UCLA is a perfect fit for my daughter (including major, location, etc. etc) with one key problem: no gaps year allowed. If she withdraws after being accepted, she’d have to apply again in a year with no guarantees of getting in the second time, right?
I was wondering if it would be possible to work around that by enrolling full time, taking three online classes (2 language classes plus an easy class outside the major = 13 units), and then taking a break for two quarters, essentially spending the whole year abroad, returning to campus next year and then taking all the classes a typical freshman would take?
Thanks!
Once a student graduates High school and takes post graduation classes, they become a transfer student for the UC’s. Then she would then have to apply as a Junior level transfer with 60 semester/90 quarter units. If she wants a gap year, she will have to reapply. In rare cases, the UC’s will allow a deferral but that is on a case by case basis.
Edited: So she will enroll if accepted and then do study abroad after the first quarter? That would be something to be worked out with the UCLA. Again, rare a Freshman does study abroad their first year. Would the study abroad be through UCLA?
@Gumbymom, yes, I am aware of that. My understanding though that once you enroll full time at UCLA, you can take time off relatively easily after completing the first quarter, is that correct? The classes mentioned above would be at UCLA, only online, sorry if I wasn’t clear. Thank you!
@typiCAmom There’s a problem to the plan. Very few classes are offered online and they’re typically marked off only for grad students, upper division students who declared a major, or extension courses. All freshman in L&S enter UCLA undeclared. None of which will help your case. Also freshman can’t study abroad their first year. The study abroad fair happens fall quarter and is for the subsequent summer/academic year. So studying abroad in the spring means the student chose to the previpus year. In terms of taking a leave of absence that is usually only granted for health/financial reasons. If it were easy to “stay away from campus” then UCLA would just offer a gap year. Freshman enrollment occurs at orientation. During orientation only commonly taken freshman classes are guaranteed to be open. Otherwise many will be full by then because current students have already enrolled.
@10s4life, thank you, it is very helpful. I’ve read that Honors college has perks such as priority registration, would it apply to freshmen as well? Of course, it is almost impossible to get into Honors, so might be a useless question. More realistic - D is taking lots of dual enrollment classes that might complete GE’s. Would she be able to take any level 200 classes besides 100 intro to her majors (I asked her not to take those at cc so that she could get a more solid foundation)? Would it help if she had a certain number of units accumulated? Thank you!
@typiCAmom At UCLA anything <100 is lower div. 100-199 is upper div. 200+ is grad. Yes she could but there aren’t manyupper div GEs needed for L&S. Only units taken at UCLA count for priority. Honors does not have priority registration only regents which is a scholarship. The honors program has little prestige and is more work for no reward.
@10s4life sorry I overlooked your original response. I hope I don’t hijack this thread by asking what is the difference between honors and Regents, what does each entail, etc. thank you!
@typiCAmom Regents is offered at admission and is for the top applicants. It’s a scholarship and has perks such as prestige, housing and registration priority, and networking. Honors is a waste. More work for little reward. Companies don’t care about the honors college. The classes are harder and can drive down your gpa. It’s not like high school where you need to take AP classes to get ahead. It’s better to do well and graduate with Latin honors than join the honors college.
Thank you, that makes sense 