Honors University Transfer Program

Advantages, Opportunities, and Value of the Program

• Honors Scholar and STEM Honors Scholar Distinction on Transcripts
• Enhanced Curriculum and Smaller Classes
• UCLA’s Transfer Alliance with WVC
• UC Irvine, Yale, and other University Partnerships through HTCC
• Dedicated Counseling and Priority Registration
• Honors Research Symposiums
• Exclusive Scholarship and Financial Aid Opportunities
• Personal Connections In and Beyond the Classroom

Honors Scholar and STEM Honors Scholar Distinction on Transcripts

Honors students completing at least fifteen (15) Honors units with a cumulative GPA of 3.4+ earn a permanent Honors Scholar distinction on their academic transcripts, or, as appropriate, STEM Honors Scholar, in addition to an Honors Medal and Certificate for Commencement. Note there is no consequence for joining, but ultimately not meeting, the Honors Program requirements.

Enhanced Curriculum and Smaller Classes

Honors classes are experiential and collaborative, encouraging a higher level of analysis and critical thinking. They are also typically smaller than the traditional sections. To view all currently available Honors classes, go to the WVC searchable class schedule and enter HONORS in the search bar. In general, Honors classes are generally offered via the in-person modality and during the fall and spring semesters.

UCLA’s Transfer Alliance with WVC

UCLA accepts WVC Honors transfer students at an almost 80% admissions rate via their Transfer Alliance Program (TAP). This is in comparison to the typical 20% acceptance rate for non-TAP applicants. Learn more at UCLA TAP regarding WVC’s unique agreement for transfer students.

UC Irvine, Yale, and other University Partnerships through HTCC

Both UC Irvine and Yale University have direct transfer alliances with the West Valley College Honors Program, significantly increasing the chance of successful admission for our students. This is a result of WVC’s membership in the Honors Transfer Council of California (HTCC) who works to develop these transfer partnerships with highly selective colleges, universities, and upper-division honors programs nationwide. Students enjoy enhanced transfer consideration at the partner-campus, including exclusive scholarship and financial aid opportunities, and even special housing access for out-of-state schools.

View the complete list of WVC’s transfer alliances by visiting the HTCC Transfer Partners page. UC Irvine's and Yale's agreements are here, in addition to schools like Loyola Marymount, Pomona College, Scripps, and University of Michigan. Once at the site, select a school’s name to access information including:

• Academics
• Admissions
• Student Advancement
• Financial Aid and Cost
• Campus and Community
• Visiting and Learning More

Dedicated Counseling and Priority Registration

Once admitted to the program, the Honors Counselor will be dedicated to helping you achieve your transfer goals. If unavailable, all WVC Counselors are well-versed in assisting Honors students. After completing the WVC Orientation, the WVC Assessment, and a WVC Education Plan with a Counselor, Honors students have priority registration for all WVC classes in their schedules. This is quite an advantage for students trying to take popular, over-enrolled classes or specific classes they need for their major.

Honors Research Symposiums

Regional and statewide Honors Research Symposiums feature presentations of outstanding community college Honors student research projects, keynote speakers, tours of the host campus, transfer admissions workshops, and more. Honors students are encouraged to not only attend these annual events (held each spring, often at Stanford or UC Berkeley), but to also consider completing their own original academic research under the guidance of a WVC faculty member to submit a proposal with the goal of presenting. Submitting a proposal and being selected to present at an Honors Symposium is one of the absolute best and most unique ways a transfer applicant can separate themselves from other applicants when competing for spots at highly selective universities.

Visit the Bay Honors Consortium’s website for additional information about their regional Honors Research Symposium, including:

• Advice for those hoping to present at future symposiums
• Sample proposals from past Honors students selected to present
• Symposium FAQs

Exclusive Scholarship and Financial Aid Opportunities

All universities with which West Valley has transfer alliances offer substantial financial aid packages, many of which are need-based. For example, UCLA offers renewable TAP scholarships for Honors students admitted through that program, and the renewable Wasserman grants for Honors students with demonstrated financial need. Saint Mary's College guarantees admission to qualified Honors graduates and provides a renewable scholarship for all with a 3.5+ GPA.

Personal Connections In and Beyond the Classroom

The Honors Program is built on relationships. It brings together students who are curious, motivated, and eager to learn alongside others who share their passion for exploring ideas and growing beyond their current circumstances. Students develop meaningful connections with peers who challenge and support one another, as well as with faculty who are deeply invested in them as both students and people. These relationships create a strong sense of belonging during college and often grow into lasting networks of mentorship, friendship, and professional support that continue well beyond graduation.

