Too many classes actually put me behind

Transfer Students
1

<p>I wish I would have known more about the application and admissions process when I graduated from high school.</p>

<p>When I graduated from high school, I went to a California state school and decided I wanted to go to a bigger university. I was clueless still what I wanted to study.</p>

<p>After a year at the state school I went to a community college where I took an additional two years figuring out what it was I wanted to focus on. By doing this, I took a variety of coures and settled on environmental science. </p>

<p>I then went through the application process and when I was rejected from nearly every school I was admitted to, I was confused. yes, my transcript didn’t look focused, I’ll give it to you. However, history was my second choice major and I had more than prepared for this. plus, my gpa was 3.85.</p>

<p>Upon closer look, the reason I got into Irvine and not into other school was becuase I had surpassed the unit cap of 105 units (I have nearly 115). I was now a senior, even though I had yet to take an upper division course. This SUCKED</p>

<p>I appealed to UCSC and was admitted again as a senior transfer as I was also to Irvine. Not only that, but both universities would only admit me under the history degree.</p>

<p>So I’m visiting with my UCSC advisors trying to add a double major. I knew this would be difficult but it turns out, its IMPOSSIBLE. I have been given one academic school year to graduate, because, again, I’m a senior transfer not a junior. I can petition for another year but not two more years and the double major is impossible in that amount of time. Science degrees are rather demanding. </p>

<p>I’m bummed. If I could lay out my lie plans now, since for the first time in my life I feerl like i know what I want to do, I want to go to graduate school for geology or environmental science. Since it took me so long to come up with this break through, my window of opportunity has passed…</p>

<p>As of right now… I’m worried. I’m looking into going back to CC and trying to transfer later to Irvine…or a state school.but surely there must be another way?</p>

2

<p>well couldn’t you keep “accidentally” not taking one or 2 classes that you need for your current major and have to stay?</p>

3

<p>@ironicallyunsure - the California public schools are impacted and many are now instituting a lot of controls over what classes students can sign up for or drop. There are less spaces open for students and one of the management techniques is to create empty spots by getting their seniors to graduate asap. </p>

<p>For example, at many CSUs there are no minors, no double majors being allowed. I also that know at many of the CSUs for super-seniors there are draconian measures to make sure the student is in and out as fast as possible–the student is not given access to registration and an advisor does it for the student instead. I am not certain how the UCs are controlling this, but my guess is that it is a similar game there these days.</p>

<p>@lifeiswonderful - sorry, there probably is no easy solution - you can try working with the UCs but I’m guessing that the restrictions will get tougher, not easier. </p>

<p>While CSUs are not allowing double majors AND you will fall into super-senior status pretty quick there as well, you probably have a better chance of getting in as an Env. Sci major, especially at less impacted campuses. Try Humbolt State University and see what they might have that fits your goals. They are well known for biological sciences and environmental sciences.</p>

<p>Your other option is to go to a private university. It costs a lot more money in many cases but the era of a “cheap, easy-admits, do whatever-ya-want” public college in California is gone. Maybe forever. At least for the next 2 - 6 years.</p>

<p>You can also regroup and try another state. U of Oregon or one of their state schools may be a great fit for you.</p>

<p>Personally, I’d skip the UC route and take a year off to regroup, reapply, make some money, do a killer internship related to your field and enjoy. It is going to take “Plan B” to get your “Plan A” career in motion so might as well embrace the delay and make it an awesome year while applying to a whole different set of transfer colleges–ones that will let you finish an env. sci degree!</p>