Looking to transfer in Fall 2021

Hello all. I am a sophomore in high school. I’ve been taking concurrent enrollment classes, mostly to get my IGETC/CSU GE requirements out if the way. I am interested in Computer Science, Statistics, Economics, Cognitive Science, and Psychology. But those are all high demand majors, so I’m considering trying to transfer in as a lower demand major. Mainly Applied Mathematics, Linguistics, or Philosophy (Logic), but I’d also consider Anthropology or Rhetoric. Would you suggest I keep concentrating on taking classes to finish my IGETC? Or to try to get an AS-T in Computer Science? Or just focus on getting major prep out of the way for as many universities as I plan to apply to for transfer? Thanks for the advice you guys.

Both major prep and IGETC, although if you haven’t narrowed the major, the major prep is hard. Consider also being able to complete two sets at a CCC in case you want to double major.

I think it all depends on the major you’re going after. If you’re applying to CSUs an Associates for Transfer would be very helpful. An IGETC would be helpful for UCs. It’s kinda hard to make suggestions because it seems like you’re open to a lot of possibilities.

Right? And I have to make decisions soon for signing up for summer. I really like the “Linguistics and Computer Science” major at UCLA, and the only place I’d want to study Philosophy is Cal because I could minor in Logic. There’s a lot of overlap of math, physics, and computer science classes between my interests, but of course every university seems to have different computer science classes in mind according to Assist.

@ilovemydog2019 , an AS-T needs you to either complete CSU GE requirements or an IGETC, so I can get an AS-T with an IGETC. But if I did that, I’d be doing it at Canada College, so I could get the priority transfer admission into SJSU (all majors are impacted there) as a Computer Science major. And I would be very happy there, and could afford it. It checks all the boxes for how you are supposed to feel about a safety. (Disclaimer: I am not calling that school a safety school. I’m just saying I feel about it similarly to how you are supposed to feel about a good safety option.) But I only get 11 units a semester I can take, so I don’t know if I should put all my units toward getting into a school that I feel that way about.

It is highly likely they (UCs and CSUs)will consider you a freshman applicant when you apply after graduating HS in a couple of years.

Take a look at the “Who is a freshman applicant?” box on the right here:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/freshman/index.html
The transferable units you take will count will count towards your graduation and (i think) be included in you GPA. So entering with 45-60 units will take some time off at the UC but, i am not sure that’s a good thing. Do you really want to have a BS from a UC at 20?
Then what?

If you were my kid, i’d encourage you to slow down a bit and work on the whole you. Focus on the quality of rather than quantity of things you do. There’s no way you can take a full and competitive HS course-load, manage some ECs and take 9 units at the local CC at the same time. Maybe for one semester but, it isn’t sustainable. You will cook yourself. Go ahead and take a CC class each semester/summer but, just one. Find a HS affiliated EC you can dedicate some time to, get great grades in the competitive AP courses your HS offers and build a diversified and interesting profile for your application. Be part of you HS community and soak in the experience, it will be gone in the blink of an eye. These things will make you a happier person, and a more compelling applicant at competitive colleges.

@NCalRent My instructor for College Planning said I can choose whether to apply as a transfer applicant or a first time freshman, depending on whether I have enough transferrable units. The advisor from the Counseling office who helped me with my Student Educational Plan said this is true, but that certain things won’t be available to me, like TAG.

@NCalRent For the next part, I actually don’t think I’ll be able to finish in two years. It’s really hard to get all the classes I’ll need in impacted majors. But I hope to get it done in three years, or two if I end up not getting any viable CA options and instead go to Evergreen State University.

@NCalRent Sorry for splitting each response like this, but there was a lot to unpack. My mom is the one who made me start taking a full load of concurrent enrollment classes, to save money. At my school, you can start taking 11 units a semester starting the summer after you complete the eighth grade. She would rather I switched over to middle college so that I wasn’t still taking my college classes outside of school hours, and so I could take more units per semester. But I wanted to stay with what I’ve been doing. The are no AP classes at my high school, and almost all available ECs meet during school hours. But I wouldn’t do an afterschool EC anyway. That time is for my homework, college classes, and work. I am definitely a part of my HS community. It’s a charter I got into by lottery. I am definitely soaking up the experience it provides me, which is why I did not want to go to middle college. But there is $0 money saved for me to go to my college, so money is the biggest reason for me to try to save years of tuition, fees, room & board, books and supplies, and other expenses. I’m not sure what motivation someone would have other than money.

The instructor is wrong

CSU has similar rules. See for example https://www.calstate.edu/sas/onestopkiosk/documents/freshmaninstructions.pdf

You can contact admissions at any UC or CSU to confirm

Almost everyone you will talk to about the college ap process has very passionate opinions - many are simply wrong - sometimes even me. As you go through this process - you need to validate everything with people who KNOW the correct answers. They typically work in your target school’s admissions office. You are getting a bum steer about having the option to apply freshman vs transfer - @mikemac is correct, i encourage you to contact a UC and ask. They have heard it before and won’t laugh at what you think may be trivial questions.

Your point about cost savings is valid and - whether you go in as a freshman or Jr, it won’t matter - transference courses will be on your transcript and count toward your graduation… . almost no matter where you earn your degree. Some charter schools are different but, I know neither of my kids could have handled 11 units at a CC in addition to their regular HS coursework. Other than sanity (which isn’t a joke, I know lots of stressed out kids on meds to control anxiety due in no small part to an absurd workload) Your risk is having your GPA drop if you overload - and that will undermine your shot at the school you want to attend , not to mention merit aid. You are a LOT more appealing applicant to most colleges with a 4.0 in relatively easy courses than a 3.0 in really hard ones. It is a balance you need to find.

Your comment about Evergreen State leads me to believe you may not be a CA resident. If that’s true, UCs and CSUs are probably not your best option - especially if your finances are constrained. Our state charges an absurd sum for OOS tuition and is really stingy with aid to OOS applicants. Most OOS students find privates like LMU and USD to be more generous with aid.

On the EC front - While the CSUs really don’t factor them in - While GPA centric,UCs want to see applicants with some out of classroom experience and ideally leadership - a job, sport, music, club, theater are all ways to demonstrate that.
It varies a little by campus but, this is a good overview of the 14 things they consider.

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/comprehensive_review_facts.pdf

I sincerely encourage you to find ways outside the classroom to demonstrate your awesomeness. From the way you write, and comport yourself, I am confident you’ll find some pretty easily if you look. I’d also add - I am pretty confident you’ll find your way to a college that’s right for you - even with a bum steer now and then.

Good luck.