I am a senior in high school in San Diego and I was not accepted into any UCs (was waitlisted for UCSC). I got into CSU Fullerton and regret not applying to Cal Poly Pomona. I am considering doing Community College and transferring into UCSD or UCLA. I don’t want to do full two years because I just really want to go to an actual University.
Is it possible to complete all 60 required credits by next spring. I have taken 4 AP classes with all 4s and one 3. I am taking 2 AP classes right now and am expecting a 4 or 5. How much will that transfer over? If I take 20 credits in fall and 20 in spring is there a chance, with the AP classes and summer classes after high school, that I can finish all required credits.
6 AP scores of 3 or above are basically 30 units (maybe a little less depending on what they are).
Take two summer courses at the CCC then you can apply in November and should be able to easily reach 60 semester by spring. Now, of course, it depends on how many required courses your major has which you can find on assist.org by entering CCC, UC and major. Many of your AP should fulfill IGETC. You will need the second English (comp/critical thinking). Two years of high school language in same subject fulfills the IGETC language.
You need to apply now to a CCC and take the English and math placement tests so you can quickly enroll in summer courses before they fill up.
The UCs like to see actual courses rather than a ton of AP, so two in summer and five in fall puts you in a good position.
Here’s how to calculate AP and gen ed. Some majors will let you apply AP to required courses as well. It should say on the top of the assist major page.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/ap-satisfy-admission-and-igetc-req.pdf
Here’s the UC IGETC path. It’s all about planning.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer/general-education-igetc/igetc/index.html
If you have a year of college with AP credit as @Ohm888 explained the news may get even better!
I believe this is for both frosh and transfer students (although it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check)
Ohm highlighted some valuable information. The only thing I can add is that, if you’re trying to transfer in one year, it really depends on your major. The 60 unit thing is just a minimum requirement, what’s more important is that you finish the prereqs for your major and general ed (igetc or breadth). If you’re an engineering/science major it’d prob be difficult to transfer in one year even with those AP credits.
I was rejected from every UC (didn’t apply at UCM or UCR) and waitlisted at UCSC too! I truly thought I would get into at least 1 good UC. I’m still waiting for UCI and I was waitlisted for some privates but I am not hopeful for them. My gpa is 3.7 and 4.0 weighted and I have good extracurriculars, but what is done is done I guess.
As one high schooler to another, I recommend only trying to cram in all of your CC classes into 1 year if you are sure you can get good grades in all of them and have strong extracurriculars on your new application when applying to college again. BUT this only applies if you are not going to do TAG.
Ohn, Eric, and Dying posted great information.
In short, it’s possible. People have done it before.
But it depends - what is your major? Regarding your 60 credits, you’ll need to take certain classes on top of general ed (IGETC or Breadth). If it’s in humanities, you’ll likely need less prereqs to apply into your desired major at the UC. If it’s STEM, it’s a bit tougher. My friends needed quite a bit of calculus/lab classes before getting into computer science.
You can check Assist.org to see which prerequisite classes you’ll need.
Other factors to consider include registration times. Is your local CC crowded? It could be tough to get into your classes when you’ve got a late registration time and a crowded CC. If you need CALC 1 and CALC 2 and you don’t get into CALC 1 for fall semester, that disrupts your schedule since you’ll need it to take CALC 2. Classes like that you’ll have to watch out for.
Also, some schools’ll be stricter than others. Some might not want 1-year transfers. I’d check with UCSD and UCLA’s transfer department. You could also make an appointment with your CC’s counselors (be warned though, some might suggest more more classes than you’ll need. Double check with Assist.org).
And if you do push for the 1 year CC route, look up professor ratings. 20 units is a hefty course load so you’ll want professors that might have a more forgiving curriculum. You’ll want good grades. 60 credits doesn’t guarantee you a place in a UC.
Stuff to consider with AP credit:
- The number of credit units for a given AP test may not be the same for UCs versus CSUs versus CCs. When counting units to get to 60 (or 90 quarter units), use the AP units for the target four year school, not the CC.
- For subject credit, be sure to look up what your AP test and score will give you at the target four year school, not just the CC. Note that different UCs may have different policies for the same AP test (i.e. whether they will give subject credit, and for what score).
Another thing to think about - when you submit your application, you won’t even have grades yet (because the fall semester will still be in session in November). You will be able to update your fall grades, but I know that admissions sometimes won’t place a lot of value on just one semester of grades, even if it’s a 4.0. Every other applicant who did 2 years at the community college will have at least 3 semesters of grades, which is a much better track record to base a decision on.
Agreed. That’s why it’s important to take course the prior summer.