Tips for Transfer Students

Home Undergraduate Program Tips for Transfer Students

1. Pick up a UCSC General Catalog (http://reg.ucsc.edu/catalog/ or from the Bay Tree Bookstore) and a Schedule of Classes or in your college office). Read these thoroughly, as they contain important campus information. Pay attention to requirements and deadlines, as you are ultimately responsible for making sure you meet all requirements and adhere to University policy.
   
   
2. Attend the Literature Department's fall orientation, usually held two days before classes begin; check the Schedule of Classes for day and time. This is a good opportunity to hear from faculty and get a sense of what the department has to offer. Be sure to get on the Literature Department's e-mail list--that way you'll find out about Literature Department events throughout the year.
   
   
3. Consult a literature undergraduate advisor as soon as possible about whether you may transfer courses taken at other colleges to fulfill requirements for the literature major (this is independent of the evaluation in the admissions process) and what literature requirements remain for you to fulfill here. Students who have taken literature courses at other colleges or universities may satisfy UC Santa Cruz's lower-division Literature requirements with the following courses:
   • an introduction to literature course (similar to UCSC’s Literature 1)
   • two additional literature courses
   Make an appointment to see an undergraduate advisor (Monday through Friday 10:00am-12:00noon and 1:00-3:00pm). Contact the department (459-4778; litdept@ucsc.edu) to make an appointment. A number of resources are also available to you in the office, including: syllabi from past literature classes and information about internships, graduate schools, conferences and awards.
   
   
4. You will need to declare your major by the major declaration deadline (See: Academic and Administrative Calendar) in the second quarter of your junior year, at the latest. If you don't, your enrollment will be blocked for the following quarter. To declare your major, start by going to your college office, and then come see an undergraduate advisor in literature (See: Declaring the Major / Minor).
   
   
5. Buy your books prior to the first day of class, if you can. Contact the instructor via e-mail for the reading list, or to find out where the books have been ordered (Bay Tree Bookstore, Slug Books, or the Literary Guillotine downtown). There is almost always a reading assignment given on the first day. Many courses have readers (selected articles bound in book format; not usually available until the class meets), and all classes will require a series of books, rather than one textbook. Read the syllabus carefully, and make sure you can attend all scheduled exams and required activities (film screenings, etc.). Mark the due dates for papers, exams, and assignments on your calendar.
   
   
6. Get in the habit of consulting directly with faculty in literature and other programs. All faculty members have office hours every week, unless they are on sabbatical. If you are unsure about appropriate courses to take, consult with a faculty member. A list of office hours for the current quarter is available outside the Literature Department and updated quarterly on the Faculty information section of our website. An undergraduate advisor can help you figure out which faculty member to meet with.
   
   
7. Show up for the first day of class or you will be dropped! If you must miss the first class, you must contact the instructor before the first class meeting in order to hold your place (instructors are not compelled to do this). Be sure to check your enrollment each quarter to make sure you are enrolled in the correct courses by the deadline. If a class you really want to take is full by the time you enroll, enroll in something else you'd be satisfied with, and then attend both classes during the first week. Sometimes fewer people show up than expected, and the instructor may be able to admit additional people.
   
   
8. Sit in the front rows of the classroom and participate in discussion (in class and in section). Get to know your instructors and your TAs. You may want letters of recommendation to apply to EAP or graduate school, so establishing a good rapport with your instructors and TAs is important.
   
   
9. Get to know the campus libraries. Go on a scheduled library tour. Learn how to access MELVYL AND CRUZCAT (computerized catalogs) for research projects. Don't limit yourself to computer databases, as they generally go back only 15 years. Learn to use the reference areas, especially hardbound and general humanities indexes on Table 4.
   
   
10. Get to know other students in your courses. You might want to form study groups to share insights, perspectives, and approaches to the course material.
    
    
11. There is a big difference between the quarter and semester systems. It's important to take no more than the standard workload (three five-credit courses) during your first quarter, because the quarter goes by so quickly. In fact, many instructors give have papers due or give exams as early as the third week of class. Colleges and some majors offer partial credit courses, which can't be counted towards the literature major, but which do offer interesting topics to explore. This can be a good way to increase your workload without adding another full-credit course.
    
    
12. Pick up and use a writing or style manual such as Strunk and White, The Elements of Style (available on-line at http://www.bartleby.com/141/).
    
    
13. Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are many resources available: faculty, college academic preceptors, Literature Department staff, TAs, various campus support services, writing tutors, other students, etc. Many colleges have writing centers with drop-in tutoring hours, and STARS sponsors other tutoring services.
    
    
14. Review your student file with an undergraduate advisor once per quarter in order to make sure that you are on track to fulfill the major requirements.
    
    
15. You are required to do a “Senior Checklist” at the Literature Department prior to the quarter in which you intend to graduate, and preferably in the first quarter of your senior year. Senior checklists help you avoid last-minute surprises!
    
    
16. Graduate programs in literature require the ability to do college-level work in at least two languages. Students interested in graduate school should meet early in their UCSC careers with a literature advisor. If you do not know with whom to talk, please see a literature undergraduate advisor, who can recommend faculty based on your interests. Other campus resources: EOP Graduate Information Program; Career Center (see April Goral, career advisor specializing in Humanities, 831/459-4839 or asgoral@ucsc.edu).