Tips for UCLA Econ Transfers and (future transfers)

<p>Currently, i’m a student at UCLA majoring in Econ and graduating soon. Here’s a list of tips and tricks to help you get through UCLA much much easier.</p>

<li>Take 12 units per quarter - for as long as possible</li>
<li>Take a summer course in Econ 41 or Econ 11</li>
<li>Try to take 1-2 econ courses per quarter unless its a 106 course</li>
<li>Join a business frat/club once you arrive</li>
<li>Begin looking for internships immediately through bruinview</li>
<li>Keep your GPA as high as possible until you secure a full-time offer, then overload yourself.</li>
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<p>Conclusion:
Its an extremely competitive environment when it comes to grades, internships, and jobs. The majority of students desire the most competitive and lucrative jobs in the market; banking, consulting, and big4 accounting. Be prepared to work doubletime in securing an internship. Its the equivalent of adding 3units per quarter. </p>

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<p>Future transfers:</p>

<li><p>Complete TAP or Honors at your school
This is the most essential thing that any applicant can do. It is without a doubt, necessary to complete TAP. I can almost (99%) guarantee that most students who don’t complete it, won’t get in.</p></li>
<li><p>Maintain a 3.5GPA or higher (3.75+ desired)
There’s a GPA cutoff. I have heard of 1 student with a 3.3 who got in with TAP for UCLA’s Econ. And only one. But the higher the better.</p></li>
<li><p>Complete all prereqs (Econ, Accounting, Math)
I cannot stress how important it is to complete all your prereqs. There’s a reason why everything is labeled 1. Because its all a priority. And be sure to get all A’s</p></li>
<li><p>Extracurricular activities
Everyone is treasurer of a club, or president of another club. Distinguished recognition is necessary to fulfill this category. Academic competitions such as Decathlon etc etc will truly highlight this area.</p></li>
<li><p>Work experience
Applicable work experience in the fields of finance, accounting, and business is highly desirable. It just makes sense for anyone interested in business to be working in the industry prior to graduation.</p></li>
<li><p>Essays
Strong essays emphasizing the reasoning behind choosing your degree in econ and its application to society is what you should be writing. If you’re majoring in econ because it has a high average graduating salary, give up now, because econ isn’t that easy at UCLA. When it comes to hardships; spend 1 or 2 sentences describing the situation and then the remainder talking about how you have overcome such hardships and how you were able to achieve success in academia. Talk about financial hardships such as having to get a job to pay rent. There’s + points for financial hardships.</p></li>
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<p>If you place a 60-40 ratio on 1 and 2’s then it should be easy to get into UCLA. But make sure that you cover all the bases. Join clubs, work, keep a high GPA, and finish TAP.</p>

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<p>If I could do it over again, Ivy, Ivy, Ivy. Where the econ/business class sizes are small and recruiting is heavy.</p>

<p>good advice!</p>

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<p>I like the sound of that. ;)</p>

<p>Good post :)</p>

<p>Though, I disagree (somewhat) with your transfer advice. TAP is great, but plenty of people get in without TAP. It just gives an extra edge to your application. TAP is not life saver if you do not have the GPA to back it up. </p>

<p>Also, I think 60% to 40% gives too much emphasis on your “2’s.” In reality, GPA and pre-reqs stand far above the other factors. I would say 80-90% between those two criteria. That is just my opinion, but almost every UC page for transfers says GPA + prereqs are considered above and beyond everything else. All other criteria are merely ‘considered.’</p>

<p>I agree about your EC comment. If you are a member of a club, it doesn’t say much, if anything at all. Quality more than quantity. I’ve also read advice that people incorporate their experiences in a club within their essays. I think that would be a better way to use club membership to your advantage rather than just listing it on the application with no background. </p>

<p>Definitely agree about how to approach the essay.</p>

<p>TAp is unnecessary. ECON is an impacted major like comm. studies so it wont give you any push. I had tap and got rejected with econ but accepted with math/econ</p>

<p>good brief-up of necessary stuff though</p>

<p>the biggest tip for econ majors is to major in math/econ instead, a guaranteed acceptance if you finish most of the prereqs with a decent gpa</p>

<p>Good stuff.</p>

<p>Internships, internships, internships.</p>

<p>If you graduate without at least one you are screwed.</p>

<p>Amazing:</p>

<p>Hey, I am transfering next fall to UCLA, and I was wondering if anyone had advice on my schedule. I am new to both UCLA and the quarter system and don’t know what to expect. </p>

