Frequently Asked Questions


TAP Membership

What are the minimum acceptable Community College Program requirements to qualify for membership?
5 courses and 15 semester units are the minimum. This matches the standards of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). GPA requirements are at the discretion of each Community College.

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Admission Decisions

After reviewing the questions and answers below, if your question is not addressed or pertains to a specific situation, please contact Kate Jakway Kelly.

What does Undergraduate Admissions (UARS) look at when reviewing applications for admission? What minimum requirements must be completed by the end of spring term? By the end of summer term, completion of IGETC coursework and any additional recommended requirements for major preparation will ensure students are ready to begin full coursework at UCLA.

As indicated on the Undergraduate Admissions Transfer Admission web page:
"Some majors are highly selective. For these majors we look for stronger preparation: most preparatory courses completed before transferring and a significant number of courses completed at the time of application."

As of July 2007, these majors include By clicking on the major from the web page listed, the user is linked to each major’s requirements page.

Is there a minimum GPA which guarantees admission?
No.

Is IGETC required for admission?
No, but it does weigh in the selection process.

What is more important to complete - major prep or IGETC?
Although students are encouraged to complete both, major prep is the most important. What the high unit majors must realize is that, if they enter without IGETC, they will have substantial GE to complete after they enter - much more than if they did IGETC and major prep at the community college. This will increase their time to degree.

Are international students (F-1 and H-4 visa status) eligible for TAP?
International students are reviewed separately. They can participate in TAP and be certified. Their TAP status is considered when UCLA makes admission decisions, but international students are not considered in the same way as domestic students. Significantly fewer international students are admitted overall than domestic students.

Can non-UCLA College (College of Letters and Science) majors be TAP certified?
Non-UCLA College majors such as Engineering, Nursing, Arts and Architecture, or Theater, Film and Television can be certified; however, TAP certification is not considered in the review by the other UCLA Schools for selection.
Example: If a TAP certified applicant does not get into Engineering, s/he may be considered for a major in UCLA College if an alternate College major is indicated on the application and TAP certification form and if s/he has completed prep work for the alternate College major indicated. However, if admitted to an alternate major in the College, s/he will not be allowed to change major to Engineering after transfer. Most Engineering majors are not interested in an alternate major. If such is the case, the TAP certification is of no value.

Does a student need to indicate on their UC application that they are TAP?
No, this is handled during the TAP Certification process.

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The Certification form

What does the TAP certification form signify?
By signing the certification form, the Community College Honors Program Director and Counselor acknowledge that the applicant has met the requirements of the Community College's Honors/Scholars Program by the end of the spring term prior to transfer. The certified student is eligible for the TAP Guaranteed Priority Consideration for admission to UCLA College. The student is not guaranteed admission to UCLA.

Will the certification form be accepted without signatures?
No. The student's signature authorizes "UCLA to release application information to the TAP Director/Counselor at my community college. The TAP Director and Counselor's signatures acknowledge that the "applicant has met the requirements of the Honors/Scholars Program and is certified for the TAP Guaranteed Priority Consideration for admission to UCLA College."

When are certification forms submitted?
Certification forms are accepted during the TAP Certification Cycle, mid-January through the end of February. Any other submissions are handled on a case-by-case basis. The forms should be sent from the Community College Honors/Scholars Program office rather than from the student.

How does a student indicate coursework yet to be completed?
Section C on the certification form reflects courses currently enrolled in and any additional courses the student expects to complete winter and spring terms before transfer to UCLA. This is a "good faith" entry. It is at the discretion of the Community College Honors Program Director and Counselor to certify the student based on this information. If program changes occur after the certification form has been submitted, the student must make updated changes on the Work in Progress on-line form. The web address is http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Applicant/WIP.htm. This site will remain up through April. After that, updates must be sent to the campus.

What are the ramifications if the student does not complete this coursework?
There are no ramifications unless incomplete coursework impacts major preparation, required units for University eligibility, or completion of the Honors/Scholars Program. If you have any questions, please contact Kate Jakway Kelly.

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College Honors at UCLA

Is a TAP student automatically admitted to the College Honors Program at UCLA?
If a TAP student is admitted to UCLA, s/he can then apply for admission to College Honors and will be admitted. As a first step, students must fill out an application for the College Honors Program.
Students, with a transfer weighted, capped GPA of 3.5 or above at time of application to UCLA, should apply via the on-line application (which can be accessed via their MyUCLA webpage). Those who apply on time will be admitted. Students, with a weighted, capped transfer GPA of less than 3.5, will also be admitted to College Honors (if they apply on time) because they are TAP students. However, rather than applying via the on-line application, which screens by the 3.5 weighted, capped GPA, the student needs to write a short letter of application to:
    Dr. G. Jennifer Wilson, Assistant Vice Provost
    UCLA College
    Honors Programs
    Box 951414
    A311 Murphy Hall
    Los Angeles, CA 90095-1414
The application letter should include a signed statement from a counselor or administrator verifying TAP status. The student's admission into College Honors will appear by a verification notice on the student's MyUCLA page.

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