Advice for UCLA transfer from UCSB in 1 year

Transfer Students UC Transfers
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Hi! So I’m looking to try and apply to UCLA as a transfer for fall 2021. I’ve done some research on this and I know most of what I need to know, but there are a few gaps. For context, I have 44 units of AP Credit from high school and 5-15 units of community college credit going for me, depending on if the community college classes I took in high school or the one I took between high school and UCSB transfer (I got As in all of those courses btw). I know at least 5 will count because that’s multivariable calculus I’m taking in the fall (more on that in a minute).

At UCSB, I’m enrolled in 8 transferable units for summer, 12 for fall, and I plan to do 17 and 20 in winter and spring, respectively. As for GEs, my plan allows me to get them all done by the end of spring.

The major I’m planning to apply for is Mathematics/Economics, and it has the following requirements (from UCLA’s Transfer Admission Guide):

  • 5 Quarters of calculus through multivariable and either linear algebra or differential equations. My progress: 2/5 from AP Calculus BC (Score: 5), and Multivariable calculus at my community college (will be taking that while enrolled at UCSB in the Fall) My plan is to take linear algebra in the winter and then differential equations in the spring at UCSB.
  • Addional recommendations (which are basically requirements): One introductory course in C++, and completing the calculus series (which I am already on track to do). For the C++ course, I'm thinking of taking this at my community college, likely in the winter. Is this a good move?

My main question: Should I be following ASSIST and trying to get all of the courses done there, or should I go by UCLA’s Transfer Admission Guide? Right now, my plan is based on UCLA’s TAG. As of now, I’m going to take Econ 1 and 2 at UCSB in fall and spring, respectively. However, if I need to take Econ 10A, which ASSIST suggests I do, I would move Econ 2 to winter and take Econ 10A in the Spring. Additionally, I would need to take Discrete Structures at my community college. Should I try and do these things?

My other concern is going over 129 quarter units. If all of that counts, I would have 116 units, and that’s not including the possible courses I would have to take if I follow ASSIST. I heard somewhere that you can have AP credits count toward the maximum or not. Is that true?

If anyone has any advice for me, it would be greatly appreciated. I know this is not guaranteed to succeed, but I know that planning correctly will greatly improve my chances of being admitted.

One final question: I know one thing UCLA looks for is a good reason to transfer. My reasons are that both UCLA (being in LA) and the Math/Econ major are better for my professional goals, and that I think I would fit in better at UCLA. Are these good reasons?

Thank you!

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UC policy says

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I tried to do something something similar when I was a freshman at UCD for the same major, and ultimately failed, but was able to transfer as a sophomore, so these are somethings I think I should have done differently, in hindsight.

-I recommend to take as many core classes for the major pre-reqs during the fall quarter as they want to the see the grade received in major courses, and they only see the grades for the fall term, and will only ask for winter grades if you are waitlisted. I took only one major class in the the fall of my freshman year with 3 Ge’s, while I receivied a 4.0, I was told that may have been one of the reasons for my rejection.
-Completing GE’s are not required. They are only for the UC letter of Reciprocity, which is helpful if you get in, but I am not sure if having it affects your chance of acceptance.

  • While it is recommended to complete the pre-req courses for the major, it is not mandatory, I did not complete a C++ as it was not provided by UCD for non-cs majors. I also did not complete a discrete structures course, but instead I completed the core upper-division Econ classes at UCD.(This was in my sophomore year)
  • I followed the transfer admission guide, not assist, and I believe that is the best bet for non-cc transfers.
    -Don’t really worry about units, like the previous poster said, ap units can be removed if needed.
    -Final thing, because you’re a one year transfer you will only have one quarter( I guess 2 because you have summer classes, but I’m not sure where you’re taking it at. Is it community college?) compared to ordinary 2 year transfers with 4 quarters worth of grades. This is where your essays have to make up for the deficit and prove why you deserve to be accepted. Fitting in and lining up with your professional goals is very broad, and that is essentially everyone’s reason for a uc-uc transfer. It kind of sounds like the “for the prestige” reason, which is considered a weak reason for transferring. Be specific to what exactly UCLA has that UCSB does not. This all has to be conveyed through your essays. For example, for the essays in my second attempt to transfer, I wrote about how the Econs majors at my current school did not offer what I was looking for.( mangerial Econ focused too little on theory, the topic I wanted to learn more about, or pure economics had too little units to graduate, requiring me to double major in another major I had little interest in.) I honestly believe essays for a uc-uc transfer maybe have as much weight as grades. If you have a below average gpa and stellar essays theres a high chance of acceptance. Also the gpa average for the math/econ major fluctuates from 3.85-4.0 throughout the years (with 3.85 as the 25th and 4.0 as the 75th percentile.)

