<p>I'm admitted to Baskin Engineering at UCSC as a computer science major. The school recommends that incoming transfer students NOT do IGETC. Their reasoning, to paraphrase my own understanding of it, is that classes in the engineering school are hard, so they want us to mix some (presumably "easier") gen-ed classes in with our engineering coursework each semester. (Side question: Am I more-or-less correct in that understanding?)</p>
<p>I'm tempted to do IGETC anyway, though. I figure why not? The fact that I wouldn't HAVE to complete any lower-division requirements to graduate wouldn't stop me from being able to take whatever non-engineering courses I want each semester, would it? It seems like that way I'd have the freedom to take whatever "easier" classes I want, without having to worry about satisfying their list of requirements, and it would give me more flexibility about how many of them to take each semester. </p>
<p>The usual reason is because there are a lot of prerequisites and the classes are hard. In theory, you can do whatever you want, but if you don’t need IGETC you have a lot of freedom to take more classes in your major, consider a minor, or just take whatever class suits your mood.</p>
It’s hard to follow what you’re saying here. If you are admitted to Baskin then you are starting classes this fall. When are you going to complete IGETC?
You have misunderstood the policy. Here is what the UC page says
The reason, then, they don’t recommend IGETC is they want you to spend your time at your CC taking all the recommended lower-division courses for their intended major instead of some breadth requirements. The recommended courses may be needed in order to avoid delays in taking upper-division classes, while the breadth classes are prerequisites for nothing (except graduation). </snip></p>
<p>Pretty much what mikemac said. It’s not necessarily hard classes (well they are lol), but stem majors typically require more lower divisional courses than humanities. Thus it’s wiser to simply finish your lower divisional courses asap. However, due to registrations dates etc… you may have to take general ed classes to boost your registration date as well as pad that gpa. Just don’t focus on the IGETC. If you have spare time, go take classes you want to take, but your focus is transferring. </p>
<p>@mikemac @ninjex – sorry for the confusion. Yes, I am admitted. I’ve already taken all the courses I need for IGETC, my question is regarding whether or not I should get certified for having completed it. Does that change anything? </p>
<p>As i noted, you’re already in. I’m not sure why you would stay on the IGETC path. You have opportunities instead for a minor, more classes in your major or just fun classes off the grid.</p>
Sure. If you have the IGETC certification then every UC has agreed that you have satisfied their breadth requirements. Since you’ve done it already, why not get that credit? It won’t stop you from taking other courses while at UCSC for general interest or to add some easier units to your schedule, but now you won’t have to worry about meeting the specific UCSC lower division requirements for graduation.</p>
<p>oh yes, I misread. You need to get the certification or they might make you retake some classes. It was due a while back. Why didn’t you get it in when it was requested? Let the UC know you need an extension so they know it’s coming, and call your CC and get it now. It could adversely effect what they count as completed courses for graduation.</p>
<p>The UCs are very specific - they want it. So why are you asking and second-guessing? </p>
<p><a href=“http://admissions.ucsc.edu/why-ucsc/faq/student-transferring.html”>http://admissions.ucsc.edu/why-ucsc/faq/student-transferring.html</a> indicates that UCSC accepts IGETC to fulfill breadth requirements. It does say that engineering majors are not recommended to do IGETC due to the lower division prerequisites for engineering. If you can complete all of the lower division prerequisites for engineering and do IGETC, that certainly won’t hurt. But if you can only do one or the other, the priority (at least for UCSC purposes) should be the lower division prerequisites for engineering.</p>
<p>If you are an admitted transfer attending UCSC this fall, and you have completed IGETC course work, there should be no harm in having your CC certify your IGETC completion and sending it to UCSC.</p>
<p>Get the IGETC, this way u won’t need to complete the GE requirment in UC which is a huge pain in the ass…my major is CS and I totally regret I didn’t finish IGETC, since most the major courses I took at SMC didn’t articulate to UCI and now I’m stuck with so many GEs and so many major pre-req courses. Believe me, go with IGETC!</p>