<p>Semester system? If that’s a justification of why you couldn’t take an English class in winter, I think I mentioned before there are online classes available that you can take that are easy to sign up for. And nothing says you have to stick to taking courses at one CC. Many people on this board have taken courses at 2 or more different CCs when they’ve had to, myself included. I’ve had to drive between 3 CCs in one day. You do what you have to, to get where you want to be. </p>
<p>Again though, the point was about communicating with UCSB admissions. If you think you were extremely proactive in that regard and did it as early as possible then I guess you’re absolved for all responsibility and UCSB screwed you over and anyone else that chose not to call them until March.</p>
<p>No, I’m actually over this, I understand where you’re going but I think UCSB should’ve made this distinction clear since they are the only UC that takes so much into consideration into this. I’m already cross enrolled at 3 CCs in my area and idk where you live but the classes in Orange County fill up like wildfire. I haven’t even heard back yet, so we’ll wait and see if anyone should be absolved for such a responsibility.</p>
<p>@dila</p>
<p>you don’t understand. the two schools that i attend run a system where students <em>at random</em> are given a time when they can choose classes. if you’re lucky you get to choose early…if you’re not…</p>
<p>edit: note - my college cut 600 classes last semester but enrolled more than a thousand new students. see the challenge? </p>
<p>i dont know of any online college level english class, if there is that’s new to me. my closest colleges ended their winter program awhile ago (or it’s very limited, strictly remedial stuff like ESL). </p>
<p>the point is many of us thought we met the requirements, we’re told we met the requirements, only to find out by UCSB that we did not meet the requirements. UCSB should seriously update their requirements, and college confidential admins need to remove the stickys because they are very dated and misleading.</p>
<p>UCSB is not the only school that does this, but also UCLA and Berkeley.</p>
<p>@bearterrority3
I actually agree with you, I think UCSB should have been more clear about the requirements and their preferences, AGAIN that’s not what I’m debating. Repeating that point over and over again is pointless because we’re on the same page in that regard. Nevertheless, there were those us that have found a way to become aware of the requirements long before we submitted our apps, despite the fact that they weren’t exactly emphasized. That same resource was available to you had you chose to use it. So as much as you want to deflect responsibility onto to UCSB, which no doubt they deserve some of it, maybe it’s more productive to do some self-reflection and acknowledge that you had at least “some” control over your situation. Your choice.</p>
<p>As far as my own situation, I’ve attended 5 different CCs in LA county in the last 3 years, 3 in one semester at one point. Your situation isn’t any worse than mine or anyone else’s that attends a CCC in a metropolitan area. I’ve scoured online schedules of classes of CCs hundreds of miles away before to find an online course to take. Classes fill up quickly EVERYWHERE, that’s a reality of ALL CCs. All I can say is those of us that are really determined find ways around it. </p>
<p>@SanFranciscoKid
I guess I’m just a different type of person. I like to get my information directly from its source. Instead of being dependent on someone like a CC counselor or a website, I chose to interact directly with the people that were going to be making my decision and it paid off. </p>
<p>As far as your CC, there isn’t a community college in the state that hasn’t massively cut back classes. The schedule of classes at the main CC I attend has had their schedule of classes essentially cut in half over the last two years. We lost both winter and summer semester, that’s why there are students like me that have enrolled in so many different places at once. </p>
<p>Anyway, I wish you both the best of luck. Hopefully it won’t happen, but even if you have to reapply next year, I can empathize with you guys because I’ve been there. Maybe going into the process the second time around you’ll find that you’ve actually learned a lot and that you can control a lot more than you think if you take the initiative too and meticulously explore every option you have.</p>
<p>had i know there was an issue, i obviously would have pursued the school directly. the source as you say was pretty clear about math/english courses taken in the spring. Why should applicants question the UCSB website? For clarity? whenever I had an issue with my app or questions about the transfer process I always called the school. I just assume when you’re told by paid counselors that IP classes are okay, and the UCSB site says it’s okay, it’s not outrageous for applicants to think everything is okay. </p>
<p>this isn’t a work ethic problem. the inference that applicants who failed to predict problems they assumed did not exist is not due to a lack of “determination.” the onus rests on UCSB to be more clear about what they expect of applicants. dumping kids for not completing courses prior to spring after they said UC honors required courses taken in the spring just isn’t cool.</p>
