Will transferring after one year hurt my chances?

I’m going to start at community college this fall and my plan is to transfer to UCSB as an economics major after one year. Half of IGETC is covered by all of my AP scores, and I’ll have completed the second half by spring 2017. The transferable credits add up to 63, so that requirement is covered as well. I’ll have finished the calculus and macroeconomics requirement by the end of fall, but I’m taking microeconomics in the spring. I’m also in the honors program. Since I haven’t started yet I haven’t been able to get involved but I’m looking into the clubs and am trying to get started on volunteer service before school starts.

I’m worried, though, that UCSB or the other campuses will look down on my transferring after one year and taking microecon in the spring… Do I still have a shot at getting in?

Is there the possibility that you will be rejected? Absolutely.

However, you are only applying to one school, which means the most that you have to lose is the application fee. If you would really rather not spend a second year, then take the chance. If you are rejected, then you can apply again in 2017. Obviously, it will be crucial that you have an excellent fall semester.

I thought that the UC’s only accept transfers after two years.

@TomSrOfBoston Sort of. The only requirement is that transfer students have completed 60 UC transferable semester units. For a large majority of transfers it takes two years of college to complete this many units, however, the UCs award transferable units for AP tests, and I have passed enough tests to account for nearly 30 units: basically a year of course work. If I don’t use those tests, why the hell did I spend all the time and money?

I also took calculus 1 and chemistry 1 at this CC while I was in high school, so those help too.

@TheVisionary Yeah, I’m fully aware that I might be rejected. It’s just that I saw in other transfer threads that UCSB looks down on finishing requirements the spring before transfer, and it got me kind of scared about my situation. I’m definitely prepared to give this year all that I have though.

The UCs do not look down on one year transfers and treat them equally in admissions. As long as you have the GPA, requirements and units met, you’re fine.

@Ohm888 Awesome, thank you.

Keep in mind that most AP credits don’t qualify towards your admission GPA and thus each individual CC grade you receive will be “worth” more. A single “C” or a few “B’s” in the Fall will greatly affect your eventual chances when it comes time for your admissions review in the Spring.

@SDGoldenBear Right, I know that. Will they consider my final GPA after spring is over, or will it be too late by then to affect anything? I got a C in calculus when I took it in high school and a B in chemistry(both from the CC) and those are on my college transcript, so I’ll need all the opportunities I can get to raise it… Maybe it will be viewed as a good thing if I do well this year, having grown from my high school self?

@JJammerz
The short answer is no, being a one-year transfer will not affect your ability to transfer, assuming you took all prerequisites properly.

This is a blog of a couple people that answer questions about transferring (and specifically one year transfers). http://oneyeartransfer.com/

As long as you have the number of units necessary to transfer, you are eligible. Unfortunately, yes, the C and B in Calculus and Chemistry will both factor into your admission.

Decisions are made in April so the GPA they consider will be from Fall grades. (Winter quarter if applicable) Spring grades will be looked at over the summer to make sure you have at least a B in all spring classes. (at least that is what im noticing)