Common Questions by New Transfers
Quick answers to some of your questions in preparation for fall quarter, class enrollment, and orientation.
In this page, you will find answers to general questions and class enrollment and advising information.
General Information (transfer)
Q: Are you required to have all lower-division requirements completed to declare a major? [show]
A: You do not necessarily need to have completed all lower-division requirements, but you do need to finish all the qualifying classes for your major. For many transfer students, major preparation is reviewed at the time of admission. Contact your major advisor if you are unsure whether you are qualified to declare your major.
Q: Can I change my major? [show]
A: Changing majors as a transfer student can be very difficult since transfer students have limited time to complete their degree. Your admission was partially based on the coursework that you completed at your previous institution and may have been screened to make sure you were prepared for the major you indicated on your admissions application. There is no guarantee that a transfer student will be able to declare a different major than what they listed on their application. If you were required to indicate a different major in order to be admitted to UCSC, you should expect that you will not be able to change back to the initial major.
If you want to pursue a major that is different from the one connected to your admission, you must contact the major advisor in your desired major to find out whether you will be able to declare. Junior transfer students are required to be qualified and declared in a major by the deadline in their second quarter of enrollment.
Q: What placement processes will I need as a new transfer student? [show]
A: That depends. If you intend to take language classes, you may need to take an exam or assess your language skills with a language instructor. If you intend to major in music you will need to audition. If you need to take a math class and have not previously taken a transferable class at precalculus level or higher, you may also need math placement. Other classes do not typically require placement exams or assessments prior to enrollment.
Q: I finished IGETC but I am not sure if my certificate was sent with my transcript. What should I do? [show]
A: In many cases, the “UC IGETC” certificate needs to be submitted separately from your community college to the UCSC Admissions Office before you begin classes this fall. Review the information on this page on Troubleshooting IGETC. Check your portal again in November to see if your IGETC has been posted.
Q: When will my community college transcript be recorded on MyUCSC? I cannot distinguish which classes I have finished to satisfy the requirement. [show]
A: Many students can expect to see their transfer credit reflected in their Degree Progress Report (DPR) on their portal (my.ucsc.edu) in October or early November. Please be aware that it is possible that not all transfer credit will be reflected on the Degree Progress Report (DPR). We encourage you to use assist.org to confirm transferability of classes taken at California community colleges.
The DPR in MyUCSC is not complete for several UCSC majors. It is important to communicate with your major advisor directly to find out if the DPR is your best resource for keeping track of your major requirements, or if you have questions about your transfer credit.
Q: All of the classes I need are offered at the same time! What should I do? [show]
A: You will likely be taking two upper-division classes in your major. If there are only two specific classes you can take which are both at the same time, you can reach out to your major advisor for suggestions on which upper-division classes to take. Your third class will likely be an elective or general education requirement which can be more easily accommodated in your schedule. There are some majors that require transfer students to take 3 major classes in their first term. Be sure to consult with your major advisor if you think this applies to you.
Class Enrollment (transfer)
Q: Is 15 minutes between two classes enough time? [show]
A: You can reach most parts of campus in 15-20 minutes. We recommend that you check the campus walking times map before you enroll. When you arrive in September, you may want to find your classes and see how long it takes prior to the start of classes, so that you feel prepared. There are shuttles on campus that run throughout the day, see the Campus Transit Shuttle Routes Schedules for more information. However, walking is typically a faster way to get around campus. See the Disability Resource Center Accommodations page for transportation-related services.
Q: How do I know if a class is close to my college? [show]
A: View the campus map page or check the campus walking times map or you can also check the Campus Transit Shuttle Routes Schedules to get a sense of the campus and the amount of time between your classes.
Q: Must I only take 3 classes? [show]
A: Most classes are 5 credits. 15 credits is typically equal to 3 classes. Full-time students should take 15 to 19 credits per quarter. For most students, that means only just three, five-credit classes, though there are some exceptions. Three classes may not seem like a lot, but on the quarter system at the university level, it’s quite a bit of work it really is. You are expected to study about 3 hours a week for each credit, so 15 credits will require 45 hours of studying per week. If you achieve a 2.5 GPA or higher, you will have the opportunity to enroll in up to 22 credits for the next quarter.
If you are working 25 or more hours per week, have a medical condition that affects your ability to be a full-time student, or have family responsibilities, you may be eligible for the part-time program
Q: How many classes should I add to my shopping cart? I know full-time students need three 5-unit classes per quarter however what is the safe amount of classes I should add to my shopping cart? [show]
A: We recommend you place 6 to 8 potential classes into your shopping cart. You will end up enrolling into 3 classes in most cases, however, some of the classes you select may be closed when you go to enroll, so it is good to have alternative classes selected.
