Hello guys,
I am a returning student who is planning to apply UC this year with econ major.
Currently I’ve completed IGETC and will take preparation courses this fall & next spring semester - Econ 101, Calc 1, Econ 102, Calc 2.
Since I did not take above preparation courses YET, I thought I might not be eligible for applying UC this year. But my CC counselor told me that I can still apply because I do not have to be done with the requirements before applying.
Is this true and even if so, does it make me less competitive applicant?
I’m thinking if I should wait another year and complete preparation courses before applying.
Thank you.
Why plan on waiting? It isn’t like you only get one shot at applying. If you apply and they turn you down, then you’re in the same situation as if you had decided to wait to apply and you spend another year at the CC. If they take you then you’re ahead of the game.
That said, Econ is a competitive major at most UCs for xfer and so you may not get in. UCLA, for example, says “The most competitive applicants for Business Economics, Economics, and Psychology will have completed all major prep by the end of fall prior to transfer.” It sounds like you’ll have some done in the Fall, the rest in Spring.
One other thought here. Since you say “returning student” I assume this means you started college, took some time off, and then started back at a CC. Depending on how old you are you may qualify as a “non-traditional student”. If so you should look for UC resources to help you apply, and there may be different rules in admissions to help you.
If you are not tied to your locale or CA for college, some privates have programs aimed at non-traditional students so that is worth exploring too. Sometimes they even come with generous financial aid because the pool of students is so small.