I attend a California community college away from home but I’m going to move back with my parents in Spring because I’m going to be done with CC this Fall 2015. I’m done with IGETC already and I will be done with major prep classes in Fall. I want to TAG to UC Santa Cruz and apply to UC Berkeley and UCLA, but will taking a spring semester off be looked down upon? How would it effect my TAG? I just plan on working and volunteering.
Thanks!
I think if you mention it on your app you should be okay.
The UCs just want to make sure you aren’t hiding any university classes.
They won’t care about gap. Just be doing something. What I have heard from both Davis and UCLA advisors is they don’t like it if they think you are just slacking off. They want to see you are working, have personal obligations, or are doing some sort of enrichment. Your plan seems fine.
Davis says the following about their TAG program
That “sole discretion” clause has me concerned; it sounds to me like someone applying to their TAG program needs to clear it with Davis in advance. Might there be similar rules about TAG at UCSC or for ordinary admission at the others you want? I suggest you contact admissions at each school you are considering to confirm via email that it will be ok with them. You don’t have any recourse if you decide its going to be ok and it turns out there is an issue.
Re this clause, don’t count on it, I know someone who took a gap, had a whole course of action, with a few courses in spring, which he told the UC davis TAG advisor. The advisor said it was fine, be sure to TAG, even though the student had concerns. The TAG advisor supposedly told him, don’t not TAG. Long story short, he TAGGED, it got denied.
I asked if he had the name of tag advisor. He didn’t, but to be honest, I’m not sure it would matter. TAG decisions are final, and the advisor should not have encouraged the student to TAG in advance.
I sent a message to UC Davis TAG stating I thought it was irresponsible to encourage a student to TAG and supposedly telling him the plan would be fine. I never heard back. Anyway, my takeaway is don’t TAG to Davis if you have a gap last term/year, even if you have someone’s name saying it is OK.
@lindyk8 @luckie1367 thanks for answering! I think I’m going to take another semester of classes just to be safe. I really don’t want to take any chances. I’m really trying to get into Berkeley!!
@lavendula In my opinion, taking a semester off before transfer will not hinder your acceptance decisions at all. As long as you have completed IGETC, major pre-reqs, and have at least 60 units you will be fine. Just mention that you have complated all your transfer requirements in the gap section of your application.
For the TAG, I told UCSC I would only be a part-time student spring 2015, and it was still approved.
You’re fine at Berkeley. I was talking solely about Davis TAG rules.
@lindyk8 Oh I see, thanks! I’m also hesitant to take that time off because I took a full year off after of high school. I don’t want the application readers to think I’m not dedicated to school or something. @luckie1367
@lindyk8 Oh I see, thanks! I’m also hesitant to take that time off because I took a full year off after of high school. I don’t want the application readers to think I’m not dedicated to school or something. @luckie1367
Can you take classes online?
@luckie1367 yes that’s a possibility my CC only has a few online classes however so the class subject would probably be really random lol. Like Music History since 1950 or something.
Maybe a 50/50 then @Lavendula ? Some online fluff and an on campus class?
@Lavendula Where are you located? You can sign up for another school elsewhere and take classes online. Some CCC’s offer a ton of online classes, many of which are stupidly easy. A UC has no way of knowing if a class is taken online or on campus or its difficulty.
SMC has a bunch!
@briank82 Santa Barbara! And ya that’s a really good idea @luckie1367 because I am moving back with my parents who live in LA. Thanks you guys for the advice
Not sure how your grades are, but you could use that time to take like 3 classes online. Find EASY fluff classes with easy professors (use RateMyProfessor) at a local or nearby college.
I’ve done a lot of online classes and some you can get A’s with minimal effort. If you’re looking to boost your GPA up a bit, this wouldn’t hurt.
Or, you can take the time off and just explain why you did it.