Q: All classes show as full. What do I do? [show]
A: You will want to perform a search for "All Classes" instead of "Open Classes" to view which classes still have space on the waitlist. Many classes may appear closed now, but become available during your enrollment appointment.
Q: How can I tell what graduation requirement a class satisfies? [show]
A: Class descriptions on the schedule of classes will show if they satisfy general education requirements. You can also check the university's general catalog for a detailed list of major requirements. See the Getting Started in your Major Guides (for transfers) for information about which classes to take for your intended major in your first quarter.
Q: Where can I find the class numbers of the classes I want to enroll in? [show]
A: See the left side of the Schedule of Classes - the class number will be a 5-digit number.
Q: How do waitlists work? [show]
A: Use the very helpful Waitlist FAQ page to learn more about the waitlist.
Q: What is the best way to try to get into a class that is full? [show]
A: The best way to try to get into a full class is to place yourself on the class waitlist, which will become available on August 26. If you are enrolled in three classes and want to use the waitlist, be sure to pick a class that you wish to swap from in order to be enrolled in your waitlisted class (so you do not exceed the maximum number of units). Instructions on how to use the “swap” function from the waitlist are located on the Waitlist FAQ page.
Q: The class I need for my major is full, what do I do? [show]
A: Check your Getting Started in your Major Guide to see what it suggests. Often, if a class is not available you can speak to your major advisor to inquire when it will be offered or if more seats will become available. Check in with your major advisor about alternative options to make progress in your major coursework.
Q: What is a permission number? I was told that with a class permission number I have reserved a spot in a class, is this is true? [show]
A: Permission numbers do not always override closed sections. If there are no open sections, you can use your permission number to add yourself to the class waitlist. If there are other open sections, you should choose whatever section fits your schedule without conflicts, and add it to your cart.
Q: I have a permission number for one of my major classes, but the discussion sections are full. How do I get past that page in order to put the class in my cart? [show]
A: If there are no open sections you can choose whatever section fits your schedule without conflicts and add it to your cart.
Q: I am getting an error message that says prerequisites are not met, but I know I have met them. Who do I contact to clear this up? [show]
A: In most cases, this is related to transfer credit having not been processed in the system yet. If the course is for your major, contact your major advisor.
Q: Do major required classes also satisfy other requirements? [show]
A: Yes, all classes (that are not considered a repeat in credit), satisfy the 180 credit requirement for graduation. So everything you take in your first quarter is helping you make progress!
Q: What happens if one of the classes I want to enroll in is open but the discussion section is closed? Can I be waitlisted on the discussion part or do I have to choose another time? [show]
A: When viewing sections, be sure to select "View All Sections". More sections may also open after August 26. For many classes, enrollment in a discussion section is required - and if that is the case, it will not be possible to add the class and you should waitlist. However, some classes may have the option to select "No section".
Q: Can I still adjust my class schedule? I see a class that is currently open that I would prefer to take instead of one I am enrolled in now. [show]
A: You can adjust your schedule however, never drop a class; always swap. A class may be open, but if you do not meet the requirements, you may not be able to enroll in the class. The swapping function allows you to safely swap out of a class in your schedule to the class you wish to enroll in (so you do not exceed the maximum number of units). Follow the Adjust Your Schedule video for a detailed process. On your enrollment appointment date, you have until 11:59pm to make changes to your schedule. You will have another opportunity to make changes to your schedule when classes become available to all students later in August.
Q: If I have a full schedule, can I still add a class that is waitlisted? [show]
A: Yes, after August 26, you will be able to add waitlisted classes to your schedule. When adding a waitlisted class, make sure you use the option “drop if enrolled”. This allows you to safely enroll in your waitlisted class if space becomes available while dropping the class you no longer want in your schedule (so you do not exceed the maximum number of units). Follow the Waitlist video for a detailed process.
Q: I want to use assist.org to learn if a class is transferable. How do I use it? [show]
A: When you go to assist.org, enter UCSC in the first drop-down box. Next, enter your community college in the second drop-down box (Note: assist.org is only for California colleges). You will then see three more drop-down boxes. These boxes allow you to search for transferable classes by major, department, or general education requirement. If you have more questions, you can email your college advisor.
Return to Common Questions page to see general, campus, and housing questions.