Sorry if there are grammatical errors I kind of started rambling.

Post anymore questions you have.

Good luck

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Hi! Thank you for that! As for my classes, I’m taking Econ 1 and multivariable calculus in the fall, so those are the classes that will be graded for my transfer application. As for reasons, I wouldn’t say prestige on the application. I would likely say that Math/Econ is better geared towards my professional goals. My current major at UCSB is Econ and the closest equivalent of Math/Econ at UCSB isn’t the same.

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P.S. I tried to get one of the math courses at UCSB (Math 4A) in the Fall but I was unable to do that because of a pending AP score. When it came through, it was too late and the class filled up. Should I mention that on my application, especially given what you said about completing prereqs by Fall?

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@TheAtomicSultan hi! I am planning to transfer to UCLA as well but as a biochem major. I’ve been emailing the admissions people and I’ve been getting emails back from them. As far as I know, you don’t need to have all your GEs completed but it will be beneficial to you if you complete them because you can receive the UC letter of reciprocity which will exempt you from UCLA’s GE requirements. Otherwise, if you don’t complete them, you can take your remaining GEs at UCLA but tbh I’d rather have them done now lol. For lower division transfers, I don’t advise doing it because they would only look at your freshman year grades. I am planning to transfer as a sophomore (so fall 2022). AP credit does not count towards the maximum units and you can have any number of units from 90 to 129 but if you have more than that, you will be at risk of being denied admission. I think for lower division transfers though, you can have AP units count towards the maximum unit cap. I think lower division transfers are riskier because it’s best to have your major prereqs done before doing an intercampus UC transfer. Otherwise, you’d be competing against community college stuents who most likely have all their major prereqs done. It’s also best to have all the strongly recommended courses done as well to be as competitive as possible since they’re going to prefer community college students more. However lucky for us, UCLA is transfer friendly institution.

One question I have though is for biochem major, it’s strongly recommended that I take 2 semesters/2 quarters of calculus based physics with lab. My UC institution is under the quarter system and for calclus based physics, it’s part of the physics 2 series at my school (physics 2ABC w/lab). Does that mean I only have to take physics 2 quarters (which would be physics 2A w/lab and Physics 2B w/lab) and then take the last one at UCLA if admitted)?

Another question is, what is a good reason for UC to UC transfer specifically for biochem majors? I was going to write about research opportunities and such but I am not sure if that’s a good reason.

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Hey! I’m also in the same situation (UCSB to UCLA after 1 year). I’ve been also researching and trying to figure out if I can meeting all the requirements. I was wondering if someone can help me with my question:

I saw on a previous post that my essays will be the most important (other than grades), and I need to provide a strong reason as to why I want to transfer out of UCSB. However, if I am applying to more than one UC (for example, UCB, UCSD, etc), how can I best explain why I want to transfer, if I can’t mention a specific UC?

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@dyosay2 Hi! Like I said previously, I wouldn’t recommend transferring after a year because lower-division transfers are harder to get accepted. Additionally, the only grades you’d be able to show are your freshman year grades. However, if you are dead-set on transferring as a lower division transfer, you will have to make sure you have enough AP credits + college credits to meet the criteria of 60 semester/90 quarter units, in other words: Junior standing. If you want to transfer to another UC as a junior, for UCLA, you will need to have from 90-129 transferable units completed. Additionally, it’s best to obtain your UC Letter of Reciprocity which basically exempts you from completing your GEs at the next UC you transfer to. Otherwise, if you’re transferring within 1 year, make sure you have a really high and competitive GPA (around 3.7-3.9).

Regarding reasons could be what major that another UC school offers that your current UC does not offer. Or it can be location, not as academically stimulating, etc. It has to be something genuine and compelling. I am having trouble with coming up with reasons as well. I want to transfer from UCR to either UCLA or UCI as a biochem major and I would like some advice on what specific reasons I can include in my application that will be genuine and compelling. Please help!! :slight_smile: