Q: How do I enroll in classes? Do I have to meet with an advisor to enroll?
No, you do not need to meet with an advisor in order to enroll in classes; advisors cannot enroll you in a class. All UCSC students must enroll through their Student Portals.
Q: Do I have to declare my major when I get there?
All transfer students enter UCSC with "proposed" majors. This means that you have told us which major you plan on declaring. All transfer students have to declare a major (a paperwork process) before the end of their second quarter at UCSC.
Declaring is a two-part process:
- Follow the directions on the online Advising Center. If you have questions, or if you're unsure how to proceed, check in at the Merrill College Office, where the college assistant can give you a Declaration of Major form and show you how to fill out Section 1. Once you've prepared your form, you will meet with one of the academic advisors, who will check your academic record and sign off on Section 1 of your declaration.
- After completing Section 1 at the College Office, you will meet with an advisor and/or a faculty member in your department, who will help you plan the rest of your course work at UCSC. The advisor will then sign off on your Declaration of Major form, and enter your major in the academic information system. You will know that your declaration is complete when your portal shows a declared major, rather than a proposed major.
* Some majors require you to apply to the major with a sample of your work (Ex: art and creative writing). Others may require you to take some of their classes before accepting you into the major (Ex: economics, engineering, sociology). You should check with your department about their requirements before you begin the declaration process.
Q: I was not accepted into my chosen major. What do I do now?
Some majors will let you appeal the decision, others will not. Come into our office to seek academic advising.
Q: What classes do I need to take for my major?
In the packet we sent you that contained a copy of the Schedule of Classes, we also sent you information on your proposed major. This sheet will tell you which classes the department requires, and where they expect transfers to start. If you do not have this information, most departments list it on their websites. You can also contact the department directly. We strongly recommend that you attend a department orientation, if possible.
Q: Do I have to take the lower division classes required for my major, even though I am a junior?
Check with your major department about transfer courses and major requirements. Even if your transfer credit is accepted by the Admissions Office, you will need approval from your major department to use them as major requirements.
Q: How do I know if all of my General Education Requirements have been satisfied?
- On your portal, click on "Academic Progress" from the left side menu.
- Enter the "Degree Progress" sub-menu to get to the "Degree Progress Report".
- From the "Academic Type" drop-down menu, choose "UC Santa Cruz".
- Select the "Degree Audit no IP" report type.
Under the heading "General Education Requirements" you will find a list of the GEs you have and have not satisfied, listed by category.
* If you have completed IGETC, you have met all GE requirements.
** If you are concerned about transferring in GE credits, you can make an appointment with one of our academic advisors by calling (831) 459-2144.
Q: Can I change my major, and how?
Yes, you can change your prospective or declared major when you come to UCSC. You will need to go through the major declaration process listed above to change your declared major, and there are no limitations as to the number of times you can change your major. If you are not ready to declare yet, but want to change your proposed major, send an email to merrilladvising@ucsc.edu.
Q: Now that I have chosen Merrill, what does that mean? Do I have to take certain classes here?
As a Merrill Student, we hope you will consider Merrill your university home. You will have a mailbox and an official University address here. Graduation activities are organized through the Merrill Activities Office, and you will come to the College Office for general academic advising. You may receive periodic emails from your academic advisors, and we also offer programming throughout the year to enhance your experience at UCSC.
