<p>My two most important questions are summarized at the end if you dont want to read this wall of text.</p>
<p>Here I just kinda wanna lay out my current position and get opinions on the several options I have. In particular I really would love to get some feedback from grad students, because I need to figure out several details when it comes time to move on to grad school to plan now. </p>
<p>The Situation:
So I am first year full-time CC student. I completed 38 semester units in highschool prior to this year, and at the end of the semester (mid-june) will be at 78 units since I overloaded 21 units fall and 19 units spring (winter session was cancelled due to budgeting). That being said, many of these classes I took at college in 9th/10th grade don't affect gen ed and majors, they were more for fun. I have received acceptances to UCSB and UCSD(Earl Warren) as a Physics major and a Physics Major with Specialization in Materials Science (respectively), and rejected from UCLA. I am currently missing 4 classes that are part of the IGETC; 2 from Area 3(both Humanities), 1 from Area 4, and a Biological Science course. Also, at the school which I go to, I am missing one of the three physics courses. There are 101-103 courses, and I am missing 102: the EM course. Another detail is I took two years of German in 8th and 9th grade. Part of the reason for being this far behind on IGETC is that I have been interning at JPL 15 hrs a week and might have an oppurtunity to go back there for the summer(and possibly even longer) I was going to overload to at least 23-25 units if I didn't have JPL. I also was not allowed to skip Physics 101 with any AP Physics Score, and my college only offers Physics 102 fall semester. </p>
<p>This presents several problems for me:
Without an IGETC certification I have to complete Gen.Ed. at whichever school I go to. Without 3 years of a highschool language this reintroduces the need for language courses as well. After looking at articulation for UCSB, this translated to about 7 general ed courses at UCSB (my deduction from looking at ASSIST</a> Report: GLENDALE 12-13 UCSB GE/Breadth Articulation Agreement ) , and probably 2 physics and 1 diff eq course. UCSD doesn't really show an articulation sheet due to the 6 college structure it has, but I know there are at least 3 physics courses, 1 chemistry course and 1 differential equation course I'd have to take, and likely the gen ed will be approximately as demanding. </p>
<p>To combat this I am trying to come up with several plans.
Major Plan 1: Get Partial IGETC
Today I spoke with a UCSD rep and they said if I am missing two courses I can file for partial IGETC, and finish it there with two fo their courses. The only detail I didnt get(and would be grateful if it someone would share it) is if I needed to be 2 classes short by the end of spring, or summer. </p>
<p>tactic a)If it is for spring: the nearby Pasadena City College is offering an extended spring 'semester' that counts towards spring, so I am trying to see if I can add classes(mainly online) there. They would go from 5/13 to 6/20, meaning they overlap 80% with my current classes. This is very difficult as far as an option goes, since I am bottom of the list in priority, if I can even be part of it. Also, i may not be even able to join it. If I do though I would have to add 1 or 2 online courses on top of all my current courses and internship. </p>
<p>tactic b)If it is by summer: I can take 2 summer courses at my college, where I have priority registration. This causes some annoying complications if I were to intern at JPL.</p>
<p>note)Alternatively: I was going to try and register for an open enrollment EM course at UCLA course during the summer to try and satisfy my missing EM course. This causes some annoying complications if I were to intern at JPL.</p>
<p>notes 2) I also have dear friends I'd like to spend time with during the summer but alot of these would screw that up. If I don't have any classes time I have several large projects I would likely start, soem of which could help toward paying for classes.</p>
<p>Major Plan 2: Do GE at the school I go to
This would likely mean just doing the physics course to be able to start upper division asap. It would not cause conflicts with my JPL internship nor add up to 2 extra courses I would have to worry about as my current classes finals start. I could work my ass off to complete those classes asap, but is more expensive and could potentially make it hard to graduate in units. </p>
<p>This would make notes 2 a more realistic possibility, and certainly not be as stressful now. The major question going with this is how it affects grad school, and the source of my most important question:
Would ending a quarter late in undergrad greatly affect my chances of getting into a grad school until the next fall? This is the really big determiner of if this is even an option. </p>
<p>There is one other major plan I can consider.</p>
<p>Major Plan 3: Stay at CC for a second year
This would be a virtually stress free option, allow for me to spend up to another year interning at JPL, finish IGETC and my major course work. It also opens up the chance of applying to Berkeley, and reapplying to UCLA. I would also likely do enough coursework to prepare for a dual major, possibly a dual major and a minor. On top of that I would start several projects that are very important to me that I will have to shelve if I transfer under Major plan 2, and maybe have to shelf under major plan 1. I qualify for BOG so it is almost a free year for all intents and purposes. As a whole this one gives me alot more freedom to pursue independent projects, but takes me from a 3 year track to a 4 year track for undergrad. I also don't really have any options to work on high physics course work, but that is the reason towards planning for a second major. If I were to transfer after staying an extra year then I have no doubt I could plan to pursue double majors and have the follow through to succeed. Also during this time I would be strongly strengthening my math and physics skills both as a part of my independent projects and in preparation for upper division courses. </p>
<p>Two Most important questions:
Would graduating after the fall quarters make getting into a grad school before the next year horrendously difficult?</p>
<p>Can I request a partial IGETC if at the end of summer session I qualify for partial IGETC but not at the end of spring (e.g. 3 classes away from full IGETC end of spring, 1 or 2 away end of summer)?</p>
<p>Thanks for getting this far, I really look forward to feedback.</p>