What is TAP?
- UC TAP (uctap.universityofcalifornia.edu) is an online tool to help prospective UC transfer students track and plan their coursework.
- It is designed for use by students transferring from California community colleges, including those students who are seeking a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) with one of the six participating UC campuses.
- Students can use the Transfer Admission Planner to enter their coursework (completed and planned) from the very beginning of their college careers, or at any point when they decide to transfer to a UC campus.
- The planner helps students track their progress toward meeting UC’s minimum requirements, and allows UC staff to communicate important information to prospective transfer students.
What is a TAG?
- A TAG is a Transfer Admission Guarantee to a specific university. It is a contract that you submit to the university of your choice so that you can be guaranteed admission early.
Which universities offer a TAG?
- TAG is available with the following universities: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz.
Do I have to see a counselor to submit a TAG?
- Though not required, you are encouraged to meet with a Golden West College counselor or the Transfer Center to review your Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG). You should check the TAG criteria, determine your eligibility, start your online TAG application, and develop a list of specific questions prior to this meeting.
- Before meeting with a counselor or the Transfer Center staff to review your TAG, please make all test results and transcripts are on file.
Can I submit a paper TAG?
- No, all TAGs must be submitted online.
When can I begin working on my TAG?
- Its highly recommend that you first complete a Transfer Admission Planner (TAP), then apply for Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) through the TAP account online during the appropriate filing period (Sept. 1-30 for Fall admissions and May 1-30 for Winter/Spring admissions).
When do I submit my TAG?
- September 1-30 for Fall admissions and May 1-30 for Winter/Spring admissions (UCM and UCR only)
What do I need to be eligible for a TAG?
The specific criteria for a TAG varies by each university and by the major that you are preparing for at the universities to which you would like to transfer. Please refer to the TAG Matrix for updated qualifications and requirements. For TAG by campus, please click on each individual campus below.
How can I check on the status of my TAG and when will I be notified by UC?
- To check on the status of your TAG, you can log back into your TAP (uctap.universityofcalifornia.edu) review the notification post by the 2 nd week of November.
What if my TAG is not authorized or denied, can I still apply for admission to UC?
- You may still apply to UC through the regular admissions process.
Once I sign a TAG, do I have to go to that specific university?
- No, you are not required to attend the university to which you are submitting a TAG.
Do I need to submit official transcripts when I sign a TAG?
- No, all information submitted is a self-report. When you submit a TAG contract, you can use unofficial records. It is only after you are admitted to a university that you will be required to submit official records from all colleges and universities previously attended.
Do I need to tell the universities about coursework completed at previous colleges attended, even if I don't like the grades I earned or I went to university in another country?
- Yes, you are required to report all previous coursework completed at a previous community college or university, either in the US or internationally*. Falsification of records is a serious issue and can result in expulsion from a university if you do not report all records and are admitted based on incomplete information.
Do I still need to apply to the UCs/CSUs after I submit my TAG?
In just over a century, the University of California has built a reputation for excellence. Offering a broad liberal arts education, preparation for graduate study, and training for professions, the UC has a multitude of programs to suite your needs. UC campuses are primarily research and theoretical institutions providing transfer students with the skills to pursue graduate level degrees. At most campuses, undergraduate majors are offered by academic units called colleges, such as the College of Letters and Science, College of Engineering, and College of biological Sciences. At San Diego, there are six colleges with distinct philosophies and requirements. Santa Cruz has eight colleges which form smaller communities with unique intellectual interests and social traditions.
