Loopholes, anyone? Hopeful transfer to UCSC - struggling with IGETC madness

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>I take it that there's absolutely no getting around that single 3 unit math class you need for the IGETC? I'm a Literature major hoping to get into UC Santa Cruz and will be transferring out with around a 3.2 or 3.3 GPA. Math is literally the singular reason I couldn't go to a normal university right out of high school, and it's the only subject I've been consistently struggling with throughout my entire college "career". </p>

<p>Any loophole would be great at this point, can I retake the placement test after this semesters math class is over? Or is there a waiver I can petition for? Is Santa Cruz known for caring that severely?</p>

<p>Help.</p>

2

<p>No, there are no loopholes. Most schools won’t allow you to retake the placement test after you’ve already completed one math class. Just take college algebra. It’s 3 units and shouldn’t be a problem if you devote enough time to it.</p>

3

<p>There really is no loopholes. I despised math because it took away a year or so of my acdemic and persona life(actually longer). When I finally got the hang of it, I was proud of myself, I went from not knowing a lick of Elementary Algebra, to progress to Intermediate Algebra then to Statistics. I had a total of 4 W’s when I applied to transfer, 2 of them were because of math( had to drop in the first time I took Intermediate Algebra because I thought it would be smart to skip Elementary Algebra and save myself time, I too looked for a loophole. I had to drop with a W, then took myself down to Elementary Algebra, passed that, then took, Int Alg, passed that, took Stats for the 1st time, had to drop, then made it up the following semester).</p>

<p>There were long nights, that I would stay up and stress over this. I had a 3.9 GPA and told myself, what is wrong with me? I ace all of my other classes, but this is my achilles heel. The last year i took Stats, I took it with French 2. It wasn’t easy, but, I nearly got my A in Stats, I missed out on a few points. I swear, I went in that class, aiming for a C, but after the first exam, I told myself, that wasn’t so bad, I got a 92 on it. I thought just the first chapter, everybody gets A’s, but the A’s and high B’s kept flowing. The only thing that made me miss out on an A in that class, was our first group project, got an 80. Our second, we got a 95, but I needed to get an A on the final to get my A. I just missed out, but I concurred my nemesis. </p>

<p>But, you need to find the right professor, and try to socialize with your peers in the class, they can help a lot. May, I ask, what 3 unit math class you are trying to take? Because I do not know any 3 unit math courses, the lowest is 4 I believe. Is it a transferable course, or is a pre-req that you need to take to get a UC transfer?</p>

<p>IGETC is basically your GE, if you can not pass a math course, then you can not transfer. And again, it can not be just any math class, the IGETC form will tell you which one you need.</p>

<p>Like I said, you will find a way to get through this. I flat out sucked in math, if it wasn’t for math, I would likely be a year ahead of where I would be today. Stay positive and do not give up. </p>

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<p>I agree! There aren’t loopholes… It’s devastating if you have a bad history with math and your major doesn’t require it, but have faith that you will get it done! It’s going to be difficult, but use every resource you can to pass the math requirement. I’m terrible with math as well, and I took algebra2 a total of 3 times in high school. When I started community college, I placed at the very bottom with the placement test, and I slowly worked my entire way up to my statistics class now. I withdrew a bunch of times from math courses, kept retaking them (even in the summer), and was able to get up to the college level requirement for IGETC. </p>

<p>I’m a really shy gal but I made sure to use tutoring, the lab, start talking with people in my class, and finding the right professors as well. What really helps me is actually reading the textbook (not skimming over to just the formulas) and trying to understand why it works the way it does. I watch so many youtube videos as well, because sometimes teaching styles make it difficult to understand, and I also go to class and try teaching it to the people I’ve made friends with who don’t get it. It’s such good practice if you can try teaching it and explaining it to someone else, plus give new ideas and ways to understand the material between each other. </p>

<p>You don’t have to be friends with people in your math classes, but you can start up a conversation with asking if they understand the material or how well they are with math lol. I did that this semester and found so many people just as lost as I was, and now we help each other out. You don’t have to be good at math, but it is very possible to learn it if you devote your time to it and utilize all the resources out there. Also keep a positive outlook, the more you tell yourself you can’t do it, the more you’ll believe it and give up. I used to do that a lot, but now I keep positive and determined to understand it! </p>

<p>Also, I would review your IGETC requirement for what is transferable and what isn’t. I think statistics is the minimum transferable math course for IGETC at most schools, so be sure to double or triple check. Good luck! </p>

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<p>Some colleges have math classes specially for people who have completely unrelated majors and they make the classes really easy. I would talk to a counselor to see what class would be best for you. </p>