I know this question has been asked before...

<p>Hey guys. I was just wondering how hard is to transfer after two years at a community college to a UC (preferably UCI and UCSD). I've heard people transfer from a community college to a UC that took 3-4 years and I really don't want that to happen to me. I'm really afraid of the whole overpopulated/full classes thing where I can't get my pre-requisites done in 2 years. So I was just wondering about how the workload is, and what is the best way to get all my units done in 2 years for transferring? And I will be trying to get into the Pharm Sci major in UCI or pharm. chem major in UCSD, for Pharmacy school if that helps. Thank you.</p>

<p>Most actually, well at least on this board as far as I’ve seen, transfer after about two years. I did it after one, with about 16 units each semester, I did have a bunch of AP credit too. </p>

<p>Good luck and keep focused!</p>

<p>Well take 15 units a semester. Stay dedicated and focused to your studies. Complete the IGETC!!! I didn’t, luckily still got into a few UCs. UCSD requires IGETC from my knowledge to even apply. TAG the school you want to the most. Oh and take placement tests seriously, they will allow you to get out in two years if you place right. If not you may not be able to get out in two years just because you can’t take the classes you need too in time. </p>

<p>This probably didn’t make much sense but basically, work hard, take 15+units a semester, maybe even take summer sessions (and winter if it’s offered) and you should be out in two years.</p>

<p>See your academic counselor at your school to create a study plan, you most likely will need to take summer classes if you can’t get the classes you want during fall/winter/spring. Or you can just go to assist.org and see the transfer agreement your school has with UCI/UCSD for your major–it’ll list the class available at your school and what the equivalents are at the UC.</p>

<p>Pretty sure it’s doable, just get your GE done, your pre-reqs done (available at your local CCs), and if you’re planning on signing the TAG contract, keep above a 3.5 because UCSD’s raising their GPA requirement for it.</p>

<p>well cause your a science major, its gonna be hard to get the classes you want right away…</p>

<p>work load is hard. transfering in 2 years is difficult. 3 years isn’t as hard. at my school, you gotta spend atleast a year trying to get enough credits for an earlier class enrollment date for the packed bio / chem classes. then it takes 2 years to finish up the science classes. </p>

<p>I suggest taking as much prerequisite courses that are offered at your CC. You don’t wanna leave cc with all the easy classes out (bio 1 / 2 + labs, chem 1 + 2, Calc 1 + 2) and head to a UC with organic chem, bio chem, upper div biology, and the calculus based physics left. You will DIE!! Now i say this because you are planning on goin to pharm school… These schools look at your undergrad GPA. You want that shet as high as possible… </p>

<p>Also make sure you give it your best in those easy classes. When i got started, I didn’t care too much about the easy classes and so now i have to work my ass off on the hard classes to balance out the B’s.</p>

<p>Oh yeah, I forgot to add: don’t rely so much on your CC counselors. I was almost set back a year with their so called advising. IGETC for your particular CC should be online and with assist.org, know ahead of time to be set! </p>

<p>Good luck!!!</p>

<p>Because of budget cuts, it will be impossible to make it out in two years. At least in San Diego, no school is offering Winter and Summer sessions, thus you are left with Fall and Spring.
I mean, anything is possible, but because of budget cuts, it will take much much longer.
You can, however, take up to 21 units at a community college - which you don’t want to do.
3 years is more reasonable nowadays.</p>

<p>@dianakers: thanks for the info because I was planning to go to San Diego Mesa College (which is where I live).</p>

<p>I got accepted to SDSU and UCIrvine, but I can’t afford UCI right now because of dorm and my parents will NOT allow me to get loans. So I was planning on transferring after 2 years and then go there. (until I heard there is a big chance that I might not transfer in 2 years) But UCI and UCSD are my dream schools, because they are the only two UCs in the UC system that have a pre-pharm major and SDSU does not. So should I just settle with my safety school of SDSU, but would have to take Biochem or other sciences?</p>

<p>I actually go to both Mesa and City college, and I love it there.</p>

<p>Going to a community college and then applying as a transfer student isn’t bad at all. It is cheaper and we also have a higher chance of getting into a UC school (UCSD in your case :)). They do give preference to local students.</p>

<p>Best of luck in your decision!
P.s: I don’t see anything wrong with taking loans out. I mean, that is the only way I’ll be able to get an education. </p>

<p>Did you also apply to UCSD?</p>

<p>@Everyone: Thanks you guys for the help!</p>

<p>@Dianakers: I applied, but did not make it in unfortunately. It happens. However, I really want to go there (or UCI), but I’m torn between going to community(and going to either UCI or UCSD) but having a chance of graduating a year behind everyone else, or just going to SDSU…unless I transfer from SDSU to UCI which is highly more difficult.</p>

