Transferring to UCSB--please read thoroughly

Hi, I’m a first year at UCLA who really hates it here wants to transfer to UCSB starting my second year. Some of you may laugh at me for “downgrading” but I have my own good reasons. First of all, I HATE the city of LA and westwood in general. Second, I really want to run XC and track in college and I actually have a good chance of walking on at UCSB compared to UCLA where you have to like 14:30 5ks, which unfortunately is way beyond my league right now. Third, UCSB was my dream college and I was accepted there but my parents wouldn’t let me go because they were obsessed with prestige and everything but I’m not putting up with their horse crap anymore I hate it here.
So anyway I’ll be able to complete the 90 credit requirement by the end of my first year with all my AP credits but do you have to complete it before you apply or before you start going to UCSB? Also, as for the requirement of 2 english comp courses can AP credit satisfy them (I got a 4 in ap english)? The ap credit info page for SB said it gives you 8 units but will that count for 2 classes? Also right now I’m in what’s called a ge cluster course which fulfills a english comp class requirement because it involves extensive writing but will SB count it as an actual english comp course?
Also I’m majoring in Japanese so I can probably finish all of my prereqs minus maybe 1 course. Will the fact that I was accepted before increase my chances? Please help…

In order to do a UC-UC transfer you need a Letter of Reciprocity from UCLA, meaning you have completed all the gen ed requirements for UCLA. All of them.

Next, you have to look for your intended major on UCSB and complete all the requirements for the major as it pertains to UCSB. In other words, do not complete the major requirements listed for UCLA.

Doing a UC-UC transfer is not a simple process. Go speak with a UCLA advisor about the L of R and how far along you are, and what you need.

Yes, it can be done but you need to fulfill the above req first.

“I’m not putting up with their horse crap anymore I hate it here.”

Are your parents on board with this transfer? If not, will they still pay for UCSB? Work out how you will pay for UCSB before you get too excited about transferring there.

Do you actually have to complete all of the major prereqs? The website said you should complete as many as possible…
Also, I’ll do whatever it takes to get my parents on board with this.

Japanese would not be impacted. Just make sure you take what has the word required connected to it. If there isn't much up there that isn't required, I would try to wedge at least one course in from UCLA to show intent (and of course more, if possible). Considering the lack of major pre-reqs you need (and one might assume they are fairly similar UC to UC anyway), working toward LofR will not hurt you one way or the other if your parents later refuse to accommodate your switch -or if you actually decide you like UCLA.

Ok, I just went up and looked. They recommend two years of Japanese and two other courses. I would at least try and get Japanese out the way and even one of the other classes (personally).

So does the L of R waive the requirements that they list on the transfer admissions website? I’m assuming the UC-UC transfers do the L of R and transfers from non UCs fulfill the course requirements…right? Sorry if I sound really uninformed.

Exactly. As a UC student you do the L of R. That fulfills the GE req.

Also, how am I supposed to report my GPA? The transfer application period ends before I even finish a single quarter at UCLA…so I won’t have any grades to report…

You can only transfer as a junior.

Is that junior credit wise or junior as in third year of attending college? Because credit wise I would be considered a sophomore right now.

You need 60 semester (90 quarter) units completed by the spring before the fall term at the new UC.

I already have 69 units from APs and summer school so I’ll definitely have 90 units by the end of spring quarter.

Sounds good.

In the future, post in the Transfers sub-forum, UC Transfers. You’ll get a wider audience.