<p>Hi! I don't know what I'm doing! I'm currently at UCSB as a 1st year poli-sci major. I've only been taking GE classes so far because I was thinking of changing my major to something art related. I really want to do graphic arts, but they don't have that here! The closest I can get to graphic arts at UCSB is painting. We're not too big on art, I guess.</p>
<p>SO, I was thinking of transferring schools. I'll most likely apply to UCLA, UCSD, and Otis, BUT UCSB does not have all the required art classes I need to transfer to those schools. I'm also a little behind in units, but I think I can make that up during the summer. I was also thinking of going to a community college during the summer to make those units up. Those classes would have to be the art classes that I need though. </p>
<p>Someone suggested that I should leave the UC scene completely and take classes at a community until I have what I need. I already applied for finaid for the 2013 school year + housing and all that for UCSB. (Am I stuck??)</p>
<p>I live in the San Gabriel Valley and would need to go to a CC around there. Like many other college students, I'm really poor and can't afford driving far. I already had to take out a 10k loan (is that the norm?) for UCSB... It's way too much. So what should I do? </p>
<p>AH! Another problem is that the CCs in my area don't have the required art classes I need either. </p>
<p>I thought poli-sci was my thing. It's not anymore, and it's normal for people to constantly change majors too, right? </p>
<p>Hi, Eviity. Art has always been my passion, but I was simply afraid of the whole “starving artist” life. I don’t care about that anymore though. I want to do what makes me happy… I’ve been drawing seriously since the 2nd grade. I wish I wasn’t afraid! :’(</p>
<p>If your passion absolutely lies in art, you should look into withdrawing from UCSB and attending a specialty school such as the Art Institute. If that’s too expensive, consider going to community college for a couple of years and then transferring to an art school. Do ask yourself this though, do you really need an art degree to justify your passion for art? You could theoretically be an artist without a degree to your name. Join an art related organization at UCSB. Just food for thought. Good luck though!</p>
<p>As for the intercampus transfer, I hate to discourage but it just won’t happen. Admission to the art school at UCLA is basically talent based. I assume it’s the same at UCSD. You’ll be competing with the best young artists from the country (the world?), most of whom have been practicing and perfecting their craft for years. Unless you have an absolutely mind blowing portfolio, you’re not going to get in. UCLA’s School of the Arts and Architecture had an overall transfer admit rate of ~13% for Fall 2013. I suspect UCSD’s rate isn’t much better. A more realistic major choice would be something that isn’t in the art school, like Art History.</p>
<p>I suggest you make an appt with the undergraduate advisor in the UCSB Department of Art. No doubt they have spoken with many students who are interested in graphic arts and can give you helpful advice, even if it includes looking outside of UCSB</p>
<p>@Oceanpartier, I like the community of public schools. Otis is last resort even though I might do better there. I don’t need to justify my passion. I just want to do what makes me happy, and I have been drawing for years. </p>
<p>@Mikemac, I’ve already spoken with academic advisers from my college (College of Letters and Science) and with academic advisers from the College of Creative Studies. I found that CCS was very rude and could not help me at all. The adviser there told me that she could not help me if I was not in CCS or thinking of switching colleges. I tried asking about what art class units here would be agreeable with the schools I plan on applying to, and she replied with, “You were probably looking at the wrong college. Letters and Sciences is different.” SO I told her that I did my research of classes from both colleges but just wasn’t sure. She gave me lots of attitude and finally told me to go back to asking someone from my college (which I already did and they told me to go to CCS, ugh). </p>
<p>So I just decided to pick up a petition to change majors to art so that I could take certain classes. I’ll most likely go to the actual art department to ask questions, but if the advisers couldn’t help me, maybe they can’t either…</p>
<p>I’m really freaking out…feeling like a fish out of water… flopping… forever flopping…</p>
<p>Update: I’m thinking of applying as an art history major and then switching majors if I get into the school I want. What does everyone think? Is that a good idea? Also considering UCI now…</p>
<p>Some schools will have restrictions on changing majors for transfer students. It might be a prevention tool against students who use “easier” to-get-into majors as a way to get into the school. For example, at UCLA, you can change majors, but usually within the same school/subject area only. I remember being told that it is basically unheard of to change from the College of Letters and Science to a different school as a transfer student.</p>
<p>Take the ever exclusive Digital Media Arts major @ UCLA for example. At some point, I’ve also wanted to switch into that major for certain reasons…so I’ve done the research. But after doing so, I basically realized it would never work out. They only accept change of majors when a few spaces open up (if ever)…and carrying more than 90 units as a transfer student, I would have the absolute last priority. And the whole process is portfolio based, i.e. highly subjective. There’s no getting around that fact. It didn’t help that you are only allowed to apply for that major twice ever so I found that whole “plan” way to risky! </p>
<p>Just make sure you are okay with Art History because it is very likely that you will graduate with that major if you transfer. I do not know what UCSD’s policy is. You might want to call them. As for UCI, there doesn’t seem to be a special process to get into the Art department (I think I once contemplated doing this too…). You just fill out a change of major form and as long as you have met minimum requirements, and you have a decent shot; it’s not a guarantee though, so think about applying directly to the major of your choice here. The Art school there is really serene and quiet, so it’s a real option. One thing I forgot to mention in the initial post is that I’ve heard the CSU’s are also decent in art…and they actually have graphic design related majors; and they are public schools so I guess you still get that public-school-y feeling you like.</p>
<p>Oh, I see. Thanks for that info. I’ve considered CSUs too, and they’re not right for me either, but I guess I have more thinking to do. Will give the schools a call and post another update!</p>