<p>Yikes, CC ate my original response! </p>
<p>I usually don’t post on CC, but I am a fellow transfer student who is also applying to several CSU campuses, and I had to reach out to you since no one else has answered your questions.</p>
<p>Let’s start with the math course. You are currently not eligible for CSU admission because of your current math course. Intermediate Algebra is a remedial math course. Because of this, it doesn’t satisfy the “Quantitative Reasoning” portion of the Golden Four courses.These courses are highly crucial to transfer to any CSU campus. The Golden Four courses also include English Composition, Critical Thinking, and Oral Communication. You must take a transferable math course during the spring semester prior to transferring to any CSU. They will not permit you to take any general education courses during the summer term prior to your first term at the specific campus you choose to go to. </p>
<p>Regarding admissions in general, it really boils down to two major components: your GPA and location, and your major.</p>
<ol>
<li>Your GPA and location:</li>
</ol>
<p>Due to increased budget cuts within the last few years, many CSU campuses are beginning to admit students primarily from within their individual “service areas.” You are in a campus’ service area if you: 1) live in the designated area, and 2) have earned the majority of your credits from an accredited California Community College in that area. Service area boundaries are often illustrated on individual CSU campus websites. As a result, the minimum GPAs required for admission are different depending on whether or not you’re a local or non-local student. For example, students from the campus’ service area may only be required to have a 2.0 minimum GPA, while non-local students may be required to have a 3.0+ minimum GPA. CSUs first admit the eligible local students, then they will admit the eligible non-local students depending on the availability of spaces left. To put it simply, you have a greater chance of getting into a CSU campus that is closer to your home and your current school.</p>
<ol>
<li>Your major:</li>
</ol>
<p>Depending on whether or not your major is impacted (see individual campus websites to check if your major is impacted or not), the minimum GPA requirement for admission is often higher, and there will usually be supplemental course requirements on top of general major requirements to fulfill. </p>
<p>My advice to you is to definitely keep up a steady pace with your current courses. I would finish intermediate algebra (which, also, is not counted towards your transferable GPA since it is not a transferable course), and take a transferrable math course over the summer. If you’re applying for Spring 2012 admission, you want to be able to fulfill any last general education requirements (including Golden Four requirements) before the end of the summer term. I would also see an academic counselor. They may not necessarily be the sweetest people, but they do mean well deep down and want the best for you. They do want to see you succeed! This allows you to confirm that your general education and major requirements are completed prior to transferring and to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.</p>
<p>I may not be an academic counselor or an admissions representative, but as a fellow transfer student, I do hope that this helps you with the transfer process. I wish you good luck and I hope that everything works out for you in the end.</p>