<p>I keep reading that the IGETC isn't appropriate for people intending to major in a physical science. Are there any science majors who could give me some insight on this? If we shouldn't follow the IGETC, then what should a physics major such as myself do to complete the general ed requirements? Are we supposed to follow the UC's requirements instead, or do the admissions folks just not care about GE as much?</p>
<p>You’re a physics major, which means you’re under Letters & Science for UCLA/etc(?). Keep in mind that they factor IGETC for L&S.</p>
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<p>I didn’t follow IGETC because usually UCs don’t ask for it if you’re in a high-unit major like engineering. In my case, HSSEAS doesn’t even recognize IGETC because they follow their own GE plan. L&S majors are lucky though, because I think finishing IGETC means you get away with not taking any more GEs when you transfer.</p>
<p>Please note that IGETC is VERY IMPORTANT for your major!! at all schools such as UCLA, Berkeley, San Diego and so on. This is because even though you are a “hard science” major, you come under the “college of Letters and Sciences” as bruingirl has pointed out. Its amazing that some counselors give out totally erroneous info putting all engineering/sicence majors all in one basket :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Now if you’re an ENGINEERING major, then IGETC is strongly discouraged at UCLA and Berkeley. However (sadly) UC-San Diego has a totally different policy. IGETC means everything there, even if you’re an engineering major!!! (they absolutely do not make any distinction betwen the majors). For myself, as an EE major this is terrible, because the individual colleges (Marshall, Muir etc.) give you a HUGE advantage for having completed IGETC, otherwise you have to complete a TON of GEs once you get there :(</p>
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<p>That’s from the UC website, now granted it is only for Santa Cruz but a few other UCs stated the same thing.</p>
<p>Major pre-reqs always come first but if you can’t complete igetc at the same time, you’re gonna be stuck with a bunch of GEs to take (that is if the school you’re applying to acknowledges igetc.)</p>
<p>As far as that quote from the UC Santa Cruz website, they are just implying that pre-reqs are more important than IGETC (as NoRegret pointed out), and they will not penalize you from an admissions perspective for not doing IGETC. However there is an important difference (at least at UCLA and Berkeley) and that is:</p>
<p>The School of Engineering DOES NOT follow IGETC and so completing all of the IGETC requirements will probably be a waste (although some courses from the IGETC pattern might apply).</p>
<p>On the other hand, the College of Letters and Science DOES follow the IGETC pattern. If you’re a physical science major you’re just given the benefit of not having to complete all of the IGETC requirements in light of having many pre-reqs to fullfill.</p>
<p>Also it is important to note that I’m referring only to UCLA and Berkeley. I do not know how this applies to the other UCs. As far as UCSD goes, they have a very unique system. The GEs are determined by the the SIX INDIVIDUAL COLLEGES and your major has absolutely no bearing on anything. So even engineering students benefit tremendously from completing IGETC there!</p>