I’m interested taking art classes while I complete my GEs - not for credit, just because I want to improve my art skills. I want to transfer to a UC, but I don’t want to be disqualified for having too many credits. I found out that some people audit classes, and while that is something I would love to do, would auditing classes affect my chances of getting into a UC? Specifically Irvine, LA, and San Diego?
Instead of auditing a class, why don’t you look around for a class at a community center or the like where there wouldn’t need to be any record on your college transcript?
The possibility of being denied because of units only applies to any upper division units you may have.
Go ahead and take the class, I don’t think it’ll really hurt your application to have it there.
Audited classes have no effect (no grades/no units) and actually have the plus of showing the UC you have interest in a subject. The subject may be outside your primary interest (which is the original reason for the P/NP option, so you are encouraged to try new things), or you may simply want to improve your knowledge or test out a new major/minor, etc. No harm at all.
The other option is just asking the prof if you can sit in without any formal agreement.