Hello, my situation is very, very complex. My summer is totally ruined because of pondering upon what I should do. I humbly ask for guidance. I am going to sign up for a leave of absence at my school as I’m conscripted into the army back from my country.
I am a currently a sophomore in a university in MO as a premed. I was attending my school because of the BA/MD program which turned out to be not promising much and as a Californian green card holder I find almost no benefit to attend there anymore.
And I realized that I don’t find myself in medicine anymore. I was good at science until freshmen year and found I’m not into biology. I rather find myself now in engineering but I have almost none of the course credits that I need to be able to transfer into the engineering school. I certainly know that I need to have the prerequisites and I do know now that I will have to attend the CCCs.
I wonder if I can get into the UCs even if I have 60 credits from the current school. So let’s say, if I take a lot of credits more from the CCCs (Californian CC), like 40 for example, then do I get 100 credit hours by the time apply for transfer which makes me “senior” already?
So, to summarize I know that if I were to transfer into either:
- biology: I can possibly shoot for the UC transfer a LOT easily because I have most of the requirements. But I do know that UCs accept the transfer students more from the CCCs than other institutions. Kind of stupid question: Now that I finished my sophomore year do I get to be a junior while I'm in CCCs? I included this option because I will aim for the pre-pharm if the number 2 is totally unavailable for me.
- engineering: I do know that I have to start "all over again" for the engineering school for now due to the minimal preparation I have done for. Still not yet determined but if I do make this choice I will do have to drop out. If I do, is there any chance that I can get in as a nontraditional applicant? With good stats, is it systematically possible in the US?
I anticipate for the helpful comments and twenty cents as I’m making a life choice right now. Please do help. Thanks.
How many upper division courses do you have? That’s the problem. There are limits - depending on campus about 10-18 units max. And it might be even lower than 18 because I’m not sure what they will think of 60 units OOS.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/uc-transfer-maximum-limitation-policy-chart.pdf
lindyk8, thanks for the info. I looked it up for sure. When you say upper division do you mean the junior level or senior level courses? If it is so I have none but regular up-to-sophomore level classes like molecular biology and organic chemistry.
When I say 60, I mean the 60 credits that I have so far.
So I’m curious, if I were to take extra credits in the CCC do I get more credit hours putting me close to the limit. I know that it rarely happens.
Yes that is the definition of UD courses. So, you can go to a CCC and take all your courses, and what the UCs will do is just transfer up to 70 units. Any additional units would fulfill various subject requirements without adding to the remaining unit count you need to take at the UC to graduate.
The only potential issue might be that 60 units is a heck of a lot. Not sure how that might play out. Of course, some might not even be transferable. I think you should send an email to a UC and run it by them, they can tell you right away. Also, as summer approaches and things slow down you might be able to get a UC advisor to eyeball your completed course list.
If it makes you feel better, your situation is actually quite common. Not urgent or complex, and I hope it hasn’t ruined your summer.
The information lindy has given you is correct. You need to find out if your classes are UD before you start taking CC units. That way you don’t waste your time when if you are ineligible.
If I were you, I’d go do your commitment (thank you for your service), and return here when you are going to enroll in CC.
OK. just one more question. When you say “just transfer up to 70 units,” does it mean the first 70 units (including the classes that I have so far+units at CCCs)?
No, all classes count. You get subject credit, and 70 units towards graduation.
thanks luckie. So what you and lindy say is either: 1. consult with an UC advisor for the UD divisions and whatsoever 2. or either graduate my school and then come back to CA if I were to shoot for the engineering school perhaps for the second bachelor’s degree.
Am I understanding correctly?
I don’t want to speak for lindy, so this is only my opinion: #1.
Talk to a UC advisor, explain your situation, and act based off of their opinion. However, be aware that if you are away for several years, this advice might change. Make sure to double check when you return.
If you graduate from MO, you will be ineligible to pursue a second bachelors at most UC campuses.
I agree with @luckie1367.