<p>HEY, so I got rejected from UCSD but accepted to UCSC so that’s where I’m going right now for Fall 2012. I know that UC-UC transfers in one year are pretty hard to do but I’m really really willing to put in all the stress and hard work to keep that GPA way up and give me a good chance of making it. I’ve taken the following courses so far in high school (APs):</p>
<p>AP Biology
AP US History
AP English Lit
AP Microecon
AP Calculus AB
Psychology 101 (Community College course over the summer)</p>
<p>Right now, I have around 24-30 Quarter Units out of the required 90 quarter units. I will be taking another 17.5 units at a local CC this summer, bringing my total up to 41.5-47.5 credits. I’m an Electrical Engineering major and thankfully, it’s not impacted at UCSD so that’s a positive for me. My question is this: I won’t have completed ALL my required engineering prerequisites by the end of Spring 2013 (I’m applying for Fall 2013 transfer admission). Will this significantly hurt my chances? Assist.org told me that I will be missing the following courses: </p>
<p>Physics 2D
Linear Algebra
Vector Calculus</p>
<p>I plan on getting my UC Reciprocity done as quickly as possible so I shouldn’t have any worries there. Assuming that I maintain a competitive GPA (around 3.8-3.9), will I have a decent chance of getting into UCSD? True, my freshman year will be hell with all those courses, but it’s a sacrifice that I’m willing to make. Thanks for all your input guys! :D</p>
<p>UCSD is among the top UC’s. Not having your major pre-reqs completed would likely weigh heavily against you, especially considering your priority as a UC-UC transfer with lower priority competing against CCC transfer with the highest priority and TAG applications. I’m not saying its impossible, but highly unlikely, especially if for some reason some of the courses you took at UCSC did not transfer to UCSD. </p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, why not take the CCC–> UC route and TAG? You seem like a smart individual and surely must know that you have a much higher chance of getting into UCSD that way. As a quick note: I’m pretty sure UCSD’s TAG program is going to end in 2014, so this next application period would be the last shot you have IF you were to go the CC route. I’d recommend not rushing through things and attending a UC (and paying out the ears for it!) with the intention of transferring out, but thats just my two cents. :)</p>
<p>@cinnabon why do u wanna switch from ucsc to ucsd?</p>
<p>I really don’t want to go to community college because if I DON’T get into UCSD or any other UC for that matter for some reason, I’ll be stuck at the CC and be forced to possibly reapply to a CSU and go there. Also, I have a full ride to UCSC for my freshman year (financial aid), so money is definitely not an issue.</p>
<p>Do UCs consider it if you tell them that you simply do not have enough time to complete certain prerequisites and that you will complete them over the summer right BEFORE enrolling at the accepted campus? I mean, I’m pretty sure not 100% of accepted transfers will have completed ALL their prerequisites (especially those who’re going for engineering majors), right?</p>
<p>@OP- It certainly sounds like you’re a dedicated student who has clearly done your research. From what I can infer from you, there is no reason why you SHOULDN’T be able to get into a UC from a CC. And if for some reason you didn’t, you just stick around CC for another year (like most do, 2+ years is normal) and reapply. I realize that you say you understand what you’re in for, but I don’t think you could quite grasp how difficult a course load of the magnitude would be, especially for intense math and science courses that are necessary for EE majors. University courses are far more rigorous than anything in high school, at least in my experience. Keeping a high GPA is a must, especially if you plan on attending UCSD, and doing so would likely be significantly easier at a CC.</p>
<p>To answer your question though, UC’s expect you to have your major pre-reqs completed, especially in a major like engineering, biology, bioinformatics, etc., because they want to get transfer students in and out within two years. Just telling them you can’t complete it because there isn’t enough time wont persuade them- They would likely tell you not to rush and take another year to finish up what you need to. UC’s do not typically admit you on the basis that you are willing to complete major prep courses prior to transfer in fall because they view you as a risky applicant who may be rushing things. Its not impossible to get admitted having a pre-req here or there missing, especially in low-tier UC’s and if your a liberal arts major, but from what I have read, UCSD is pretty strict with their expectation of transfer students, especially those in the math and sciences.</p>
<p>Like I said previously, I honestly think CC is your best bet given the fact that you would have lower priority, it would be more difficult to keep a competitive GPA for transfer at UCSC and that you would be missing pre-requisites. Ultimately the decision is yours, but I figured I’d share what I have learned (being a 1 year CC transfer myself) with you. I hope everything works out for you! :)</p>
<p>Hmmm, everything that you’re telling me are definitely valid points. I’ll keep those in mind as I plan my next four quarters out. So I thought through everything for the past hour and I came up with a type of “Plan B” for me to possibly follow:</p>
<p>I will put down Electrical Engineering as my first choice major for UCSD. However, I will also put down Applied Mathematics as my second choice major. The prerequisites for these two majors are exactly the same but Mathematics has MUCH less prerequisites than EE and I will definitely be able to complete them by Spring 2013. So if I get rejected from EE because of my lack of prerequisites, I’ll still be accepted as a Mathematics major (for which I will have completed all my prerequisites). Then, after I enroll at UCSD in Fall 2013, I’ll finish the prerequisites for EE and change majors from Mathematics to EE (if allowed). But if they refuse to let me do that, then I can just declare EE as my second major (so I’ll be double majoring), and because EE is an unimpacted/open major, I’ll automatically be accepted. Also, the double majoring won’t cause me to graduate late or anything because I’ll technically be a 2nd year student at UCSD when I first enroll. I’ll still have 3 years ahead of me to complete courses for both these majors.</p>
<p>So this plan’s gonna give me two advantages: I’ll get into UCSD and I’ll be able to double major and get into my original major (EE). How does that sound?</p>
<p>And thanks a TON for all the help you’re giving me. I really appreciate it. :)</p>