Does a student have to already have 30 community college units completed BEFORE applying for a UC TAG in the fall, say for UC Santa Cruz?
If that’s the case, then does the student spend one year in a community college without the actual “transfer agreement” in place, not knowing for sure what classes to take, and IF they can even get TAG the following year?
Yes. The 30 units need to be complete before the fall term.
This site should answer some of your questions; http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/tag-matrix.pdf
I believe yes, since it says for UC Santa Cruz the minimum UC transferable units completed to submit a TAG is 30 semester/45 quarter units. In order to fulfill TAG, however, you would need 60 semester/90 quarter units.
Let’s say I have 30 semester units now, and I want to TAG to UCSC. I can submit a TAG in September 2015 so I can transfer in Fall of 2016. With the remaining time before I transfer, I would have to make sure I fulfill other requirements (GPA, courses for major, etc.) & meet the 60 semester/90 quarter units requirement. I hope that answered your second question and did not confuse you more.