<p>I go to UCSB and I'm planning to apply to a couple places to transfer this coming fall.</p>
<p>Let's say I want to go to UCLA (since it's the easiest example), and I finish my GE's at UCSB this coming fall quarter. What I know is that this takes care of the GE's for UCLA, so then what do I do in the meantime (the following two quarters)? Of course, I can take it easy and just pad my gpa...or should I go ahead with upper division classes for my major/(maybe minor)? </p>
<p>If this sounds like a no-brainer, the reason I'm asking is because I heard that it's difficult to transfer some lower-division courses if the classes aren't similar enough between the schools, but that won't matter if i take care of the entire GE's. But then what about the upper-divisions, which will probably be much more specialized to the particular school..(right?).</p>
<p>Do I just go ahead and enrich my knowledge and supposedly advance in my progress towards my major, or do i risk taking difficult upper division classes without receiving any credit just bc they don't transfer?</p>
<p>Does anybody have any insight on this? Any experience?</p>
<p>Schools love to fight you tooth and nail for upper division transfer credits. Does your school have a quota of transfer credits allowed? Also, you might want to semi pad your gpa and just, for example, take a lower division sociology, psychology, or philosophy, and maybe an upper division English. Try to take classes which read as though they are similar to the ones offered where you want to transfer. Just do not expect a lot of upper divisions to transfer because schools really hate to do that. </p>
<p>I have had to transfer a total of three times. One time, because I had an ill family member and had to formally withdraw and another time because the University I went to did not really like to see folks graduate on time and I listened to the academic advisor and just wound up taking a lot of stuff for no reason. Where I go now, I have an actual graduation date and the folks are really nice. However, I have hardly any upper division classes that transferred. But, the ones that are totally applicable to my degree which transferred, I fought for by having the prof e mail the head of the department and I just fought hard. If you do not wish to have to fight hard and maybe take a gamble then just please take more lower division classes and maybe one upper division class which would be deemed universal . like a Shakespeare class or a history class about the French Revolution or something. You know, make sure your upper division class is just one of those generic things that folks have heard about.</p>