Important Information and Dates for Transfers
Scholars Program
Important Information and Dates for UC Transfers
Fall 2025 Admissions Cycle
Fall 2024
July – August
Begin the UC Transfer Admission Planner if you plan to submit a UC TAG in September 2024: UC Transfer Admission Planner
Are you planning to apply to UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, or UC Riverside for Fall 2025 admissions? Find out how you can benefit from a TAG Contract. Attend one of the Scholars TAG Workshops and meet with your Scholars Counselor.
SMC Scholars Program Workshops - Santa Monica College
August – November
UC online application available August 1st. Create login and prepare UC application for submission (October 1 – November 30)
Apply now | UC Admissions (universityofcalifornia.edu)
Begin working on the University of California (UC) Personal Insight Questions.
UC Personal Insight Questions: Tips & Strategies - Santa Monica College (smc.edu)
August – November
Attend a “Scholars UC Application Workshop” and follow instructions to register for a session. You are required to register in advance and will receive the appropriate Zoom link at that time. If you sign up for the on-ground option, you will be emailed the room location prior to your scheduled workshop.
It is mandatory that Scholars Program students who expect to be TAP certified attend one of these workshops. Students will complete TAP/UCLA priority admissions paperwork at this time. UC Application Workshops
September 1 – 30
UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) contracts must be completed on-line this month in order to receive guaranteed Fall 2025 admissions to select UC campuses. Students will be allowed to complete one UC TAG only. Use the Transfer Admissions Planner to complete the TAG.
September – November
Make an appointment with a Scholars Counselor to review transfer requirements and for a full admissions evaluation. Do this early! October and November get very busy!
October
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid and CA Dream Act Application (CADA) California Dream Act Application for 2025-26 becomes available (submit by March 2, 2025 deadline). Reminder to list ALL colleges you are applying to for Fall 2025. Please note: The application will be available on or before December 1, 2024.
Applications for the SMC Scholarship Program become available.
Scholarships - Santa Monica College (smc.edu)
Start planning for letters of recommendation for scholarships, private school applications, etc. Ask EARLY!
October 1 – November 30
Complete and submit CSU online application. Cal State Apply | CSU / CSU application workshops are offered through the General Transfer Counseling Center: Completing the CSU Application - Santa Monica College (smc.edu)
UC Application Priority Filing Period (You can submit your application online) UC Application
November 30
Students with passing AP scores and transcripts from ANY AND ALL INSTITUTIONS EVER attended (community college, college, university, foreign university) must submit them to the SMC Admissions Office by November 28th. This is NOT optional. We must have ALL records regardless of their transferability. Send these “official transcripts” ordered from your school and mailed or electronically sent directly from the institution to the SMC Admissions Office. Incoming Transcripts AP scores must be on file as well CollegeBoard College and Career Start Here The Scholars Program cannot TAP certify students unless ALL official records are submitted. If you submit transcripts directly to the Scholars Office, you will still have to submit official copies to the SMC Admissions Office 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405-1628 by November 30th.
November 30
UCLA TAP (Transfer Alliance Program) certification forms must be submitted by email to Audra Wells, Scholars Program Leader / wells_audra@smc.edu. This form must be completed and submitted by this deadline in order for students to be TAP certified for UCLA.
It is mandatory that Scholars Program students who expect to be TAP certified attend one of the Scholars UC Application workshops.
December
Deadline to submit SMC Scholarship application Scholarships - Santa Monica College (smc.edu)
December – January 2024
Receive “acknowledgement letter” by mail, from UC Application Center, indicating that they have received your application, have an updated email, home address, phone number and correct majors for the correct campuses. You do not need to respond to this letter unless you need to change or update information. If you do not receive this letter, contact UC Application Center in order to double-check that they have properly received your application.
Winter/Spring 2025
Winter 2024-25
Common Applications are due throughout the Winter/Spring 2025 seasons for many public/private/out-of-state colleges and universities. SMC Counseling offers workshops along with very helpful documentation to assist you through this process: Completing the Common Application - Santa Monica College (smc.edu)
January
UC will send “Transfer Academic Update” (TAU) e-mail asking students to report all Fall 2024 grades and to verify final Winter and Spring 2025 schedule(s). If you do not complete the TAU, UC may cancel your admissions. (UCB sends out an additional update that is also due by January 31st). CSU campuses will also have Jan 31st grade update and/or transcript deadlines. Check the email you used to apply to the UC/CSU’s regularly and check your SPAM folder.
February
CSU Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) graduation petitions must be submitted to SMC Admissions Office at the START of Spring semester (recommended during the very first week of Spring term). Admissions & Records Forms - Santa Monica College (smc.edu) Expand “Degrees, Certificates and Certification Forms”, then Associate and Bachelor Degree Petition. Login using your SMC login credentials.
March 2
Financial Aid Priority Filing Deadline – Deadline for FAFSA and GPA Verification Form (for Cal Grant) or California Dream Act Application (for AB 540 or undocumented students) by this date. The Cal Grant deadline is a firm deadline. Check with the SMC Financial Aid Office about your GPA Verification Form CalGrant GPA Submissions
March
Make an appointment with a counselor to do a final evaluation of your IGETC, Associate's degree, etc.
February – April
Admissions decisions roll out from UC and CSU campuses.
April 15
Deadline to turn in the “Associate/Bachelor Degree Petition” to the SMC Admissions Office and to participate in the graduation ceremony Admissions & Records Forms - Santa Monica College (smc.edu) Expand “Degrees, Certificates and Certification Forms”, then Associate and Bachelor Degree Petition. The Graduation Petition is required to earn the Associate’s Degree and/or participate in the SMC graduation ceremony Graduation & Commencement
May 1
Deadline to submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to the CSU campus of your choice. Turn in ALL official transcripts and AP scores to the UC campus that you will be attending:
SMC: Official Transcript Requests
AP: collegeboard.org
June 1
Deadline to submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to the UC campus of your choice. Turn in ALL official transcripts and AP scores to the UC campus that you will be attending.
SMC: Official Transcripts
AP: collegeboard.org
Graduation: If you are eligible for a Scholars Program cord (completed 15 units of Scholars courses by the end of Spring 2025), have petitioned for an Associate’s degree and are participating in graduation, come get your cord from our office! Notifications will be sent out in May!
April – July
After you complete IGETC and/or select a campus and submit/pay your SIR, turn in your IGETC Certification Petition to the SMC Admissions Office. Students must do this. The Scholars Office does not and cannot submit these for students. At this point you must indicate which CSU or UC campus(es) you have applied to and/or will be attending. IGETC certification (full or partial) will be noted on your transcript. IGETC petitions are available through the Admissions Office: Admissions & Records Forms - Santa Monica College (smc.edu) Expand “Degrees, Certificates and Certifications Forms”, then IGETC Petition.
If you have completed your IGETC requirements prior to Spring term, it is recommended that you complete the petition as early as possible.