i’m going to start at cal poly for fall 2025 but i want to switch to UCSC as soon as possible. is it best to apply for winter quarter '26 at ucsc or fall quarter '26 and start my sophomore year there?
Here are the requirements to transfer to UCSC. You need 60 completed semester units to transfer. @gumbymom can explain more
In general, UCSC accepts Junior level transfers so 60 semester/ 90 quarter units and Junior level standing. They however do accept Lower division transfers (not common) but you need to complete as many of the transfer requirements possible to have the best chance as a LDT.
Do you have significant AP/IB or DE/CC credit taken in HS to help complete some of the major requirements? What is your major?
The issue in applying for Winter 2026 or even Fall 2026 is you will not have any Fall grades to report until after the Fall quarter transfer academic update in January which is a major disadvantage. Also the Cal states do not have course articulation agreements with the UC’s so you will need to match your Cal Poly courses to UCSC courses as best you can.
If you really want to transfer quickly and efficiently, attending a community college and using assist.org is the better option. CSU to UC transfers are possible but priority is given to California CC transfers.
You should give Cal Poly a chance before considering a transfer. If you are set on transferring then Fall 2026 might be a better option since you will have more grades and classes completed.
Good luck.
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This is 60 semester units (= 90 quarter units) completed by the time of transfer. Applicants may apply with fewer completed at the time of application, as long as in-progress course work will result in 60 semester units completed by the time of transfer.
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I will also add your major you plan to transfer into at UCSC will have an impact on your chances since any of the Screening majors listed on the link below will be evaluated more closely for the completion of the required transfer courses:
Unsolicited advice: Personally I don’t like the idea of starting one college with the idea of transferring. This mentality will stand in the way of developing relationships with peers and professors, getting involved in campus activities, etc. I’d start with the intent of staying for four years – you can always throw in a transfer application (sounds like a junior transfer is the only viable option) but I would not count on it working out.
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i’m trying to switch majors into math theory and computation at ucsc. my ap classes in high school cover almost all of the course requirements for LDT so i need to take one english class in my first quarter and that’s all and i think that should transfer? if everything goes well i’ll take fall quarter at cal poly and then transfer to ucsc but the winter quarter app closes august 15 so i won’t be able to report any grades aside from hs/cc
there really isn’t much information that i can find online so i’m going to call today but do you think it’s possible?
Sorry, in my original post I reversed the Winter 2026 and Fall 2026 comments so Winter 2026 will definitely be more difficult than Fall 2026 which I edited but either way you are at a disadvantage for not having any Cal Poly grades at time of application and if you do not meet the Junior level credit standing.
Math theory and computation is a Screening major according to the link I posted so will you have those required courses be completed by the time you transfer for Winter 2026?
There is no harm in applying for Winter 2026 and if not successful then apply for Fall 2026 although the timelines are very close. As @happy1 stated you really need to give Cal Poly a chance and you never know you may find it is a good fit.
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OK so let’s say that you are admitted to UCSC, do you have housing?
Housing is known to be insanely competitive and unavailable because the community there hasn’t permitted any additional buildings.
The residents there reject any new buildings for student housing. Students tend to transfer out of Santa Clara because they can’t find housing. Coming in as a transfer student, won’t help you find housing.
I personally don’t think that you’ll have enough semester credits to transfer yet because the UCs are very strict about articulation agreements. You can try. I agree with everyone else: going to one university and giving it a half effort, can backfire on you.