UCLA Transfer Alliance Program

TAP, or the Transfer Alliance Program, was designed by UCLA to foster academic excellence at the community college level and promote diversity and retention in the UCLA transfer population. It provides a unique transfer partnership between WVC and UCLA exclusive to students in the Honors Program.

WVC students earning the Honors or STEM Honors Scholar distinction may apply to UCLA via the TAP certification process. TAP allows students to add an approved alternate major from the UCLA College of Letters and Science to their UCLA application, which offers them a second chance for consideration if they are not admitted to UCLA with their first-choice application. In a typical year, TAP certification boosts acceptance rates to nearly 80% compared to less than 20% for non-TAP applicants.

Students admitted to UCLA via TAP are eligible for multiple benefits, including a sizable annual scholarship and grants based on financial need. Visit the UCLA TAP website for more information about the program and the advantages available only to WVC Honors students.

UCLA TAP and High School Students

In Summer 2026, UCLA clarified the expectations of all future Honors students working toward TAP certification the spring semester after they apply to transfer to UCLA: (1) The earliest Honors students may complete the TAP certification process is during the second year of their college studies following high school graduation; and (2) Honors coursework counting towards TAP certification must be completed after graduating from high school. For additional clarification regarding these changes made by UCLA, contact the Honors Coordinator or Honors Counselor.

UC Irvine, Yale University, and Other University Transfer Partners

UC Irvine and Yale University also maintain direct transfer alliances with the West Valley College Honors Program. These partnerships substantially enhance admission opportunities at these two highly selective institutions for qualified Honors students. Students who apply to UCI or Yale and earn the Honors or STEM Honors Scholar distinction receive direct recognition from WVC through a formal certification process that is communicated directly to the university as part of the transfer application review.

Honors Program graduates also benefit from enhanced transfer consideration at up to fifty partner institutions through West Valley College's membership in the Honors Transfer Council of California (HTCC). Partner schools include highly regarded institutions such as Pomona College, Scripps College, Loyola Marymount University, the University of Michigan, and the University of San Diego. HTCC develops and maintains these transfer partnerships on behalf of its members, in turn providing students with benefits that may include admission advantages, exclusive scholarship and financial aid opportunities, access to upper-division honors programs, and, at some institutions, priority housing opportunities for transfer students.

There are several paths for current West Valley College students to both join and successfully graduate from the Honors Program.

Joining the Honors Program

West Valley College Student Qualifications

1. Complete at least nine (9) units of transferable coursework at WVC
2. Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher in the transferable coursework taken at WVC

High School Student Qualifications

1. Earn a cumulative unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 or higher
2. Be in at least 11th grade (or going into your Junior year) when applying to the WVC Honors Program

Notes

• Maintaining membership once accepted: There is no consequence for starting but not finishing the Honors Program. Students are encouraged to apply and, if accepted, decide if Honors is the experience and opportunity they seek.
• Note on UCLA TAP and High School students: UCLA clarified in Summer 2026 the expectations of all future Honors students working toward TAP certification the spring semester after they apply to transfer to UCLA: (1) The earliest Honors students may complete the TAP certification process is during the second year of their college studies following high school graduation; and (2) Honors coursework counting towards TAP certification must be completed after graduating from high school. For additional clarification regarding these changes made by UCLA, contact the Honors Coordinator or Honors Counselor.

Earning Honors Scholar and STEM Honors Scholar

Earning Honors Scholar – or STEM Honors Scholar – is the significant academic achievement of West Valley College’s Honors Program graduates.

To complete the Honors Program and earn this distinction, along with the many academic and transfer benefits that accompany it, students will:

1. Complete at least fifteen (15) Honors units at WVC
2. Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher in all transferable coursework taken at WVC

All Honors and STEM Honors Scholars graduates receive a permanent notation on their academic transcripts and are recognized at commencement and transfer celebrations with a special Honors Medal and Honors Certificate from West Valley College.

Notes

• STEM Honors Scholar summary: All 15+ units be in STEM coursework where: (1) 10+ units must be from Honors STEM; (2) if necessary, up to 5 units may be from high-level, preapproved, non-Honors STEM where a grade of B or higher is earned; and (3) all coursework together (Honors and non-Honors) must cover 3+ STEM disciplines.
  • For more details, the information packet linked below provides all options and requirements for earning STEM Honors Scholar at West Valley College.
• Units and transferability for courses: All qualifying Honors courses must be both at least three (3) units and UC/CSU transferable.
• Mission College Honors courses: At most six (6) of the required 15+ Honors units may come from MC. To register, students must first apply to and be accepted by Mission's separate Honors Program. (Note, Mission’s 1-unit COU 7H is not accepted by WVC Honors.)