GE's from a four year

[Thrower2015]

Hi, I’m trying to transfer from a four year to UCSD and was wondering what GEs I’m supposed to take exactly. If anyone has any info on this topic I’d highly appreciate any advice.
Thank you in advance.

[lindyk8]

What’s your major?

[Thrower2015]

Mechanical engineering @lindyk8

[lindyk8]

you need IGETC:
http://www2.assist.org/exploring-majors/findMajorDescription.do?abbrev=UCSD&majorId=575&type=UC

Here’s an IGETC course list. Work off it in terms of matching titles and units by category:
http://www.assist.org/web-assist/reportOnly.do?agreement=tca&reportPath=REPORT_2&reportScript=Rep2.pl&event=27&arc=N&EM=1&sia=MATEO&ia=MATEO&ria=UCSD&oia=UCSD&ay=15-16

In terms of the number of courses you need and what categories to fill, follow this:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/transfer/advising/igetc/

You need the equivalent of two years of high school language to fulfill language in IGETC. You may already have that (C- or better last course, high school). Otherwise you need basically one semester at college. The semester course needs to equal two years of hs language.)

BTW, unless you are at a CSU, which might have a Comp/critical thinking course, there will not be an English Area 1b course anywhere. Take two composition courses that are part of a sequence to fulfill the general UC english requirement.

(Don’t bother taking a plain critical thinking course. It wont be accepted. Subject Area 1b needs to be a BLEND of comp and critical thinking, and it doesn’t really exist anywhere. Just do two comp classes, unless you’re at a CSU that might possibly have one.)

[Thrower2015]

@lindyk8 thank you so much for responding to both of my questions in both threads.

To clarify the ap scores part however- my CSU gave me credit for physics 195,196 and their respective labs. This is equivalent to 2 classes of the three part physics series required as a pre req at UCSD. Do I need to take them again for a literal grade or can I just take phys 197 and technically finish the series and the pre req?

[Thrower2015]

Because technically the link you sent me on the other thread shows that I get credit but idk if it satisfies the pre reqs etc…

[lindyk8]

I believe you only have to take the last course. See this page. It’s the AP rules for UCSD college of engineering:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/exam-credit/ap-credits/san-diego/index.html

[mikemac]

linkdyk8 writes:
you need IGETC:
Welcome to ASSIST

Follow this advice at your peril.

**Which type of student should follow IGETC/b
IGETC is most helpful to students who want to keep their options open — specifically, those who know they want to transfer but haven’t yet decided upon a particular institution, campus or major.

Which type of student should not
Certain students, however, will not be well served by following IGETC. Students who intend to transfer into majors that require extensive lower-division preparation, such as engineering or the physical and natural sciences, should concentrate on completing the many prerequisites for the major that the college screens for to determine eligibility for admission
University of California Counselors

Gee, you might say, could this 2nd category apply to me, a prospective ME applying to UCSD?

Well, UCSD Engineering has this to say

Transfer students who choose impacted engineering major programs (bioengineering, bioengineering: biotechnology, aerospace, and mechanical) as their first-choice major on their UC application are strongly encouraged to complete the major preparation classes listed previously. Acceptance to impacted majors may be limited to the best transfer applicants, e.g., those who have been admitted to UC San Diego with the most complete lower-division preparation and the highest college grade point averages.
http://www.ucsd.edu/catalog/curric/SOE.html

In other words not only does the IGETC page say don’t follow the plan if you need a lot of lower-division prep classes for your major, UCSD Engineering echoes this advice saying they really care about you having completed the prep classes.