UCSB TAG and required classes help

I’m trying to fully understand T.A.G.(transfer admission guarantee)…I want to transfer to UCSB as a b.s. psychology major, but I’m confused about how the requirements work. Would I only need to complete my IGETC requirements to receive the TAG for sb or would I need to complete the pre-major requirements, which I’m confused about because an SB rep told me that the major prep courses were only recommended but would that mean I don’t have to do the classes on the ASSIST. I have attached the prep major classes and the assist page:

http://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/docs/default-source/PDFs/transfer-major-preparation-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=16

http://web2.assist.org/web-assist/report.do?agreement=aa&reportPath=REPORT_2&reportScript=Rep2.pl&event=19&dir=2&sia=LAPC&ria=UCSB&ia=UCSB&oia=LAPC&aay=16-17&ay=16-17&dora=PSY+BSCI

Doing IGETC is recommended, not required for admission. But it’s best to get it done so you don’t have to take the GEs over at UCSB. I’m not sure why the SB rep told you that those are recommended courses, unless you heard wrong. When looking at assist, for everything that is labeled "PRE-MAJOR REQUIREMENTS: ", you NEED to do or you are automatically rejected. The “PREPARATION FOR THE MAJOR:” is just the recommended section, which you should do as many as possible or you won’t be a competitive applicant.

UCSB is known for admitting students into the pre-major, and you’d have to complete requirements at UCSB or else you’re not going to get into the full major (pretty much a weeder solution). Please read "PRE-MAJOR INFORMATION: " on assist and attend UCSB at your own risks. I would go to UCSB for econ but I’d only be accepted into the pre-major and have to compete, and even if I got the grades, I still might not be accepted into the full major which makes me shy away from UCSB.

All of your questions seem to be for your CC counselor to answer since they ‘should’ know IGETC & ASSIST best.

I’m not sure if B.S degrees would need IGETC, mainly they just use regular UC GEs, but I haven’t really studied up on UCSB requirements (because of the pre-major problems), you should do some research on their website, spend an hour looking up everything about their requirements and your majors’ requirements.

Thanks for the reply! I would think that if I got admitted through tag and followed all the major requirements, I would obviously get into the pre-major for psychology…but are the chances of me getting accepted into the full major that low? I would assume that it wouldn’t be that difficult if I can manage to pass the required classes at SB. Would I still be able to switch my major if I don’t get into the full major?

TAG: you need the major courses. TAG doesn’t factor in IGETC. The “pre-“ designation is not that hard. Yes, you have a course to take at UCSB and yes it’s a so-called “weeder,” but you should have no problem. I had to take a weeder at Cal in Media Studies and they make it sound do or die, but it isn’t if you just study and carry on. I got an A and almost everyone got in the A-B range (B being the required minimum).

Your two courses - the one sounds exactly like a research methodology in psych course I had to take at Cal. And the other of yours is psych statistics. And the grade needed is about a C+, right? I wouldn’t worry about it. Plus, you’re allowed to retake once, at least at Cal. While they want to weed out the people that can’t cut it, it’s also a hassle if a bunch of transfers are suddenly without a major or the required courses for another major. It’s not totally to their benefit to mess everyone up.

(Something like engineering might be another story.)

@Ohm888 Thanks for that! If I were to somehow fail this course at UCSB, would I be able to change to another major while keeping my admission, or would I have to return to a cc and reapply next year?

Once you are a UCSB student you are a UCSB student. They don’t kick you out of the school if you don’t get into your choice of major. You will have to pick a different major from the ones open to you. Which may be a more limited selection then you want …

Hey just to let you know, ucsb got rid of the psychology major recently. The only psychology major you can apply to now is psychology and brain sciences. So make sure you’re looking at the requirements for that major, not for psychology. But honestly you don’t need tag to transfer. There are a ton of prereqs in psychology and brain sciences compared to psychology. Just finish igetc, keep a high gpa, and do some prereqs. I got in missing half of the prereqs.

@ericbadmon may I ask what major you applied with? And if you know if they let you switch majors once you transfer in?

@ericbadmon do you suggest that I apply as a psych major cuz im worried that with a 3.5 gpa i wont get in, how about applying with like sociology and switching majors later on?

I applied under psychological and brain sciences. The average gpa last year was 3.25-3-58, so you’re pretty close to 75th percentile, which is pretty strong. Of course, the numbers could increase this year, but at the very least your gpa is within the average. That being said, just apply to psychological and brain sciences if that’s your intended major. Your chances with that and soc are probably the same since they don’t care about prereq completion for psych and brain sciences. Just make sure you have IGETC done, maintain your GPA, do a couple prereqs if you have room for it, and you’ll have a good shot of getting in I’d say.

@ericbadmon thank you so much for the advice! I really appreciate it. I think I will do that. I just had one more question, about how much of your prereqs did you complete before you transferred. I am little worried because I have people saying its almost automatic rejection if you haven’t completed your prereqs…

It isn’t for this major at UCSB. I was literally missing half of the prereqs, though I had a 4.0 GPA so maybe they were willing to overlook my case more than others, not sure. Regardless, I, along with many others on the UCSB transfer thread, got in missing multiple prereqs for the major.

@ericbadmon Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.