Important Information and Dates for Transfers
Scholars Program
Important Information and Dates for UC Transfers
Fall 2027 Admissions Cycle
Fall 2026
July – August ~ Start your TAG application
Begin the UC Transfer Admission Planner if you plan to submit a UC TAG in September 2026: https://uctap.universityofcalifornia.edu/students/
Are you planning to apply to UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, or UC Riverside for Fall 2027 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 and CSU online applications available August 1st. Create login and prepare UC and/or CSU application(s) for submission (October 1 – November 30)
Apply now | UC Admissions (universityofcalifornia.edu) / Cal State Apply | CSU
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 sign up for a session. Once you sign up, you will see the zoom link (for virtual workshops) or room location (for hybrid workshops). Write these down!
It is mandatory that Scholars Program students who expect to be TAP certified attend one of these workshops. Summer/Fall 2026 workshops will be posted in July 2026: https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/counseling/special-support-programs/scholars/uc-application-workshops.php
September 1-30 – Submit your TAG application
UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) contracts must be completed online this month in order to receive guaranteed Fall 2027 admissions to select UC campuses. Students will be allowed to complete one UC TAG only. Use the Transfer Admissions Planner to complete the TAG.
https://uctap.universityofcalifornia.edu/students/
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) https://dream.csac.ca.gov/ for 2027-28 becomes available (submit by March 2, 2027 deadline – subject to change). Reminder to list ALL colleges you are applying to for Fall 2027. Please note: The application is set to open on October 1, 2026.
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 – December 1
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)
Complete and submit UC online application.
https://apply.universityofcalifornia.edu/
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 (.pdf or .docx only) 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. Instructions/form provided to workshop attendees.
December 1
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 30. This is NOT optional. We must have ALL records regardless of transferability. Send these “official transcripts” ordered from your school and mailed or electronically sent directly from the institution to the SMC Admissions Office. https://www.smc.edu/admission-aid/student-records/transcripts/incoming-transcripts.php AP scores must be on file as well https://www.collegeboard.org/ 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 30.
December 31
Deadline to submit SMC Scholarship application Scholarships - Santa Monica College (smc.edu)
December – January 2026
Receive acknowledgement email from UC Application Center (usually by December 31, 2026), 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 2027
Winter 2027
Common Applications are due throughout the Winter/Spring 2027 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 31
UC will send “Transfer Academic Update” (TAU) e-mail asking students to report all Fall 2026 grades and to verify final Winter and Spring 2027 course(s). If you do not complete the TAU, UC may cancel your admissions. CSU campuses will also have January 31 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 click 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 https://www.smc.edu/admission-aid/financial-aid-scholarships/types-of-aid/grants/calgrant-gpa-submissions.php
March
Make an appointment with a counselor to do a final evaluation of your IGETC or Cal-GETC, Associate’s Degree, etc.
February - April
Admissions decisions roll out from UC and CSU campuses.
April 15th
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 click Associate and Bachelor Degree Petition. The Graduation Petition is required to earn the Associate’s Degree and/or participate in the SMC graduation ceremony https://www.smc.edu/admission-aid/graduation/index.php
May 1
Deadline to submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to the CSU campus of your choice. Send ALL official transcripts and AP scores to the CSU campus that you will be attending by the deadline that campus requires:
SMC: https://www.smc.edu/admission-aid/student-records/transcripts/official-transcripts.php
AP: https://www.collegeboard.org/
June 1
Deadline to submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to the UC campus of your choice. Send ALL official transcripts and AP scores to the UC campus that you will be attending by the deadline that campus requires:.
SMC: https://www.smc.edu/admission-aid/student-records/transcripts/official-transcripts.php
AP: https://www.collegeboard.org/
Graduation: If you are eligible for a Scholars Program cord (completed 15 units of Scholars courses by the end of Spring 2027), 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 with pick-up dates and instructions!
April - July
If you are completing IGETC or Cal-GETC and plan to be certified, turn in your IGETC/Cal-GETC Certification Petition to the SMC Admissions Office (recommended to complete petition at the beginning of Spring term). Students must complete the petition. 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/Cal-GETC certification (full or partial) will be noted on your transcript. IGETC/Cal-GETC petitions are available through the Admissions Office: Admissions & Records Forms - Santa Monica College (smc.edu) Expand “Degrees, Certificates and Certifications Forms”, then click IGETC petition or Cal-GETC Petition. If you have completed your IGETC or Cal-GETC requirements prior to Spring term, it is recommended that you complete the petition as early as possible.