by Zach Schanzenbach

Staff Writer

Upon seeing a square topped cap and a tassel hanging over the side, there is one word that comes to the mind – “graduation.”

Most CSUSM students have experienced the process of graduating with their friends in high school, and will hopefully experience it again at the end of college.  So what’s in store for the graduates-to-be?

There are some basic requirements and advice that CSUSM graduate hopefuls might want to keep in mind. Graduates in the past, of various majors, have braved this process.

To graduate, the first thing you need to have is a minimum GPA of 2.0.  For that, you need at least 85 semester units to apply for graduation. To get a degree, you need 120 units, 40 of which must come from upper-division courses.  With these in hand, you can apply; just make sure to apply before the semester in which you expect to graduate.

Of course, these are the bare necessities.  Further preparation, according to CSUSM’s Academic Advisor David McMartin, can be made by touching base with your academic advisor and double-checking to be sure you’ve completed all your requirements.

McMartin also recommends students find a pace that allows them to get the best college has to offer while still balancing their personal lives.  Also, if students are trying to graduate as soon as they can, they might consider taking a couple of courses over the summer.

As of May 2012, CSUSM boasts a total of 28,000 graduates in its more than 20 years.  The majority of graduating students, 52 percent, are between the ages of 26 and 35. However, there are still many who graduate between the ages of 23 and 25 and even above the age the 36, forming 47 percent.  Only a small 1 percent handful of students graduate between ages 17 and 22.

The College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences boasts the most graduating students, with about 42 percent of graduating students. The College of Science and Mathematics produces the least, with a mere 15 percent.

If you’re planning on graduating in the fall, you’d best apply now. The deadline for applications without a $15 late fee is Feb. 2.  The deadline for applying for spring is from June 1 to Sept. 15.