Does anyone know how much harder classes are at UCSD compared with community college?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>I'm just curious and want to be able to brace myself. Currently I'm taking prereqs for biology, and they are extremely easy. When I get to upper division courses at UCSD is it going to turn the stuff I'm taking right now at community college(Mesa) into a joke? I mean I'm talking calculus based physics(physics 2 series), the equivalent of math 20 series, the equivalent of BILD 1 2 and 3, and the equivalent of CHEM 6 series. </p>

<p>I haven't taken any of these courses at UCSD, I'm just curious how much harder it would have been, and how much harder upper division biology/philosophy courses are going to be. </p>

<p>If anyone has any idea please let me know.</p>

2

<p>very hard in UCSD, impossible to compare</p>

3

<p>Any chance you could give some type of description of why it’s so much harder?</p>

4

<p>I can’t speak for UCSD in particular (though I will be taking a 20 series Calc class there over the summer and can let you know how that goes).</p>

<p>I would say some key differences are
-Teachers expect more out of their students, and therefore make tests/classes harder
-The students will be much more motivated/smarter and it will be harder to get good grades
-Upper division classes in theory will be harder than Under division because of point 1 and 2</p>

<p>IMO, if you are finding courses at your CCC “extremely easy,” you will do just fine at UCSD, as long as you expect the classes to be hard. You will probably need to study more and everything will be significantly harder, but definitely not ‘impossible’.</p>

5

<p>That sounds fair enough. I suppose I’ll have to put in quite a bit more effort then. Thanks for the info.</p>

6

<p>Yeah a couple of my friends who transfered said to take a few units in the beginning and work your way up. Not only are you in a different learning environment, but also there are significant differences between upper & lower divisions classes.</p>

7

<p>I don’t think I can afford such a luxury, need to finish a dual major in 2 years. It’s okay though, I’m ready for war. </p>

<p>I think I’ll sit in on a lecture or two just to see how hardcore it gets. Do you guys know if they’d let people do that?</p>

8

<p>haha just don’t sit in a 20 person class and they’ll never know. if you really want to be safe though, just ask. i doubt any professor would say no.</p>

9

<p>Are upper division classes usually not very packed? I guess I’ll have to ask then…It’s not like I’m going to be asking stupid questions during their lecture or anything >_></p>

10

<p>I’m double majoring too(and possibly a minor) but I’m shooting for like three years, since I’m transferring in one…</p>

11

<p>You’re not transferring this fall? I thought you’ve been waiting for decisions this whole time dude!</p>

<p>(I kinda wanna tag on a minor too, but is it even possible to do all of that in two years? :frowning: )</p>

12

<p>I am, I had enough AP credits, so I only had to do one year at a CC to fill most my prereqs, get TAG. So I am transferring fall 09.</p>

13

<p>there probably be few/no scantron tests. I for one say thank god.</p>

14

<p>anyone who got at least a 3.0 at a CC will be able to pass their classes at ANY uc.</p>

15

<p>My friends that transferred last year all say the same thing: it’s harder, but the transfer population consistently reaches and exceeds the competition.</p>

16

<p>UCSD did an analysis on the negative perceptions a lot of people there had about transfer students a while back and I read an article about it. The “negative perception” that the university was addressing was specifically that transfers had inferior reading/writing skills compared to those that did their lower division classes at UCSD (where most transfers are do it at a community college). They basically debunked it by finding out that it was not just transfers w/ low reading/writing skills… it was the entire university.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>[url=<a href=“Academic Affairs”>Academic Affairs]Task</a> Force Report - Transfer Student Issues (4/28/99)<a href=“yes%20I%20know%20the%20article%20is%20really%20old”>/url</a></p>

<p>edit.
this was also in the article:

</p>

17

<p>Hmmm, I don’t read many novels, but I think my reading/writing skills are fine? >_> I can’t write fiction for **** though, need to work on that. </p>

<p>Hopefully you guys are right, hopefully we won’t get crushed at UCSD. I suppose no matter what it’s better than going in straight from high school.</p>

18

<p>I asked my boyfriend that question (biology graduate) and he started laughing and said, “MUCH harder. Incredibly hard in some cases.” But he managed to still get good grades, so don’t be put off by this!</p>

19

<p>“I think I’ll sit in on a lecture or two just to see how hardcore it gets. Do you guys know if they’d let people do that?”</p>

<p>I sat in on many lectures when my boyfriend was going to UCSD and no one noticed me. It depends on how large the class is! Obviously, it is hard to sit in on a class with only a few people. </p>

<p>Here is what it says on the site: </p>

<p>" Auditing</p>

<p>Interested individuals, including registered students, are permitted to audit courses only with the explicit and continuing consent of, and under such rules as may be established by, the faculty member in charge of the course. The instructor is not obligated to devote time to the work of individuals not officially enrolled in the course. All persons auditing are required to abide by University policies and campus regulations."</p>