Hi, I’m currently a senior in high school that is going to attend UCSB in the fall.
But I really want to go to UCLA, UCB, USC, or UChicago. Is it possible to get into these top schools in just a year? (meaning applying as a freshman and entering as a sophomore). If I pass all my AP exams in may, I will have 44 units (quarters). My current major for UCSB is pre-economic and accounting but I might change it to pre-global and international studies.
Also, If my major is economics and accounting in UCSB, do I have to apply for economics when I transfer or I can choose something completely different?
Hi! I can’t speak directly to your transfer question, however the Global Studies program at UCSB is AMAZING! Many, many incredible professors within the department. Try and take a class with Professor Jorgensmeyer (spelling?). His classes were always my favorite! UCSB is a great place…go in with an open mind. This is coming from a student who transferred after 1 year at USC to UCSB :-).
@nolife I wasnt an Econ/Accounting major myself but had plenty of friends that were. Definitely some tough weeder classes from what I heard. The Big 4 recruited heavily from UCSB, so many ended up working for one of them initially out of college. Several have since gone on to get MBA’s etc. Isla Vista may not be a big city, but it certainly isn’t a sleepy town either. There’s always something to do!
@nolife, yes you can. Many do it, but it will have to be as a junior transfer - meaning one year at a CA community college and then those units, combined with AP, get you to 60 semester units (90 quarter). You can only transfer as a junior to a UC, not a sophomore. Best plan - take a couple summer courses right out of high school because you will be applying that Nov and the only actual classroom courses the UC will see are the summer and fall (when you finish). You should try to have at least 7 courses for them to eyeball.
@nolife it depends on the major. If STEM, look at the college for each UC (college of engineering, etc) to see what is minimum to get done. You would probably do breadth, which is less courses than IGETC. If in college of letters and science, usually you do IGETC, which should be completed. (Berkeley requires completion if choosing this path.) It’s always ideal to complete, if possible, for all the UCs to make you competitive.
Your AP will fulfill a lot of the gen ed and two years of high school Language filfills the language part.
They don’t need to be completed when applying - both major req and GE need to be done by following spring.
@nolife not unrealistic at all. You’re already at 30 semester (45 qtr). That’s one year’s worth. All you need is 30 more (45 qtr), which is a standard 2nd year.
Take 2 summer courses, then standard year’s worth at a CCC. You will be over the minumim 60 (90) by the spring after you apply. (The summer courses just give you some more classes to show the UC.)
Econ is IGETC. See what AP fulfill the areas. You will need to take the second English class at the CCC since AP does not fulfill the second IGETC English. But I bet most IGETC will be filled by your AP.
