Major prep, IGETC and timing decide transfer outcomes more than anything else. A term-by-term map removes the guesswork.
Most transfer stress comes from discovering a missing prerequisite too late. The fix is unglamorous: map every major-prep and general-education requirement by target campus before the first term, then sequence them deliberately.
Math and science prerequisites usually gate everything else, so they come first. Spreading them out to protect GPA is often worth an extra summer term.
Where TAG is available, eligibility should be tracked from day one — not reconstructed in the final term. A clear term-by-term map turns transfer from a gamble into a schedule.
This article is general guidance, not individualized advice. For your specific situation, a planning review will give you a path, timeline and risk read tailored to you.