<p>Obviously the UCSB website is generalized to provide information to the general applicant pool. It doesn’t necessarily assume the majority of CC students are using AP credits to fulfill core requirements or intend on transferring in one year. For a more specific strategy on which classes to take, tailored to your situation so that you have the best chance at getting admitted, you should called admissions.</p>
<p>CC counselors aren’t paid by UCSB and aren’t directly connected to the UCs in any way, so I’m not sure why any one would depend solely on their information and assume it to be absolute. Most people figure out pretty quickly the majority of them are full of… malarkey.</p>
<p>Alright it’s not written anywhere. We get that. Let’s samu I’m a UCSB admissions counselor. I have thousands of applications come through my desk. I automatically throw out apps that don’t even have minimum GPA, then the ones that are missing Required classes. Alright so now after getting rid of those I still have way more apps then the number of spots I can admit. Now that’s when I start to scrutinize the details of applications. There are a lot of people that have math and English done which are HARD REQUIREMENTS. Then I have apps where people are taking English and Math in the Spring semester but I can’t foresee whether that person is actually going to pass those classes so I make the decision to throw those out also. That’s what it seems like happened. </p>
<p>What you guys really need to grasp is that this state is broke as hell. You have more people applying for a dwindling number of spots each year. CSU’s are even getting extremely picky. SDSU 5 years ago was a school u could get in barely having a pulse. They admitted 10% percent this year. Schools are going to just become harder and harder to get in. They can be a selective as they want and they aren’t going to apologize for it. </p>
<p>There is no such thing as a safety school in the state of California anymore. People should stop throwing that term around. When u don’t get into a “safety” I guess it wasn’t that safe now was it? </p>
<p>Trying so hard not to sound like a ****</p>
<p>@bearterritory3: Actually, what lawking mentioned is true. I talked to a UCB counselor recently, and the first thing she mentioned to me after went over my transcript was to update my 2nd English class grade (took at winter session) asap. I asked her is it necessary because it would pass the Jan 31 update deadline and its a winter session. She told me it is very important that the grade is available for the admission recruiters to see when going over my application, because it is one of the three requirements(2 English classes and 1 Math class), and it puts in a lot of factors in decisions.</p>
<p>@moon9kittie: That’s odd, because when I spoke to a UCB transfer admissions counselor in the fall, I specifically asked about my not being able to take Critical Thinking until the spring being detrimental to my chances and she said it didn’t matter. When I told her a counselor at my CC told me that it might hurt my chances she said something along the lines of “That’s how rumors get started”.</p>
<p>at my school critical thinking is considered philosophy not english</p>
<p>It’s called English 220 or 221 at mine. It also part of area 1 of IGETC which is the English section.</p>
<p>“Many people on this board have taken courses at 2 or more different CCs when they’ve had to, myself included. I’ve had to drive between 3 CCs in one day. You do what you have to, to get where you want to be.”</p>
<p>So true. </p>
<p>@dilapidatedmind – I agree 100% with everything you’ve stated. I personally feel that a fair number of applicants somewhat neglect the personal responsibility aspect of the whole situation.</p>
<p>@nsw</p>
<p>critical thinking (phil 115 on my IGETC, might be a different number) is one of three acceptable english classes even though IMO it shouldn’t be. @nsws, the UCSB was far more explicit than you make it out to be. And nowhere did UC even remotely suggest AP credit is considered less valuable than CC credit. A 5 on an AP english is just as good or possibly better than in A in some cc ENG 200+ class. </p>
<p>i have no problem with UCSB being selective. It is considered selective. But the requirements should be made clear. If someone has a 3.8-9 GPA, a 4 or 5 on their AP english comp test, several english-related classes (introduction to literature) and half a dozen writing awards in their E.C, what are the odds of that applicant failing their IP final english? really? </p>
<p>UCSB seriously understated the importance of math/english requirement.</p>
<p>At my school the critical thinking class can come from a few different departments, such as Communications, English (3 of them), History, Philosophy or Sociology. A fair number options always available.</p>
<p>@UCB</p>
<p>what? are you referring to area 1 of IGETC? mine only lists 3, one of which is CSU exclusive. speech…lol.</p>
<p>@sanfran your case is def a very surpising one. i wasnt specifically refereing to u. your situation is one that i couldnt imagine being in. i hope things work out for you.</p>
<p>Nope, I’m talking about Area 1B Critical Thinking - English Composition. </p>
<p>Check it out if you have the free time. Sacramento City College, pg. 47 of the course catalog they have them all listed.</p>
<p>Well I guess if USC sends me an SGR in the coming months I’ll at least know that’s it’s because I didn’t finish my writing requirement.</p>