<p>I'll try to make my background short: I'm a "not-traditional" student. I first attended a 4-year college a good 20 years ago as a music major and got a good six semesters, 87.5 units, under my belt before circumstances encouraged me to drop out.</p>
<p>Fast forward to 2004, I finally get off my duff and decide to return to get my Bachelors, only now in the very different discipline of computer science. Fortunately, many of the humanities courses I took 20 years ago counted toward the general ed curriculum at the community college I'm currently attending. The bad part I'm finding out as I attempt to transfer to another 4-year, is that many of these universities won't even consider me because my large amount of accumulated credits puts me over what they consider a junior, even though well over 50% of these credits are in a field completely inapplicable to my current studies. </p>
<p>I failed to check with UCSC before I applied, but they recently "withdrew" my app. I checked with UCB before I applied-- I'm well over the their College of Letters and Science's maximum requirements, so I applied to the their CoE where that <em>might</em> not be a problem if they like what they see. So far, there hasn't been a problem with the other 3 schools I've applied to.</p>
<p>The admission people explain that the Bachelors degree must be acquired within a certain number of units, but fail to explain further, especially in the light of my change of fields. Why is something advantageous being taken as a detriment? </p>
<p>I'm just wondering if anyone else has ever run into this scenario? What is someone in this situation normally expected to do? I hope I'm not expected to go back to my old school and complete the degree in the field in which I'm no longer versed or practiced.</p>
<p>Any ideas?</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>Mark</p>
<p>Sorry for the bump. :) I can't be the only one in this situation.</p>
<p>the UC schools are not the friendliest places for non-traditional applicants. In their transfer FAQ they spell out the limits on how many units you are allowed to have and still apply for admission. They have way more regular applicants than they can admit, so every space carved out for a "non-traditional student" is one less space for the HS grad looking for a college education.</p>
<p>Some UC schools may have special programs for returning students, you can look into that. For example, <a href="http://currents.ucsc.edu/06-07/02-19/osher.asp%5B/url%5D">http://currents.ucsc.edu/06-07/02-19/osher.asp</a> and <a href="http://stars.ucsc.edu//%5B/url%5D">http://stars.ucsc.edu//</a> Programs for returning students are more common at private colleges, but of course much more expensive. Try doing a google search with "re-entry X" and replace X with the college you're interested in.</p>
<p>I didn't have an issue in colorado -- you do have to take a certain number of hours at the university in order to get my degree -- and all hours in the last year have to be at the university. Not all my hours transferred (didn't expect them to) but I transferred in with more than 95 hours under my belt.</p>
<p>I think the issue is with the UC's</p>
<p>It could just be the UCs then, yea. I am involved with Berkeley's and LA's transfer student programs, so I guess I'll wait, hopefully get accepted to one of them, then start ruffling some feathers!</p>
<p>This stuff you're saying about 'traditional students...' If I interpret this correct are you saying that the big universities are less willing to accept older 'returning' students than community colleges, who are studying EVEN FOR PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT?</p>
<p>most big universities have special designations for non-traditional students going for personal achievement -- they are usually called a "non-degree seeking student". Students with those designations usually register last (letting the kids who need certain classes for their degree register first).</p>
<p>Schools that are hard to get into may accept very few of these type of students, depending on how they are set up. </p>
<p>Some schools have special programs for seniors where they are allowed to attend certain classes (usually not lab classes) that are not closed. No credit is given and most do not charge a fee.</p>