I think one problem is, counselors tell students that 12 semester units is considered full time, so it might take some students 3 years.
@lindyk8 I think they started college during the spring semester (or are starting this spring?) - so it’s more like 1.5 years vs. 2.5 years.
@sc4589 It’s doable in two years. Consider taking online classes on the quarter system to catch up. For example, if you were to take 3 classes during the Spring semester, 2 classes online during the winter quarter, and 2 during the spring quarter, then you will have 7 classes under your belt in the time span of slightly over one semester. You’ll have to plan very carefully, naturally, but it’s doable. If you don’t want to take an extra year, you’ll probably have to take summer classes / perhaps intersession classes as well.
Hi everyone, I’m a current SBCC/SMC student and want to transfer to UCLA. However, I know my GPA is on the low side. Should I even bother?
UC Transferable GPA: 3.14
Major: American Lit & Culture
Major pre-reqs: all completed with 4.0 GPA
IGETC: done
In addition to my GPA, I am worried because my transcript from 2007-2012 is pretty spotty (lots of W’s, some D’s and F’s which I retook for A’s and B’s). I held down full-time jobs (in book publishing, tech and broadcasting) since I was 18, and lacked direction in what I wanted to major in. I plan on writing about my work experience and some experience I had living in a foreign country learning the language. I also have a strong upward trend in the past few semesters after taking some time off. Will any of this help my case or is my GPA just too low?
UCLA seems like a reach. If you write an amazing Personal Statement, you could have a chance. You never really know. No one here can tell you for sure if you’ll get in or not. There’s been stories of people getting in with a 3.0.
UM, anyone else getting started on their research or looking into graduate schools?
Would you guys recommend that I do the honors program at my community college to increase my chances of transferring?
What are some easy upper division electives without restrictions? 
Hi I’m planning to transfer to ucla in fall 2017(I’m a first year college student currently). I have a question about the major requirements for English majors. I saw that it said you needed 2 years of a foreign language required for the major. Would the IGETC requirement fulfill that(I completed 2 years of Spanish in highschool so I fulfill the IGETC language requirement but I’m not sure if it works for the major too). Someone please respond quickly ! Thanks for the help!!
@uclahopeful2017 no. My D was told for the major that the language needed to be college level courses.
@uclahopeful2017 whoa, that is one complicated foreign language option.
BTW, the 5 above refers, I assume, to quarter courses. However there are a boatload of other confusing options. You really need to talk to someone at UCLA admissions to make sure you get it right. Bottom line, like @happy2help noted, you’re going to have to add at least a year over and above your hs language - and possibly more. (There was an option to take the 5th required quarter at UCLA, so not sure how that translates at a semester CCC.)
@lindyk8 do you know how important the language requirement is for the major requirements?
The language requirement for the English major is a major prereq. Please see my PM.
@lindyk8 for the English major at UCLA, the 5 refers to 5 courses (can be semesters) of English department classes that are considered foreign lit, such as World Lit, Bible in Translation, Asian Lit, etc. An option to this is to complete the equivalent of UCLA’s 3 quarters of language (usually 2 semesters at CC) and 2 lit in translation courses.
@uclahopeful2017 It’s a requirement. As I recommended, you should really talk to ucla admissions and break down exactly what your options are to get the requirement fulfilled to your benefit. Do not try and suss it out on your own. It’s way too complex with myriad options.
I also wouldn’t necessarily go with what a CCC advisor says (sorry CCC), but they might get it wrong. Go directly to the horse’s mouth.
@uclahopeful2017 Language is a requirement to graduate from UCLA. When I talked to my UCLA Undergrad Admissions rep she told me that she HIGHLY recommended that I take at least the first semester at my CCC because it’s less work and it will count toward my IGETC certification. It will also be much cheaper through a CCC.
Actually, language is not a requirement to graduate. You only need it if it’s part of your major or breadth path. It’s required for IGETC, but not everyone does IGETC.
@lindyk8 Oops! I should have written “for some majors.” It was in my head, but didn’t make it all the way out. Thanks for the correction.
Has anyone on here succusefully transferred to UCLA as a business/ economics major? If so, is it really that difficult as people make it out to be? I know the acceptance rate for that major is about 12 percent.
@uclahopeful2017 Hey, I sent an email to UCLA English because the foreign language requirement is so whack, so I’ll let you know what I hear back. But I then decided to just go look at assist (duh), which I should have done out the gate.
You have two years high school language, correct?
Assuming you are at a CCC that has the accelerated language (such as SMC), it can be fulfilled with 2 semester language and 2 semester literature; or 4 semester language. Your high school language is the equivalent of one semester, so you have the option of (A) 1 more semester language, plus 2 lit courses, or (B) 3 more language courses.
TOTAL: 3 courses, either option
If, however, you are like my daughter, and are at a CCC that does not have the accelerated language courses, you need 3 semester language and 2 semester literature; or 4 semester language. Your high school language fulfills 2 language semesters, so you need either (A) 1 more language and 2 literature; or (B) 2 more language semesters (plus an additional quarter to be taken at UCLA).
TOTAL: 2-3 courses, depending on path
I hope this helps clear it up. It’s very confusing. I also asked UCLA about taking lit classes at UCLA because it makes a reference to one course being allowed in another situation. A lot of CCCs don’t have a ton of foreign language lit courses. Whatever I hear I’ll let you know.
SMC
4th semester of one foreign language - or - 2nd semester of one foreign language and two additional foreign literature courses.
http://www.assist.org/web-assist/report.do?agreement=aa&reportPath=REPORT_2&reportScript=Rep2.pl&event=19&dir=1&sia=SMCC&ria=UCLA&ia=SMCC&oia=UCLA&aay=15-16&ay=15-16&dora=ENGL
CSM
4th semester** of one foreign language - or - 3rd semester of one foreign language and two additional courses in foreign literature. (**5th quarter taken at UCLA)
http://www.assist.org/web-assist/report.do?agreement=aa&reportPath=REPORT_2&reportScript=Rep2.pl&event=19&dir=1&sia=MATEO&ria=UCLA&ia=MATEO&oia=UCLA&aay=15-16&ay=15-16&dora=ENGL
Yes @lindyk8 you got it! That’s what I’ve been saying all along. It’s confusing because both our Ds attended CCs where the language was not equivalent to each other. My D’s 2nd semester was the same as your D’s 3rd semester.
My D was told by the UCLA English advisor that taking the first Spanish course would be beneficial for review (possibly boosting GPA and having additional units) before moving on to the 2nd Spanish course which in her case was the equivalent of UCLA’s Spanish 3, or generally the 3rd year of HS.
Since @uclahopeful2017 had not taken Spanish 3 in HS, it would be helpful for him/her to start at the beginning level of Spanish for review. My D says each semester covered a lot more than her HS did.
The only option that wasn’t mentioned in your post above is that if he/she uses the HS Spanish for IGETC, then he/she can take 5 foreign lit in translation courses. The problem with that is, not many CCCs offer that many foreign lit in translation courses.
Good luck uclahopeful2017!
Yeah, that was the option I alluded to that allows you to take one lit course at UCLA, and that still leaves OP with 4 courses, which is more than the other options. I guess I misread your post because I thought you kept saying he needed five courses, even if semester, or at minimum four… Yikes!!! All this shows is it’s ridiculously confusing. Glad it’s sorted out. Phew.