Route from SMC to UCLA

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Hi;</p>

<p>First of all it is my first post and also thread,therefore i would like to say hi everyone.</p>

<p>Secondly,nowadays i am thinking to start SMC next semester, then after finishing SMC to transfer to UCLA.I know that i have to take a transfer program which is acceptable for my dream major and have to get a suitable GPA at the end of the SMC,but here is the deal :</p>

<p>How long does it take to finish a transfer program in SMC?
How hard is a transfer program for a student who is better than avarage but under the top?(I know it is a relative question but somehow i need an answer)
If i get admitted to UCLA,Electrical Engineering Deparment, how long can my major last approximately?</p>

<p>Thanks for helping and your interest</p>

2

<p>If you are an engineering major you can expect to be in SMC for about 3 years, maybe more or less depending on :
a) if you have AP credits
b) what level math you test into at SMC
c) how many courses you take a semester /quarter
d) if you take summers </p>

<p>Level of difficulty is impossible to gauge for these are college level courses that are preparing you for engineering, so they are science and math courses which are hard for everyone and will require a lot of work. So, in short it will not be easy no matter how intelligent you are. A lot of work will be required. </p>

<p>In order to transfer for engineering you will need to complete the following;
A. 60 Units at SMC
B. Major Prep
C. General education courses - similar to IGETC but slightly different for the school of engineering- there is a list on UCLA website about what courses they look for.</p>

3

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
How long does it take to finish a transfer program in SMC?

[/QUOTE]

The first thing you should do is go to Welcome</a> to ASSIST and find out what classes at SMC you would have to take in order to transfer to UCLA. If you take about 16 units per semester (provided you start with the highest Math, Math7 at SMC) then you should be finished with in 2 years, without taking any summer/winter. There are almost no General Education Requirements for Engineering majors (I'm EECS myself). Only two English courses and other optional ones (which may help you to graduate earlier from or spend less money at UCLA).</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
How hard is a transfer program for a student who is better than avarage but under the top?(I know it is a relative question but somehow i need an answer)

[/QUOTE]

Engineering will probably be the hardest major you can do at SMC. However, how difficult it is depends on what teachers and how many courses per semester you are taking. I believe it's possible for everybody to transfer to UCLA if one schedules the courses (and professors) right and puts in a moderate amount of work.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
If i get admitted to UCLA,Electrical Engineering Deparment, how long can my major last approximately?

[/QUOTE]

You spend two more years at UCLA. Maybe a little more or less depended on what prereqs you fulfilled and how many units you are taking.</p>

4

<p>As Malishka31 has pointed out, you can expect to spend around 3 years (maybe even a bit more, depending on what level you're placed at in math/english courses).</p>

<p>I am an Electrical Engineering transfer from El Camino College, and also looking forward to getting into UCB (1st choice), or UCLA. So I can give you some idea, from personal experience.</p>

<p>I started at El Camino in the fall of 2006, taking about 9 units/semester. I have also attended most summer and winter sessions. However, I was placed a bit low in Math (Intermediate Algebra), because I was out of school for more than 15 years (older student returning to school). Luckily for english (because we use it on an "everyday basis") I was placed at the highest level. This resulted in my needing to take about 4 extra courses (Int.Alg, Trig, Pre-Calc and 'College Physics'), compared to someone who would have gone directly into 1st semester Calculus. IMO, starting 'from scratch' does have its benefits, as it gave me a rock-solid foundation in Math (resulting in my being able to still maintain my 4.00 GPA after 54 units completed)</p>

<p>Besides what I mentioned above, the level of difficulty will also depend on your exact situation. Are you working full time?? etc. In my case, I am. This has required an INSANE amount of HARD WORK. Why??....because, the type of courses you take (especially the later ones - higher level calculus and calc-based Physics) are hard, and require tremendous effort if you want to get A's in them!!</p>

<p>Specifically for Electrical Engineering, transferring after 60 units is a pipe dream. Impossible I say!! This is because there are boat loads of lower division pre-requisites that need to be completed if you're going to be competitive for admission. Even if you get in directly into Calculus, you will most likely end up needing well over 75 units ** which will easily take you, AT THE VERY LEAST **2 years if you were to take a very heavy course-load during the regular semester, as well as do the summer and winter sessions!!....otherwise you're looking at 3 to 4 years!!</p>