<p>Alright so it’s entirely possible to transfer in 2 years as a science major but it’s going to be hard, pretty much impossible if your local CC doesn’t offer summer session or some of these classes. I don’t know what type of AP credit you might have or how much you know about your major but this is what I would sincerely recommend…</p>

<p>First of all, once you know what Comm College you want to go to, go and take placement tests ASAP. Try your hardest to test out of the Intro classes. I think I only got a 25/45 on my Chem placement test and I was put in General Chemisty (having to take a lower Intro to Chem class will screw up your schedule). Also consider applying to other Community Colleges in your area in case classes you need at your primary one are full or conflict. Also taking online general education classes at an easier CC can help you be able to focus on your harder science classes more. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Make sure you take General Chemistry I your Freshman Fall Semester! (for Pharm you should really finish the GenChem seq and the Organic Chem seq which are four consecutive semesters, all with Labs so they are very time consuming).</p></li>
<li><p>Start taking Calculus your Freshman Fall semester (unless you are ahead) but I know that at UCI and UCSD both want you to have up to Linear Algebra completed (this is also a four semester seq - Calc I –> Calc 2 –> Calc 3 –> Lin Alg)</p></li>
<li><p>Take your Biology Seq starting Freshman Fall Semester also! At my school the 1st class is Cell & Molec Bio and the next is a Diversity of Organisms class for UCI— but for UCSD, they want you to take a Zoology/Physiology AND a Botany course to complete the 2nd part of the sequence)</p></li>
<li><p>To be honest I really wouldn’t bother taking your Physics Seq until after you transfer. Don’t quote me on this but if anything, just take the 1st calc-based Physics class which normally will coincide with the UC one. Also, you will already have 3 really hard classes to focus on each semester. Of course they would LIKE you to have Phys done but it is incredibly difficult in 2 years.</p></li>
<li><p>Try to take your 2 Engl classes and other easy IGETC classes during Summer if you can. FYI seriously check out other colleges if your school doesn’t offer Summer! A lot of lesser respected CCs offer online summer classes as well so sometimes you can look at schools out of the area. </p></li>
<li><p>Check to see if any classes that you can use for IGETC are also recommended for your major (@ UCSD they want Micro or Macro econ for your major so take that and fulfill part of your IGETC and it’ll be transferable to UCI for IGETC also anyway)</p></li>
<li><p>Look at your AP credits and see what you DONT have to take to complete the IGETC. Don’t get sucked into taking too many Intro classes other than the ones you need even if they might be interesting. Generally, you only need 6 Gen Ed classes for the IGETC (since you’re already taking plenty of science & math). </p></li>
<li><p>At my school, we have an additional articulated Biochem/MolecBio/Genetics seq with the Junior year seqat UCI. If your school offers them, they are REALLY difficult and are supposed to be taken AFTER Org Chem (which is why they are Junior classes at UCI in the first place). Don’t ruin your GPA taking classes like that just because assist.org says they’re transferable. The majority of CCs won’t offer them anyway. </p></li>
<li><p>Then again, UCSD recommends taking an additional Biology class (Evolutionary Biology) which is traditionally pretty easy so if you have some room in your schedule that’s an option.</p></li>
<li><p>tl;dr </p></li>
</ol>

<p>If you have NO AP credit: (having AP credit will make your schedule a lot easier</p>

<p>This summer - Try to take at least 1 Gen Ed or Engl (pref 2 classes)
Freshman Fall - Gen Chem I, Calc 1, 1st Bio (Molecular), & Engl or a Gen Ed
Freshman Spring - Gen Chem 2, Calc 2, 2nd Bio (Organismal), & Engl or a Gen Ed
Next summer - Try to take 2 Gen Ed
Sophomore Fall - Org Chem I, Calc 3, 3rd Bio (2nd part of Organismal), Gen Ed
Sophomore Spring - Org Chem 2, Lin Alg, Gen Ed, Gen Ed or extra Phys or Bio class</p>

<p>Wow that was longer than I planned.</p>

<p>Oh and I would totally pick a CC over SDSU. It’s a good school but save your money and after 2 years at a CC (which is going to be almost free), you could always apply as a transfer to SDSU anyway in addition to UCI and UCSD. Plus, for your major, if you want to go to Pharm school, I personally think it would be technically better to try for a UC education. Also, there are a ton of scholarships for CC to UC transfer students.</p>

<p>@killmyentourage: THANK YOU SO MUCH! I only passed my AP ENG exam! and I’m taking the ap gov exam in 2 weeks…but I don’t think it will do much"/</p>

<p>And I have to score the HIGHEST on placement test for Community:[ just to make in 2 years and have a HIGH GPA</p>