Dr. Alene Hamilton, career counselor and instructor, strongly
suggests that students visit the campuses they’re interested
in before applying. That way they know what they’re getting
into and can avoid finding themselves in a campus that doesn’t
feel good or isn’t right for them.
If you can’t visit the college, there is an alternative
here on campus. The CSU Mentor Computerized System, inside the
Career-Transfer-Employment Center, will provide you with all
the fundamentals about different colleges. You can check out
the size of the campus, learn about the location, and see pictures.
If you’re still unsure about which colleges to look into,
students can input data characteristics of their choice into
the system, which will find a matching college. “It’s
really speedy and efficient,” says Hamilton.
Meeting with college representatives can also be a great aid,
allowing you to find out if you’ve fulfilled all the necessary
requirements. “It gives you a chance to be really well prepared
to transfer and be competitive in the process,” said Hamilton.
She also suggests that you look at school catalogs.
The most popular transfer destinations for LPC students are:
CSU Hayward, San Jose State University, San Francisco State University,
CSU Chico, Humboldt State University, CSU Sacramento, California
Polytechnic State University (SLO), UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCLA,
UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, St. Mary’s College, and Stanford
University.
Picking a major
If you’re still undecided about choosing a major, take advantage
of the educational and career-planning courses offered by the
Career-Transfer-Employment Center. Do your research, attend career
workshops, take introductory classes, and do some job shadowing.
Although an Associate of Arts (AA) degree is not needed to
transfer, students can earn an AA degree in general education,
which serves as a marker of achievement. As Hamilton puts it,
“It’s a nice way to close out the period of time you
spent at LPC.”
For an AA, the degree requirements are a completed minimum
of 60 semester units, a cumulative 2.0 GPA, and all of the requirements
for general education or a specific major.
For an AS (Associate of Science), the requirements are a completed
minimum of 60 semester units, a maintained cumulative GPA of
2.0, and all of the requirements for general education and a
specific science major.
Handling the paperwork
Set an appointment with a counselor on campus when you’re
ready to transfer. Official certification of CSU general education
breadth and the IGETC is done by completing a form in the Admissions
Office during the last month of attendance at LPC. Certification
cannot be completed until all final grades have been turned in.
An official copy will be forwarded to the university and the
student, ensuring your lower-division breadth requirements. Final
transcripts should be requested at that time to also be sent
to the four-year university.
Your college essay reveals who you are. Whether you’re
writing an autobiographical statement or an essay on a specific
theme, take the opportunity to express your individuality in
a way that sets you apart from other applicants. If you’re
applying for a program such as music, art, or design, you may
have to document prior work by auditioning on campus or submitting
an audiotape, slides, or some other sample of work to demonstrate
your abilities.
Keep track of due dates. Buy a personal organizer or daily
calendar. Clearly mark the days in which you have appointments
or have something due, such as financial aid applications.
For more information about financial aid, scholarships, and
assistance, visit the Career-Transfer-Employment Center in Bldg.
900. The hours are: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 8:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Tuesdays, 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-7:00
p.m.; and Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Or call them at 925-373-5823.