<p>Just FYI to give you an idea, I am applying Fall 2009 (for Fall 2010 admission), and will have completed approximately 92 units by Spring 2010!!!! (this includes ALL of the requirements for EE, as well as the MINIMUM requirements for the "generals")</p>

<p>to get an exact idea of the requirements between SMC and UCLA, you can go to :</p>

<p>Welcome</a> to ASSIST</p>

<p>I am not giving you this seemingly bleak picture to discourage you, but to give you a REALISTIC idea of what to expect!!</p>

5

<p>victor5555, don't try to scare him ;)</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
Specifically for Electrical Engineering, transferring after 60 units is a pipe dream. Impossible I say!! This is because there are boat loads of lower division pre-requisites that need to be completed if you're going to be competitive for admission. Even if you get in directly into Calculus, you will most likely end up needing well over 75 units which will easily take you, AT THE VERY LEAST 2 years if you were to take a very heavy course-load during the regular semester, as well as do the summer and winter sessions!!....otherwise you're looking at 3 to 4 years!!

[/QUOTE]

This is simply wrong. I am an Electrical Engineering & CS Transfer (Requirements are the same as for EE) from SMC to UCLA/UCB. I finished all prerequisites in two years, don't have well over 72 units, and never took any summer or winter session. I wasn't working full-time, but part-time (20h/week) and averaged about 18 units/semester. Of course I placed into highest math/english or i would have needed to take more. Nearly all of my classmates (who don't work full-time of course) at SMC finished their engineering transfer within two years. I also personally know people who successfully transferred to berkeley engineering with about 60 units and some missing prereqs.</p>

<p>I'm not saying that it's easy, but it's not as difficult or rigorous as you describe it to be. EE will be much more intense AFTER you transfer.</p>

6

<p>Thomas_ you are not the norm. It is rare to test into that level math and above all else look at the average number of units for those that do get accepted, it is over 60</p>

7

<p>It may be rare to test into the highest math level (yes, in fact most of my classmate-friends didn't), but there is plenty of time (during winter/summer) to catch up. I did not have to take any summer or winter sessions because I DID place into the highest math.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
look at the average number of units for those that do get accepted, it is over 60

[/QUOTE]

Yes, and I didn't claim anything else. I just pointed out that victor5555's is wrong if he says that even if you DO place into the highest math you will end up with well over 75 units. The higher average number of units of accepted students is due to the fact that 1. most people didn't place there or 2. took unnecessary classes (maybe req. for private schools or other majors etc). He also said that it is impossible(!) to transfer with 60 units. But as I pointed out, I know people who did it. I never said that it is "the norm". But from my experience it is the norm (for full-time students) to transfer within two years. I even know one person who tranferred within ONE year as an Engineering major to UCLA! (without any previous credits).</p>

<p>EDIT: Also, no one cares about the credits that are not requirements anyway. Fact is that an Engineering transfer REQUIRES around 60 credits. If you are taking 10 more Social Science classes because they are fun or if you are starting from the lowest Math level, fine, but these are in no way REQUIRED. UCs will recalculate your GPA with your major prerequisites and required courses, that's what counts. The average college student changes his major a few times anyway, of course that results in more credits than needed. But the reality is that the pure number of credits doesn't mean anything.</p>

8

<p>I have to thank you for all answers.I really appreciate it.
I want to say something about my math level but i do not really know at which level i might be. I have finished following units:<br>
linear, polynomial, rational, exponential functions ; Fundamental theorem ; Limits of functions ; differention with Product rule,Quotient rule,Chain rule ; integration with rational functions,irrational functions,trigonometric functions and analytical geometry in 3D.
I must add that i am very good at maths. Maybe this information may help you (and in this way me).
If it will be needed,i can write my finished physics units,too.</p>

<p>Thanks again for all your answers.</p>

9

<p>What was the name of the last class you finished in high school for math? calculus BC?</p>

10

<p>Actually i do not have a special name for this class.I went to a German high school,which functions in German Education System, and took my lessons in German.The math class i finished is called anvanced course(Leistungskurs in German).</p>

11

<p>Don't worry, you will easily place into the highest level. You might be able to talk to a counselor and receive credit for Calculus 1 (MATH 7) at SMC. Maybe even more than that. What you did in High-School is beyond Calculus BC. I went to a German High-School too ;)</p>