CSU Transfer Resources and Tips
Thinking of applying to a California State School (CSU)? CSU’s are generally simpler to apply to and pretty straightforward with their acceptances/rejections, but there are a few special institutions to take note of, and some parts of the application that you need to pay close attention to. In this post, we'll cover some important resources to reference if you're interested in transferring to a CSU.
Assist.org outlines all of the classes you need to transfer from any California community college to any CSU for all available majors. It is the place to start your academic preparation and is recommended by CSUs and CCs for students wanting to transfer.
*Note: If you are attending a college that is not a California community college, on ASSIST.org, select the CSU you are interested in, then select any college in order to see the requirements for your intended major.
**Note: I recommend cross-checking Assist.org with the websites of the CSUs you want to go to. Simply google “[state school name] transfer”, then click around until you find the major specific transfer criteria. Take note of this and make sure you’re on track to take those courses. The main reason a transfer application would be rejected (besides too low of a GPA) is because the applicant did not complete / is not on track to complete the courses required for their major by the CSU they applied to.
Here are a some examples of the major specific pages to some of the most popular CSUs I’ve received questions about. Just type in your major and cross-check that assist.org is showing the same courses, then make sure to take these courses (and do well!) so that you don’t need to worry when you apply:
Cal Poly SLO Major Specific Criteria
SDSU Transfer Pathways and Majors with Special Instructions
Cal State Long Beach Major Specific Requirements
Cal State LA Major Specific Criteria
Bonus Tip! Most CSUs follow the following logic:
Applicants who earn an Associate in Arts for Transfer or an Associate in Science for Transfer degree (AA-T/AS-T) are given admission priority
What does this mean for you? It means that you can get priority by simply taking the classes needed from assist.org and focusing also on obtaining your ADT (associates degree for transfer). More information on the latter can be found by talking to your community college counselor. I know not everyone is a fan of doing so, but they are the one’s who can tell you what is required of your major at your cc to get that ADT.
Ready to apply to schools? Cal State Apply is like the common app for state schools in California. This is the one place you’ll go to apply to any CSU. You can also apply to some schools for the Spring, others restrict applications to the Fall.
Oh, here’s the transfer specific page with more info.
You may realize that there isn’t too much listed on this page. That’s because these schools are mainly looking at your GPA and the classes you took, your extracurriculars are not typically considered (exceptions for some majors with portfolio requirements) and essays are not a part of these applications. So if a CSU is your goal, really make sure to figure out the courses you need to take and keep your grades above the threshold required for transfers!
Still have questions? Leave a comment on any of our videos on social media and we’ll make sure to get you the answers you need.