A key to successfully transferring from a community college to a university relies heavily on multiple factors. There is a lot of information put out to students which can be a bit overwhelming. We have broken down the information in order to assist Moorpark College transfer students in seeking an appropriate fit in their pursuit of higher learning and help ease the tension of the process.

What are some of the key deadlines for transfer students?

One of the most important factors for a student who is planning to transfer are the application deadlines for their schools of choice. This can be a stressful process for many students since application deadline dates vary. What makes the Moorpark College Transfer Day great is that it gives students the chance to speak with representatives of many well-known universities in order to figure out more about their school of choice.

For example, California State University (CSU), Channel Islands’ deadline for spring 2019 has already passed, while the transfer deadline for a school like University of Southern California is not until February 1. Private schools like California Lutheran University, whose deadline for applicants is November 1, all have their own specific application deadline so it’s best to check directly on the website of the school you are interested in.

—Nikolas Gegena

What are the key requirements for a student to transfer to your university?

Another important factor to keep in mind when applying for colleges are the key requirements for transferring. Schools have different requirements from the number of credits required to a GPA minimum. California Lutheran University has a minimum GPA of 2.75 and needs at least 30 transferable units in order to be eligible for transfer.

University of Hawaii and Pepperdine University have similar requirements. Some schools can also require certain classes to be taken in order to transfer. For example, California Lutheran University requires students to have taken an intermediate Math and an English class, whereas Pepperdine asks students to have taken four academic classes within the last two semesters of applying to transfer. The rule of thumb for most schools is generally to have accomplished a certain amount of transferable credits. However, some schools may not even have any requirements at all, like Loyola Marymount University. It would be wise to check with the school for any specific details.

—Shariliz Poveda

What are some of your university’s important specialties or unique characteristics?

As students begin to narrow down school choices for the fall semester, they ask themselves what makes a particular school stand out to them. Schools from all over the county have some type of uniqueness to make their school special in many ways. For instance, CSU San Marcos is located within five miles of the beach. This is an attractive quality for some students who want to live in the sunny parts of Southern California. From their school culture to the alumni, every school is unique in their own way. The University of Southern California is such a diverse school, students come from all over the country and the world.

—Conrad De Santiago

How can a transfer student receive financial aid assistance?

One of the most important factors a student considers when applying to a university is cost. The cost of a school can arguably have the most influence on a student’s choice. Thankfully, many universities have financial aid programs for transfer students. Some schools even offer to match the tuition price of other schools the student got accepted to, schools like UCLA or UC Berkeley. Every campus has a financial aid office or department available for students if any help or information is needed.

—Mano Baghjajian

What housing programs are available for transfer students?

The transition from a community college to a university can take some adjusting, especially when students have to change living arrangements. Besides standard orientations, universities are creating programs and policies tailored to their needs to ensure it’s a smoother transition. Be sure to reach out to the representatives of your universities of choice and communicate your needs. They may have other resources that will work for your circumstances. Below are some of the housing options available.

CSU Bakersfield: Transfer students share a community with upper-level students. The rooms are single-room-type units accompanied by a swimming pool within walking distance from the campus.

UC San Diego: Guarantees housing for transfer students. This is the only UC school that makes that guarantee.

Pepperdine: Transfer students stay at the Eden Building, the greenest and most sustainable building on campus. Residents will interact with innovative building features and specialized programming to engage in sustainability as a lifestyle.

University of San Francisco (USF), Downtown: With only three out of six residence halls available to transfer students, USF invites students to stay in their housing for three days to become familiar with their new environment. The university hopes to connect transfer students in similar positions and create roommates for the future school year. They also have special housing tailored to students recovering from substance abuse.

University of Redlands: It’s requested of students under the age of 23 to live on campus. Transfer students are automatically placed in the junior pool for housing. This improves their chances of being placed in suites because seniority is prioritized.

UC, Irvine: Multiple housing options are available to students with a range of amenities such as fitness centers, shuttle service to campus, and washers and dryers within the unit. Students can also pick housing based on co-ed academic themes or single-gender Greek-sponsored housing. UCI also helps find off-campus housing as well.

—Laura De Leon

What’s the difference in cost if I choose to go to a UC school, CSU school, or a private institution like CLU?

Budgeting for college can be one of the most daunting experiences in our young adult lives. While trying to find our college of choice, we are also asked to balance the cost of some of our favorite schools. The data can be a bit overwhelming, and you might start breaking out in cold sweats when you remember it’s money you haven’t even earned yet. Don’t worry, we’re here to help.

To simplify the process, we represented the three most applied-to-schools, according to Moorpark College Transfer Statistics. UCLA was the most-applied-to UC school, Cal State Northridge the most-applied-to Cal State, and CLU the most-applied-to private institution.

Here’s a short summary on the cost of the different types of schools for California residents living both on and off campus.

UC, On-Campus:
Tuition and Fees: $13,900
Books and Supplies: $1,200
Health Insurance Allowance/fee: $2,400
Room and Board: $15,800
Personal/Transportation: $2,000
Total: $35,300

UC, Off-Campus:
Tuition and Fees: $13,900
Books and Supplies: $1,200
Health Insurance Allowance/fee: $2,400
Room and Board: $12,400
Personal/Transportation: $2,500
Total: $32,400

More information on cost of attendance for UC schools

CSU, Northridge On-Campus:
Total Fees: $6,888
Books and Supplies: $2,002
Food and Housing: $11,122
Transportation: $1,472
Personal: $1,480
Total: $22,964

CSU, Northridge Off-Campus:
Total Fees: $6,888
Books and Supplies: $2,002
Food and Housing: $15,150
Transportation: $1,544
Personal: $1,480
Total: $27,064

More information on standard student expense budgets for all CSUs

California Lutheran University:
Full Time Student Tuition (12-18 credits): $42,210 per year
Part Time Student Tuition (1-11 credits or any excess credits over 18): $1,365 per credit.
Housing cost ranges from $7,330 per year (standard residence halls) to $12,370 per year (Trinity Hall Studio) with three housing options between those ranges.
Meal Plan: Refer to link.

More information for CLU’s tuition fees, meal plans, financial aid and much more

—Robert Gonzales

What is your #1 most important piece of advice for soon-to-be transfer students?

When it comes to the number-one piece of advice for transfer students, the answer may not always be so clear. Schools tend to have distinct values, goals, and opinions. However, a common thread that was mentioned by the various participating universities was to actively go out and seek information from counselors. The guidance of a counselor can aid and guide a student through the strenuous process of transferring to a university. The common consensus was that every student should reach out to a counselor and make an appointment. Students should instinctively research the requirements of the specific school they want to attend. Students should also think about what their passion is to apply as soon as possible.

—Ulises Koyoc