<p>Hey guys, I'm applying to UCLA and UCB and I love both of the schools. However I've heard that as a result of the California budget crisis, UCs have been cutting back on their undergraduate classes and increasing class sizes. A lot of people have told me that it will now generally take 5 years to satisfy one's major requirements and graduate.</p>
<p>The problem is that I'm OOS and while my family could certainly afford 5 years OOS tuition, I wouldn't exactly be thrilled about having to pay the extra 50k.</p>
<p>take summer school or extra classes throughout the quarter. there are thousands of classes offered, if you cant graduate within 4 years, you can only blame yourself.</p>
<p>I don’t really understand all the hype about not being able to graduate in 4 years at UCLA. I’m a freshman pre history major and during the first term I didn’t go to orientation and I still got the classes that I wanted. Same story for next quarter - even though I had a late first pass, I still got the classes that would satisfy my GEs and my major. So I really don’t get why most people assume UCLA students have a hard time graduating in 4 yrs because of underfunding. Even the class size issue is kinda overblown based on what I have experienced in my first quarter. Well for me, I would even like the 250+ student classes other than the 50-70 students in the classes I had in the fall.</p>
<p>I wasn’t so much talking about individual competency as much as I was about resources. I was primarily asking if the recent cut-backs translates to a more difficult time in getting the classes I need for my major and getting the credits necessary to graduate within 4 years.</p>
<p>“I don’t really understand all the hype about not being able to graduate in 4 years at UCLA. I’m a freshman pre history major and during the first term I didn’t go to orientation and I still got the classes that I wanted. Same story for next quarter - even though I had a late first pass, I still got the classes that would satisfy my GEs and my major. So I really don’t understand why most people assume UCLA students have a hard time graduating in 4 yrs. Even the class size issue is kinda overblown based on what I have experienced in my first quarter. Well for me, I would even like the 250+ student classes other than the 50-70 students in the classes I had in the fall.”</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. There just seems to be a lot of unfavorable commentary on this forum regarding UCs due to recent financial problems.</p>
<p>Yeah there is a lot of negative talk going on. Anyways, after the first term in UCLA I really can say that I didn’t really “feel” the lack of funding - aside from UCLA canceling the political science minor this year. </p>
<p>All in all I can say that I love UCLA, and that’s coming from a student who valued name and recognition when he applied to college last summer. I was accepted at Berkeley, LA, and some fairly good privates out East (Gtown, NYU etc.) and I was reluctant to pick LA just because of the location and my “gut feel”. I made the right choice. Just giving my two cents here :)) good luck in your search!</p>
<p>BTW, The only problem I had in getting my classes was choosing which class was easier to get an “A” on, so that speaks volumes on the availability of classes. Sorry, I’m a grade conscious Ahole! :)</p>
<p>A lot of people in heavier science majors take a 5th year, not because of budget cuts, but because of the amount of classes they have to take. For example, in order to stay on track for 4th-year graduation, some engineering majors require taking insane course loads, which is why some people elect to spread their classes over a longer period of time.</p>
<p>Most north campus majors (with the exception of double majors) are even capable of graduating in 3 years (though I wouldn’t recommend this) and some in fact do.</p>
<p>Honestly, in some majors, you can graduate after 2 years, just taking 3 classes a quarter and summer classes… Don’t freak out about budget cuts, I did too before.</p>
<p>I applied for Biz-econ. So it’s not too science intensive. You guys think I’d be able to graduate 3/4 years assuming I stay on track and maintain a good GPA?</p>
<p>As long as you plan ahead of times and always take classes that apply to your GEs or Major, you’ll be more than set to graduate in less than 4 years. I made sample class plans for the next 4 years based on the majors I’m interested in, and for all of them if I have one major I’d be able to easily graduate in 3 years without any summer courses at all and only taking 3 classes a quarter. It might be harder if you’re a science/engineering major but with planning and being resourceful (like getting seniors to reserve you class spots) you are definitely able to graduate in 4.</p>
<p>You should be fine then. My advice to you would be to take AP classes that exempt you from certain classes. For the Business Econ major, I know you have to take some calculus, and I know that a good score on the AP Calculus test will exempt you from intro calc classes. You have to take three quarters of foreign language, but passing any AP foreign language will exempt you from that. You also have writing requirements, and a 4 or 5 on either AP English test will fulfill two of them. Right there you can knock off like 6 classes, which will mean that you will have less quarters, if any, where you have to take 4 classes, which is kinda tough. You could also take a GE or two (depending on your senior year schedule) at a local community college. :)</p>