Could I transfer before reaching Junior status?

Transfer Students
1

I am a graduate of the class of 2018. I attended UCLA for a quarter, but was deeply unhappy. I tried everything I could to make it work but came to realize that I had made a rash choice in choosing UCLA, that both the city and the school for not a good fit for me. I have no interest in returning to the school. I would like to move forward.

Unfortunately, the process of moving forward is more difficult than I’d have hoped. The U.S. college system (well, the UC system at least) does not seem keen to offer 2nd chances to those who have made a misstep.

My current plans are to attend my local California community college and then transfer as soon as possible. I am not super excited about this…I worry the classes will be too easy and all my friends are off at 4 year colleges. Moreover, I would like the independence I could have if I were at a 4 year college, away from home.

So, my question to you all is: can I apply to transfer as soon as this fall, despite only having a quarter’s worth of college credit completed? If so, which institutions allow lower-division transfers?

For reference, I had strong grades in high school (4.78 GPA, 1530 SAT) and earned straight A’s during my one quarter at UCLA. I was severely depressed at UCLA, and so I can’t say that I was very involved in extracurriculars or made any close connections with professors there. I ended up taking a gap semester in the spring, traveling through a program and then working after that.

I made a mistake. All I am hoping for is the chance to start fresh, sooner rather than later. Any advice is appreciated!

2

What specifically about UCLA was unsuitable for you? In your apparent rush to find another four year school, you need to consider whether other four year schools will be more suitable for you, or if they have the same characteristics that UCLA had that made it unsuitable for you.

Don’t look down on the transfer pathway starting at community college. Many students take that pathway and graduate from UCs and CSUs. This includes some who started at four year schools but found them unsuitable for various reasons.

For lower division transfers, most UCs and CSUs do not offer that, but some may. You need to check each campus individually. Private schools may also offer lower division transfer admission, so you may want to check them individually.