<p>Hey, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing with a lot of this stuff compared to you guys. Here’s the situation I’m in, and hopefully someone here can help.</p>
<p>I just finished my first year at my cc with a 4.0. I’ve been having a terrible time trying to decide on a major, but right now I’m thinking of Business Administration or Math. I also had considered psychology or biopsychology/psychobiology/neuroscience…</p>
<p>I’ve pretty much been using assist.org to figure out what I might need for different majors. I REALLY don’t want to stay at the JC for more than 2 years, but certain schools/majors have massive lists of REQUIRED classes.</p>
<p>Others (I’m really looking at any UC) say to do the IGETC plus “as many as possible” of a list of classes. Since I am deciding on a major kind of late, it’s impossible to finish the classes needed for most of these schools/majors in the next 2 semesters. </p>
<p>For example: math requires calculus 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. I took calculus in high school so I’d be able to get through 3 I suppose. Math at Berkeley is an example where it says IGETC + as many as possible. Also for biopsych/psychobio etc., they require chem, bio, zoology/botany, organic chem, and probably some others. and they’re all prerequisites to each other, so it seems like there is no way at all for me to do that.</p>
<p>Are my chances pretty horrible? If I choose one with the “as many as possible” description and do just that, do I have a shot? Any advice on a path at all?</p>
<p>Thanks very much.</p>
<p>Whether you like it or not, in your situation I would definitely stay at JC another year, ESPECIALLY in this cut-throat economy.</p>
<p>Or you can just give it a try this fall, and hopefully things may turn out good for you. But then, you still need another 3 years at UC</p>
<p>consider majors that are a little less popular than what you listed. Like its easier to get into econ and accounting at ucsb than say regular econ. And typically youll be able to change majors when you are transferred. although its frowned upon.</p>
<p>There are a couple of things to keep in mind in regard to lower division courses. If you were to major in Math, for example, you would still have to take all of those lower division Calculus courses whether you are at a CCC or a UC. Even though tuition at CCCs is going from $26/credit hour to $36/credit hour this Fall it is still going to cost you a lot less money to take them at a CCC than at a UC. </p>
<p>Also, transfer students are limited to two years in which to complete their degree requirements when they start at their UC. It appears that some UCs may be stricter than others in enforcing this policy. UC Berkeley, for instance hardly ever makes exceptions to their policy of terminating the enrollment of transfer students after two years whether they have met their requirements for a degree or not. If you still have to take lower division courses before you can even start your upper division courses when you arrive at your UC, you may not have enough time to finish all of your degree requirements at the UC.</p>
<p>Something else to keep in mind: upper division math classes are nothing like the classes you have taken/will take for lower division or in hs. I always loved math and I even really liked Calc 1-3 and considered a minor in it, until I actually realized what the UD classes consist of. They are NOTHING like the math you’ve done. Before you settle on that as a major, I would take Linear Algebra and Differential Eqs or even Physics (E&M, thermo, etc NOT mechanics). If you still like math after realizing that math doesn’t have to have numbers lol, then consider the major, otherwise, stick to one of your other options.</p>
<p>Aside from looking into various majors, think about what you actually want to DO with your degree. BizAdm doesn’t have too many pre-reqs and you could probably transfer out in a year but do not be deterred by the prospect of staying at your CC for 3 years. I did that. The first year I completed IGETC, then realized I needed 4 consecutive semesters of math, gchem/ochem, bio and 3 semesters of phys so I would be in the BEST position to transfer. I finished every single possible requirement you can imagine lol and I have a ridiculous amount of units, but it will make you a better prospective candidate on your application. Additionally, you will have time to fulfill requirements that differ slightly among UCs.</p>
<p>In the fall semester, try to overlap your IGETC requirements with classes you need anyway. For example, since you need a physical science and biological science, take the first classes of the bio and gchem sequence in addition to a Biz class that you can use to fulfill another area (maybe micro/macro Econ or Acct). After a few month of classes, try to figure out what area really interests you and then you’ll still have time to submit your app if you decide to transfer in one year.</p>
<p>2 years at the JC and 3 at the UC sounds a lot better than 3 then 2.</p>
<p>UC’s will really kick you out after 2 years? That sounds like it could be impossible to finish everything in time in some cases…</p>
<p>And yeah, I’m completely up in the air about a major. Math probably wouldn’t be that great.</p>
<p>I could take like chem, calculus, and business next semester…but if I end up majoring in business then the chem will have been a waste of effort. and the other way around…</p>
<p>I guess there’s no harm in just applying after the 2 years…unless I could really end up in a situation where I couldn’t finish my degree in the following 2…</p>
<p>For business I could have that done in time for transferring at 2 years, but I’ve heard getting into business at berkeley is really difficult…</p>
<p>thanks for the help.</p>
<p>The UCs will kick you out after you reach the maximum unit limit; it’s not the same as kicking you out after 2 years (the limit is unit based, not time based).</p>
<p>I strongly recommend you speak to a counselor at your community college. Not all counselors are created equal, just keep making appointments until you find someone who works well with you. Also visit the transfer center to find out when the UC representatives will visit your campus so you can take advantage of those resources.</p>
<p>At Berkeley, I am fairly sure that they only allow you 4 semesters unless you are some kind of Engineering (5). If you need more, you have to file an appeal (or you can request to be a part time student or take a leave of absence in which case the 4 semester limit wouldn’t count) and have to have adequate reasoning for it - kids, illness, family circumstances, military situations etc. During CalSO, the undergraduate Dean of CoC addressed this and said that they strictly enforce it because someone was asking about a requirement that we must take 12 units towards our major completion every semester (to ensure that students are on track for graduating). I can’t speak for the other colleges and other UCs seem more lenient.</p>
<p>On the other hand, when you apply to Cal, the admissions people I have spoken to said that they wouldn’t generally accept a student that “couldn’t” realistically complete the sequence of classes they needed within 4 semesters. AKA, if you’re missing too many pre-reqs/reqs, they wouldn’t accept you anyway.</p>
<p>Apply this year, and if you don’t get in where you want for a major you want, apply again next year.</p>
<p>@killmyentourage, the “4 semesters” you heard is a guideline, not a requirement. The guideline below is from L&S. Other colleges at the Berkeley campus should have similar guidelines:</p>
<p>Determining the Unit Ceiling</p>
<p>If you have declared a single major and wish to stay longer than eight semesters (four semesters for transfers), you may continue to enroll until you exceed 130 units (this includes all college work except deductible units). For example, if you have completed 130 or fewer units at the end of your eighth semester, you may enroll in the following semester in as many units as you want. But, if you have 130.1 units, you may not enroll again, and your registration will be blocked.</p>
<p>If you have more than one major, you may continue to enroll until you exceed 136 units (which includes all college work except deductible units).</p>
<p>Students on financial aid should contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if their aid package will cover the cost of additional semesters.</p>
<p>Students who exceed the unit ceiling and are blocked from enrolling in fall and spring semesters may enroll in Berkeley classes during Summer Sessions or through UC Extension’s Concurrent Enrollment program.</p>
<p>Although it is possible to appeal to the Dean for permission to extend enrollment past these limits, this is rarely granted, and only in exceptional circumstances. To inquire about waivers of the unit ceiling, make an appointment with a College adviser.</p>
<p>Source: [Office</a> of Undergraduate Advising: Unit Ceiling](<a href=“http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/registration/unitceiling.html]Office”>http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/registration/unitceiling.html)</p>