<p>I don't think switching majors is crazy, because most undeclared are told that junior year is when a decision should be made. Then again, like you said, it would also depend on your major. Engineering? Molecular Biology? probably not a good idea to switch into.</p>
<p>You know what I think is funny, though? Counselors and colleges everywhere say it's ok to not graduate on time (the last time I spoke to a counselor, the average was at 6 years), yet there's still a lot of student and school emphasis on graduating in 4. I don't blame them though. Also, in relevance to BrandNew2's post, those double majoring or those who cannot or have not decided on majors are what's driving those numbers up. </p>
<p>UCLA forces you to enroll in at least 12 units a quarter to keep students on track to graduate in 4 years and they take measures to deter students for staying more than 4 years, such as cutting off financial aid after your fourth year.</p>
<p>Major-switching wise: It depends on the major you want to switch into. Letter and science majors (prob 90% of the majors/minors) are easy to switch back and forth to (i.e. molecular biology). If you want to switch into the more specialized measures (engineering, theater, film, etc.), it'd be more difficult (not sure about what measures you need to take to do it).</p>
<p>12 units x 3 quarters = 36 units
36 units x 4 years = 144 (36 units shy of 180 unit grad requirement)</p>
<p>12 units is what is required to be considered full time. All UC's are a business, and they could really care less when you graduate, because the longer you stay the more you will pay.</p>
<p>Add to this the very well known fact that the vast majority of students require 5 years to get their undergrad it is obvious the UCs know that it is rare for a student to graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>There's a more recent article either this month or last month but I can't seem to find it.</p>
<p>It's not rare that a student graduates in 4 years. Usually those who graduate in 5 years are those who decide to take a year off, do study-abroad, etc. and so the reason they take 5 years is due to their part. That is why UCLA is taking measures to keep its students on track to graduate in 4 years by keeping them focused and creating measures to discourage any from staying more than 4 years, such as cutting off financial aid aftter the 4th year and capping the maximum units one is allowed to take.</p>
<p>I really wish I could find that article, its more pertinent and I thought I read it before class just last week but apparently not, after going through the online archive (I should keep my hard copies awhile before I recycle them). The article I posted basically just talks about how UCLA is taking measures to dissuade people from overstaying their projected 4 year stay, but how their strict measures and hindering system (URSA, which is the online site used to enroll in classes) are hurting students who have jobs or are trying to look up class specifics to plan ahead.</p>
<p>My use of "rare" was a tad extreme I suppose. But nevertheless, only about 50% of students graduate in 4 years. While around 83-87% graduate in 5-6 years.</p>
<p>Jyancy isn't correct, the 12 units a quarter minimum was the old rule that has since been replaced by the Expected Cumulative Progress policy, which is much harsher and pretty much mandates that you graduate in 4 years if you aren't double majoring or the like. </p>
<p>If you want to know an example of people I know who are taking 5 years to graduate, a friend of mine is a 3rd year and stayed undeclared until the beginning of his 3rd year. Another person I know switched out of engineering his 3rd year and began another major in the 2nd quarter of his 3rd year. </p>
<p>Most of the older students I know expect to graduate in 4 years with no problem. </p>
<p>Following the minimum unit guidelines, you'll have 180 units by the end of your 12th quarter. If you feel that it's inflexible you can exempt yourself from the policy by talking to an academic counselor and lay out a plan that shows you can graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>Thanks for the correction brandnew- I tried finding a more recent article about ECP in the daily bruin but couldn't and just gave up and used their outdated articles. The very bare minimum units you're required to take are 13 units, although it progressively increases until you approach the minimum amount of units required (180), but regardless, UCLA has taken strict measures to keep students on track to graduate in 4 years. Yes it is possible to petition to graduate in 5 years, but most of the cases I've heard about this are engineers without special cases like double majoring. Exilio, how does the 50% graduating in 4 years add up with the 87% graduating in 5-6 years?</p>