<p>My possible schedule looks like this:</p>

<p>Math 32A - Calculus of Several Variables - 4 Units
Econ 41 - Statistics for Economists - 4 Units
Econ 11 - Microeconomics - 4 Units
PIC 10A - Intro to Programming - 5 Units</p>

<p>I found a website online where a student said the min units per semester is 13 units and the max is 19 units and average is 15 units. Is 17 units unrealistic considering the classes?</p>

<p>Any input would be appreciated.</p>

<p>is 32A even required for Econ? or is it a pre-req for some of the BizEcon Acc courses?</p>

<p>I thought pre-reqs included 31A&B , unless 32A is a pre-req for some other courses.
Or maybe you are math/econ.</p>

<p>so if Im applying as a math/econ major for UCLA and have at least calc 3 can i take the rest of the prereqs at UCLA? I also noticed that math/econ transfer rates are significantly lower than business econ or econ.</p>

<p>dpen230, please list:</p>

<p>Pre-reqs completed</p>

<p>Pre-reqs in progress</p>

<p>Pre-reqs planned</p>

<p>GPA:</p>

<p>Prereqs completed:
Microecon-A
MacroEcon-A
Calc 1-C
Acct 1 - A</p>

<p>Prereqs in progress:
Calc 2- I have an A right now
English-Getting an A</p>

<p>Prereqs planned:
Acct 2</p>

<p>TAP: Almost completed 3 more projects to go.</p>

<p>Current Transfer GPA: 3.67
*If I get straight A’s the next 2 semesters my GPA should bump up to about a 3.78-3.8</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars: I joined the AGS honor societ…(I attend LA Mission College) last semester but really didnt involve myself too much just did the bare minimum)…
Ive done pollworking for the primary elections…Im taking classes with H+R Block to become a tax preparer for this upcoming tax season, Im in a basketball league…</p>

<p>My original plan was to apply as business econ or econ but after speaking to a rep from UCLA she said the C in calc 1 really hurts my chances so I should choose math/econ instead. She said that all I would have to do is take calc 3 and I can apply as an alternative major since Im about to be TAP certified.</p>

<p>Except for 1 B i received in Oceanography everything else is A’s. The C in calc really worries me though…I was going through a rough emotional time in which my very close cousin passed away suddenly at a very young age about 2 weeks before finals so it was really tough for me to focus on school at that point in time. As a result, I bombed my final and luckily ended up with a C. If I get an A in Calc 2 will that balance everything out? In addition, I heard I can mention my cousins death in my personal statement? If so…what effect would that have on my application?</p>

<p>If someone can,please answer my previous post as well. Thank you.</p>

<p>so you don’t have Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Computer Science, and Discrete planned? That might put you at a disadvantage, as many other applicants have some of those done. My counselor said you have to have at minimum Calc1/2 and C++ done before you transfer as Math/Econ, but she may be wrong.</p>

<p>But if you don’t complete all the pre-reqs and still get in then yes, you’ll have to finish them at UCLA.</p>

<p>Note that Math/Econ is a lot of advanced math courses and math-based econ courses, and you should probably look over the upper division classes you’ll have to take and decide if you still want to do it.</p>

<p>Personally, this is what I think you should do:
Apply as BizEcon or Econ (you decide) with an alternative major in Mathematics/Applied Science - Management/Accounting Plan (I call it BizMath)</p>

<p>[UCLA</a> General Catalog 2009-2010 Mathematics Undergraduate Study](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/catalog/catalog09-10-501.htm]UCLA”>http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/catalog/catalog09-10-501.htm)
The management and accounting plan looks like it would suite your career goals the most.

</p>

<p>Do I still need to take Calculus in community college? I got a 4 on my AP Calculus BC test and my counselor is not sure.</p>

<p>With that 4 you’ll get credit for MATH 31A and 4 extra units of general (nothing). So, to the best of my knowledge, you’ll have to take Calc II at your CCC to get credit for MATH 31B.</p>

<p>I recommend you check that with UCLA Admissions. Here is a direct email to a rep that you can use if you don’t have one/don’t want to look for one. kjakway[-at-]saonet.ucla.edu</p>

<p>aww darn… i wish i dealt with this sooner because i forgot all my Calculus. thanks for the UCLA rep email</p>

<p>damn, no luck for me. i still have to take the 30B equivalent</p>

<p>Do you think a mathematics-applied science management major would be more marketable to land an i-banking or accounting job rather than a business/econ or math/econ degree?</p>

<p>I’ve been wondering that myself dpen. To me Math/Econ seems like a better course, math is a better fall back degree then business in my mind; but I’ve been wondering which major the finance recruiters look at.</p>