with the help of the UC TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee) program.
As long as one meets the requirements, they will be offered a spot at one of the six participating UCs—UC Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz.
“It’s black and white,” said Sunday Salter, director of the Transfer Center. “You meet the criteria, you’re in.”
The requirements that students must fulfill to gain a guaranteed transfer admittance vary depending on the UC. Students can always refer to the UC TAG matrix. The matrix includes required GPAs, units needed to transfer and important submission deadlines for the desired UC.
The UC TAG system works as an incentive for students to transfer, with a good GPA and complete a certain amount of credits before they transfer.
“You still definitely have to work hard and do what you need to do to study for your classes and meet those standards,” counselor Tara McCarthy said. “Do what you need to do and the payoff will be a guaranteed admission to one of these UCs.”
UC TAG also works as a way to help students pave their college path. The earlier students start mapping their transfer plans with a counselor, the more clear their goals will become.
Salter said many students have trouble completing their math and English requirements, or they don’t take these classes as soon as they should.
“UCs are rewarding them by giving them this guarantee,” Salter said. “If you jumped in English or math right away and you stuck through it and finished; you now qualify for this awesome chance.”
After students decide on which UC they wish to attend, they reference the TAG Matrix and work alongside a counselor to complete all the requirements.
Salter said your counselor will “be able to program your classes in your education plan and make sure you meet the TAG requirements.”
While students are offered a guaranteed spot at the UC of their choice through TAG, students are not under any commitment to attend the school.
If students find they are undecided on whether to apply for TAG, they are still encouraged to sign up for the Transfer Admission Planner (TAP). Through TAP, students can apply for TAG or simply be sent information on prospective colleges.
TAP acts as a way for interested students to learn about resources pertaining to their desired colleges. These resources include university representative visits and university transfer events on Pierce.
“We have a lot of workshops and programs designed to get word out to students,” Counselor Danielle Wilson said.
The final day to submit TAG applications is Sept. 30.