<p>how heavily does the consistent job factor (out of necessity) counterbalance a lack of ec's? how much room on the UC app is available to elaborate?
specifically, UCB, UCLA and UCSD.</p>
<p>Hey there :)</p>
<p>Word on the streets is that UC's (especially when looking at CC transfers) weigh the job factor pretty heavily. It's difficult to proportionate exactly how well they counterbalance (what's the ratio of unicorns to fairys?) but I'm sure that it counterbalances ECs nonetheless. I'm on the same boat as I have zero ECs but work practically full time and go to school full time.</p>
<p>Does the work factor count LESS if you're a dependent student?</p>
<p>No pretty much from what I gathered from UC admissions is that they just want to see you doing something outside of the classroom. If you are working it would be just fine to counterbalance EC deficiency.</p>
<p>Work is an EC.</p>
<p>At a Cal admissions event at my CC last year the admissions rep gave an example of someone who worked a lot of hours, plus maintained good grades, and said that is seen favorably. </p>
<p>Sorry that's all I can add but I thought maybe you'd find it useful.</p>
<p>Do you know how many is considered "a lot" with a full-time schedule (12+ units)? I was thinking anything above 20 hours with at least 12 units is considered pretty good.</p>
<p>What if you're taking too many classes to even have work or EC? Will that be ok?</p>
<p>JK91 - any california resident under the age of 24 who has at least one parent alive is considered a 'dependent' student.
it's total ********, but yeah, i wouldn't worry about that so long as you mention explicitly that you 'don't get help from mommy and daddy'. </p>
<p>edward - thanks.</p>
<h2>syntactics - when we last spoke, i thought PCC was Pierce CC, later realizing that it was Pasadena. oops. </h2>
<p>another side question: does anyone know if they do background checks? as in, look for an actual paper trail of one's claimed employment?
i've had consistent jobs since 15 (now 22), but for 9 months of last year, while enrolled in 15+ units each semester, i was hitting chumash casino playing poker two nights a week to pay the rent/billz. schitty thing is, of all the published personal statement advice i've looked into, nearly all of them have said not to mention any part of your past that has to do with gambling... regardless of how much discipline and endurance it may have taken to achieve consistent returns.
so, yeah. do they check into it?
anyone know for sure?</p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>oh, and before last year, i'd been working 30 (give or take 5) hours a week.</p>
<p>bchan, admissions never said you have to work to be a competitive applicant.</p>
<p>Not to toot my own horn. But I was accepted to both econ schools at UCLA/UCB. My app was primarily work(entrepreneurial) experience with about 4-5 volunteer days at separate business conferences.</p>